Andrea Stella sees no fault on the part of the race director despite McLaren’s misfortune in Madrid: There needs to be a fundamental discussion about a fairer VSC rule
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella sees no reason to criticise race control for the controversial Virtual Safety Car phase during the Formula 1 race in Madrid, despite the bitter outcome for his team. Stella emphasises that during a race in progress, the race director can only apply the existing guidelines and rules.
“As always, when the timing or duration of a Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car has a major impact on a race, there is scope to review whether we can do things differently,” says Stella. However, he adds that this is not the race director’s responsibility.
The race director has a clearly defined role during the race. “The race director applies the guidelines and rules in force at the time of the race he is overseeing,” explains Stella. In a situation triggered by a virtual safety car, his focus must be on determining when the conditions for activating and deactivating the VSC are met.
“They did a good job”
Even though Lando Norris was the one who suffered as a result of the VSC timing in Madrid, Stella therefore believes it is wrong to expect the race director to simultaneously assess the race action. “I don’t think he’s watching what’s happening in the race at that moment. That would be a major distraction,” says the McLaren team principal.
McLaren therefore has no complaints about the work of the race control team itself. “We have absolutely no comment on race control. I think they did a good job by the current rules,” the Italian clarified.
However, the McLaren boss does believe a fundamental discussion about the rules is entirely worthwhile. The Formula 1 community must ask itself whether the current procedures should be retained or whether there are ways to ensure greater fairness.
“Perhaps there is a broader consideration that the Formula 1 community should make: whether to leave things as they are or introduce measures to ensure greater fairness,” says Stella. However, that is not the race director’s job.
Stella himself is undecided on the VSC rule
Stella himself cannot give a clear answer as to whether the rules surrounding the VSC should actually be changed. “To be honest, I’m at a loss to begin with. Hopefully that’s just my personal opinion – I’m undecided myself as to what’s right,” he explains.
One possible solution would be to set the duration of a VSC so that all drivers complete at least one full lap under the same conditions. “Is it right to set the duration so that everyone is subject to the same track conditions? For example, that the VSC lasts for at least one full lap?”
The alternative would be to maintain the current situation and thus accept that the timing of the VSC can have a significant impact. “Or do we simply leave it to the gods? Sometimes you’re lucky, sometimes you’re not. I’m not sure myself.”
Changes would be a lengthy process
Stella sees the Strategy Advisory Committee, or SAC for short, as the right forum for discussing a possible reform. “Generally speaking, the right place for this sort of discussion is the Strategy Advisory Committee, the famous SAC,” he says.
The issue could be put on the agenda there and then discussed. However, any change would not be implemented in the short term. “If there is to be a change, it must go through the SAC, then through the F1 Commission, and at some point we’ll have to address the Sporting Regulations.”
Stella therefore expects it to be a lengthy process. “I would assume this is a relatively protracted process,” believes the McLaren team principal. In his view, a quicker solution would only be conceivable if Formula 1 or the FIA itself saw a strong need for action.
“Unless there is a major push from Formula 1, from the institutions – the FIA or F1 – saying: ‘We need to do this differently’,” says Stella. “As a participant, however, I wouldn’t have a clear idea at the moment,” he admits.
