FIA confirms Safety Car rule change

By BMW Sauber F1
January 31 2009

Not only the technical regulations for the 2009 Formula One season were changed in several areas. At the same time, the sporting regulations also were modified: the World Automobile Association, FIA, altered the course of the safety-car period that was the subject of many discussions, in the past two years.

If the race control announces a safety-car period, the pit-lane now will remain open permanently while a speed limit will come into force to make for safety on the track. Furthermore, the drivers mustn't fall below a certain lap time.

"We have returned to the 2006 regulations," explains FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting. "With one difference: a driver mustn't fall below a certain time limit, on his way to the pits." As soon as the safety-car goes out on the track, the standard electronics in the cars will be switched to a 'safety-car mode'. The drivers are informed about the minimum lap time and have to respect this minimum.

The temporary closure of the pit-lane was introduced to make an end to the dangerous situations that occurred again and again when drivers returned to the pits at high speed, following an accident of one of their rivals. But when drivers that had planned their stop for the respective lap were forced to pit despite the closed pit-lane and accept a penalty - or strand on the track with an empty tank, the new regulation was criticised massively. Many teams regarded it as an unjustified disadvantage for the respective drivers.