Carlos Sainz not a fan of VSC

Carlos Sainz has spoken of his dislike of Virtual Safety Cars, insisting they only help the driver in the lead of the race.

Virtual Safety Cars, where all drivers must keep to a set lap time but no actual safety car is deployed, were introduced as a way of safely dealing with incidents, without affecting the race greatly.

However, Sainz thinks that drivers in the midfield lose out during VSC persiods, while the race leader gains an advantage.

"In my opinion, they [VSC periods] are a bit useless, I don’t like it, it is not something that I enjoy," Sainz said. "Because when you are a midfielder, you prefer safety cars all the time, proper safety cars to regroup the field."

"It works as it should, but obviously people play a lot with it to warm their tyres, to create their own gaps before the pitstops," he added. "You can play a lot with it to your advantage or disadvantage of the others, so I don’t really enjoy it. I don’t think that it is something that is contributing in F1, that’s my personal opinion. If I am a race leader, I probably like it, if I am a midfielder, I probably don’t like it."

"I have been in many racing series where you have a 10-second lead, suddenly a safety car comes out and you have to battle again," he said. "But looking [at it], maybe it’s a bit more fair, but I don’t think it’s what Formula 1 needs, especially for a midfielder."

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • ringo

    Posts: 3,633

    Depend on the size of the crashes, VSC can lead safe to a safetycar... by a huge crash but smaller accident is ok, but depend how Safety car is brought in.. think te time you lost on laps on safetycar is horrible, with VSC you can neutralize it directly decrease the speed overal to quick step to lead to more speed upfront..

    • + 0
    • Oct 5 2016 - 10:44
  • Carlos is always complaining...

    • + 0
    • Oct 5 2016 - 12:10
    • No different from another hype boy called Max Worsthappened, it's almost as if they are the same breed from one clutch... oh wait.

      • + 0
      • Oct 7 2016 - 12:11

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar