Source: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
[Saba Sports News] Since the F1 Canadian Grand Prix held in June, there have been no safety cars deployed on the track. It has been recorded that safety cars have not appeared in 9 consecutive races, marking the longest absence since the 2003/2004 season. Spanish driver Fernando Alonso provided a peculiar explanation for this phenomenon, suggesting that the characteristics of today’s ground-effect cars are a major factor. He pointed out that modern cars can actually go faster without operating at absolute maximum speed. Alonso stated that today’s F1 cars are not easy to drive; the challenge lies in how to extract 100% of their potential. Therefore, if you drive at 90% speed, you might sometimes be faster because you avoid putting the car at awkward heights or angles. By not pushing to the limit, F1 cars become safer. During races, drivers operate at about 90%, taking care of tire and fuel efficiency while considering other factors; hence there are not many issues or mistakes leading to safety cars or accidents. Driving at this speed makes racing “safer,” but it somewhat contradicts a driver’s instincts. For drivers, they must aim to drive at 110% whenever possible. However, due to today’s ground-effect car characteristics, sometimes drivers must forgo pushing their limits.