Safety Car dilemma: Carlos Sainz urges Formula 1 to address Las Vegas issues

During the race's early stages, drivers struggled to regain control as they worked to reheat their tires, further complicated by the Virtual Safety Car. The challenges culminated in incidents like Lando Norris losing control and crashing into Turn 12 barriers.

Sainz expressed the need for a swifter Safety Car response in such scenarios, emphasizing the difficulty of navigating icy conditions during Safety Car restarts.

"Turn 1 during the Safety Car restart was like driving on ice," Sainz remarked. "We need to find a solution to make the Safety Car a bit quicker in these certain scenarios."

He highlighted the unsettling feeling of decelerating from 340kph, knowing that the brakes might not respond effectively. The current Safety Cars, the Mercedes AMG-GT Black Series and Aston Martin Vantage, are the fastest in F1 history, introduced to address previous concerns about the pace behind them.

Sainz detailed the challenges inside the car, explaining how drivers struggled to generate brake heat on the long straights at Las Vegas. Even with cautious braking, the tires locked, creating unexpected difficulties for the drivers.

"You never expect it to be so bad. I just touched the brake not even hit it, and the tires were locked," Sainz described. "It was absolutely shocking on Lap 1, and I think we all struggled with it."

As attention now shifts to the upcoming 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 26 at the Yas Marina Circuit, the safety and performance concerns raised by Sainz prompt a closer look at the current Safety Car protocols. 

The Yas Marina Circuit, known for its unique night race under the desert sky, is set to host the season's final race with covered grandstands and air-conditioned garages ensuring both spectator safety and team comfort.

 

Read More: Toto Wolff: Las Vegas Grand Prix shines despite late-night challenges (planetsport.com)