Editorial Netherlands: The virtual cannot replace the real

During the Dutch Grand Prix, the stewards activated the virtual safety car, a tactic that is losing popularity, especially when a physical safety car would be more appropriate.

The inconsistent decisions made by race stewards are beginning to appear as a hidden variable that could tip the balance of a Grand Prix. The last race provided a striking illustration of this: during free practice, Lewis Hamilton brushed against three rivals without receiving any reprimand, while other drivers were penalized for similar maneuvers. This disparity set the tone for a weekend in which the officials' decisions seemed as unpredictable as the weather. The drama intensified on race day when AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda stopped his car twice at the side of the track. The first stop allowed him to restart, but a second, more serious problem forced him to retire. With the broken-down car located near an escape route, race control opted for a virtual safety car (VSC) rather than deploying a full-scale safety car. Critics argue that, with no recovery vehicle nearby, a full-scale safety car would have been the appropriate response. The VSC remained in place much longer than necessary, slowing the pace of the race and frustrating both drivers and spectators.

A few laps later, Valtteri Bottas stopped on the main straight, his retirement inevitable but, in this case, correctly handled by the stewards. The contrast between the prolonged VSC for Tsunoda and the quick resolution of Bottas's case highlighted the lack of a clear and consistent protocol.

Many fans and experts now argue that the VSC should be reserved for free practice sessions, where its impact on the spectacle is minimal. In a race, a real safety car can generate excitement, upset strategies, and keep the competition alive, sometimes at the expense of an individual driver's efforts, but always in the spirit of racing. The current ambiguity surrounding the use of virtual or real safety measures risks undermining the spectacular nature that makes Formula 1 so captivating.