Virtual Safety Car

The Virtual Safety Car (VSC) is a safety procedure used in Formula 1 and other motorsports that slows down all racing cars on the track without requiring an actual safety car vehicle to drive on the circuit.

Think of the VSC as an invisible safety car. When something dangerous happens on the track—like debris that needs to be cleared or a car that needs to be moved—race officials can activate the VSC to slow everyone down at the same time. This keeps track workers and officials safe while they deal with the problem.

The VSC was introduced in 2015 following a tragic accident involving driver Jules Bianchi at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Racing authorities realized they needed a faster, more flexible way to control speeds during dangerous situations that didn't quite require a full safety car deployment.

When the VSC is activated, all drivers see a message on their steering wheel displays that says "VSC Deployed." At the same moment, electronic signs around the track light up with the letters "VSC" to alert everyone that the procedure is in effect. Drivers must immediately slow down by approximately 35 percent of their normal racing speed.

Each car has an onboard computer system that calculates a "delta time"—basically a target lap time that drivers must stay above. If a driver goes too fast, the system alerts them and race officials can penalize them. This ensures everyone slows down by the same amount, maintaining fairness.

During a VSC period, overtaking is strictly forbidden. Drivers must maintain their positions and cannot drive unusually slowly or erratically. This rule prevents anyone from gaining an unfair advantage while the race is neutralized.

One major benefit of the Virtual Safety Car compared to a traditional safety car is that it preserves the gaps between cars. Under a regular safety car, all the cars bunch up behind it, erasing any lead a driver had built. With the VSC, if you were five seconds ahead before it started, you'll still be roughly five seconds ahead when it ends.

When the dangerous situation is resolved, teams receive a message that the VSC is ending. Between 10 and 15 seconds later, the track signals turn green, and drivers can immediately return to racing speed. This allows racing to resume much faster than waiting for a safety car to return to the pit lane.

The VSC can sometimes create strategic opportunities. For example, at the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton perfectly timed a pit stop during a VSC period, allowing him to change tires while losing less time than normal and ultimately taking the race lead from his competitors.