Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting was quick to respond to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who has questioned the FIA’s decision to bring the safety car on track yesterday during the Chinese GP.
FIA Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting responded to Sebastian Vettel, who has questioned the timing of the F1 safety car in China GP.
Whiting ordered for safety car than a virtual safety car after a crash between two Toro Rosso drivers Peierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley on Sunday.
“If we decide to use the safety car, it’s for a very specific purpose, for safety reasons, and we do not pay any attention to the drivers who could be advantaged or disadvantaged at the other end,” Whiting said after the race.
“We waited for a good gap in the traffic, the debris was scattered over a large stretch of the track and I wanted to wait until the safety car had the cars behind it and send the marshals on the track.” Whiting added.
Vettel, then fighting for the victory with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas before the intervention of the safety car, he had not just found that the race was not neutralized by a virtual safety car beforehand, “as it is now usually the case”.
This had severely penalised the leaders and benefited the Red Bull drivers, who had been able to pass through the pits to put fresh tires. Whiting, however, defends any favoritism.
However, Whiting admitted that his decision to bring safety car on the track was the priority during the race in each round of F1 this season.
The AMG Mercedes leads the field at F1 China GP. (Sumber:www.gridoto.com)
“I don’t look to see who is going to be advantage or disadvantage. You remember a few years ago in Hungary, Nico [Rosberg] was leading, the first four cars were just past the pit entry, and they got disadvantage. So that’s fairly straight forward.” Whiting said.
“It’s a bit of a mystery why it’s become the center of attention. We’ve had the virtual safety car for three years, while the safety car has been around for more than 20 years, and we know that there are always winners and losers for every intervention.
“If we have to wait to see who will be at a disadvantage and how we have to proceed so that no one is, then it’s a waste of time that we can not afford, and I want to remember that this is not our job.” the 66-year-old man added.
Vettel temporarily extended his leads at the top of F1 standings with 54 points so far. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, sits on second place with 45 points.
