Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car
FIA · 2026 · Issue 09Neutralising the race without treating both systems as identical.
Virtual Safety Car
Under VSC, drivers reduce speed and respect the minimum times set by the FIA system, rather than forming a queue behind a physical car. Overtaking is generally forbidden, with specific pit-lane and obvious-problem exceptions. During a Sprint or Race, pit entry is permitted only for changing tyres under this procedure.
Safety Car
Under a Safety Car, drivers slow and form an ordered queue; overtaking needs a stated exception or instruction. Lapped cars may pass only when authorised. When the Safety Car withdraws, normal overtaking cannot resume until the control line is crossed as prescribed. Neutralised race laps count, and pit use is restricted unless the field is instructed through the pits.
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