When it comes to race cars, the main things that come to mind are high speeds and sexy looking cars. Safety is something thats not as visible to all the spectators but the team that looks after track safety is more important than any of the race teams them selves. It is really a key part of any race event planing that must be planned in detail before any of the racers even arrive at the race track. A key part of the safet team is the safety car.
The purpose of a safety car is to be deployed 'whenever there is an immediate hazard on track but the conditions do not require the race to be interrupted'. When the saftery car is deployed the racer will quickly catch it form a line behind it. The cars will continue to circulate the track but behind the safety car at a controled the speed. Allowing the rest of the safety team to come out onto the racing surface and resolve the immediate hazard.
Groups like F1 are always working hard to make improvements to safety. Such as updating the safety cars. Making them more advanced as they add more technology, so it will be able to provide the best service to the drivers on the race track, when needed. Whether you're practicing or racing, trusting that the safety team will be there for you when you need them, is critical to know, before you go out and put the limits of the laws of physics on the racetrack.
The History of the F1 Safety Car
The first time a safety car was implemented was at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1973. Since then, the safety car has become a common sight at all F1 races around the world from the Brazilian Grand Prix to the British Grand Prix. Because of its continued use since 1973, safety cars have been through many iterations over the years.
Now these improvements have included many additions and changes being made to the safety cars so they would be able to provide the best services for the drivers that are on track. If you're a fan and you've watched the F1 races, then you'll notice that there are models of the F1 safety cars, such as the Mercedes-AMG GT, the F1 Hybrid Safety Car, and many more.
In the 2022 Formula One season, the safety car models are the Aston Martin Vantage (also used in 2021), and the Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT Black Series.
The Virtual Safety Car
The virtual safety car (VSC) is an interesting and modern variation of the F1 safety car, and it was first introduced in 2015. Unlike a regular safety car, it’s not a physical vehicle and is invoked when conditions aren’t severe enough to merit a physical safety car.
The F1 VSC allows the race director to put a temporary speed limit (reducing up to 30% of the average race speed) on the track. As such, this digital version creates a safer environment for the drivers on the track.
The Unique Features of an F1 Safety Car
One of the features that an F1 safety car has that a normal car doesn't have is the bright lights that are usually on top of it. It alerts the people on the track that it's a safety car that's coming so they can prepare themselves.
Conclusion
By reading through this article, you've learned more about the F1 safety cars. It truly is important to place a bit more priority on your well-being while going around the tracks.
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