Max Verstappen has been a dominant force in F1 up until the summer break of 2023. He hopes to maintain his current form for the remainder of the season as he strives to win his third consecutive world championship. With a 125-point lead over his teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings, Max has won 10 out of the first 12 races. Verstappen’s most recent victory marked his eighth win in a row, which occurred in Belgium over the weekend when he overcame a pre-race gearbox penalty to move up from sixth place.
In the midst of the sprint race restart, Max shared the difficulties he faced during Saturday’s race with the media. He opened up about how the weather conditions at Spa posed a significant challenge by creating low visibility, making it nearly impossible for him to see the safety car ahead of him. Despite this formidable obstacle, Max still managed to skillfully navigate through the race and managed to win the race.
When safety cars are deployed in Formula 1 races?
When a hazardous situation occurs on the race track, drivers will be alerted with yellow flags. However, if the situation poses a significant threat to their safety, the Safety Car will be deployed to reduce their speed. During this time, drivers must maintain a minimum delta speed and are not allowed to overtake. The Safety Car period also allows drivers to make pit stops to ensure their brakes and tires are warmed up for optimal performance.
Once the debris is cleared, Race Control allows lapped cars to overtake the leader, and a signal is given that the Safety Car is returning to the pit. Drivers are informed through their team radio and must wait for the leader to resume racing speed before continuing the race. It is crucial for all drivers to follow the rules and regulations during a Safety Car period to guarantee the safety of everyone involved.
Max Verstappen claims to not see the safety car due to poor visibility during F1 Belgian GP
The Sprint Race was delayed for 30 minutes due to heavy rain on the track. To aid in clearing standing water, the Safety Car led the race for the first five laps. During the race, the drivers faced visibility challenges which concerned Pierre Gasly. The two-time world champion agreed with his safety concerns. Max, during the post-Sprint press conference, shared that he had difficulty seeing the safety car in front of him. He also reminisced about his F3 days when he had low visibility in the pack.
Max Verstappen had this to say about the sprint held amidst rainy weather in a press conference,
“I fully get Pierre’s comments because I think it [visibility in the wet] has become worse from when I started in F1.
