Austin: The “virtual safety car” to be tested on Friday

One month after Jules Bianchi’s accident in Suzuka during the Japanese Grand Prix, in a section of the circuit under double yellow flag conditions, Formula 1 will – as announced – trial a system intended to significantly slow down the drivers.

The French driver, who went aquaplaning in turn 7 of the Japanese circuit, was reportedly driving at around 200 km/h when his Marussia left the track and collided with a recovery vehicle clearing Adrian Sutil’s Sauber, which had gone off the track on the previous lap. Charlie Whiting, the FIA safety delegate, indicated in Sochi that the driver with number 17 had indeed slowed down, but it was a matter of nuance.

The teams will therefore be invited to try the technology that will enable automatic slowing down in yellow flag zones following free practice sessions 1 and 2. After these tests, the FIA and the teams will meet to decide on the formal introduction of such a system for the 2015 season.

The principle will be as follows: in case of an accident, drivers must maintain a speed that is approximately 35% lower than that of a normal lap time on a dry track. Specifically, as when the race is neutralized, the speed to not exceed will be displayed on the steering wheel, and penalties will be issued for exceeding it during the implementation of the “virtual safety car.” It has not been specified whether this will apply only to the area(s) of the incident or the entire circuit.

Charlie Whiting has already specified that before it becomes fully operational and the final details are resolved, extreme caution will be observed at the slightest incident.

Moreover, nothing indicates that, in light of the report that will be released on December 3 by a panel of experts on the accident of Jules Bianchi, new regulatory proposals will be made to standardize the use of the safety car in case of an accident, intervention by marshals, or the use of lifting equipment.