Andrea Stella took a different stance from Lando Norris regarding the Virtual Safety Car (VSC), which had a strong influence on the outcome of the Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1. The McLaren boss defended the race direction’s actions but admitted that the impact caused by the timing of the intervention deserves a broader evaluation.
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Norris was one of the biggest losers due to the VSC deployment, as he could not take advantage of the situation in the same way as some competitors. For Stella, however, the race direction only applied the currently established rules and guidelines, without considering the race’s progress when deciding when to activate or end the procedure.
“As with every time a Safety Car or a Virtual Safety Car, due to the timing or duration, has a great influence on a race, we have the opportunity to analyze if we can do things differently. But this is not under the jurisdiction of the race director. He applies the guidelines and regulations in force at the time of the race he is directing,” Stella told the press.
The official explained that the race direction’s priority should be to identify when conditions exist to deploy or withdraw the VSC: “I don’t think that takes into account what was happening in the race. That would be a big distraction,” he said.
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Stella also avoided any direct criticism of those responsible for the race: “We have absolutely no comments about the race direction. They did a good job according to what is currently established. Perhaps there is a broader reflection that the F1 community should make about keeping things as they are or introducing ways to ensure more fairness,” he added.
Norris, on the other hand, considered that a rule should not have such a decisive influence on the outcome of a GP. The driver stated that races should be decided by performance and strategic choices, such as taking the risk of extending a stint on track while waiting for a later Safety Car intervention.
The Brit also said that the topic had already been discussed in drivers’ meetings. One proposal suggested keeping the VSC for at least one full lap after its activation, allowing everyone the same opportunity to react and reducing the impact that the timing of the intervention can have on a single competitor.
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