Sainz Jr. pans virtual safety car

Sainz Jr.

Carlos Sainz has blasted Formula 1’s Virtual Safety Car as a “useless" feature, saying it is not what the championship needs at this moment in time.

The Spaniard believes the VSC is a detriment to those running in the midfield, and adds that many drivers can gain an unfair advantage during that period.

“In my opinion, they [VSC periods] are a bit useless, I don’t like it, it is not something that I enjoy," he said after the Malaysian Grand Prix, which saw three separate VSC periods.

“Because when you are a midfielder, you prefer safety cars all the time, proper safety cars to regroup the field.

“It works as it should, but obviously people play a lot with it to warm their tires, to create their own gaps before the pitstops.

“You can play a lot with it to your advantage or disadvantage of the others, so I don’t really enjoy it. I don’t that it is something that is contributing in F1, that’s my personal opinion."

The Toro Rosso driver added that the VSC makes for an inherent advantage for the race leader, and stresses that’s not what Formula 1 needs in its current state.

“If I am a race leader, I probably like it, if I am a midfielder, I probably don’t like it," he said. “I have been in many racing series where you have a 10-second lead, suddenly a safety car comes out and you have to battle again.

“But looking [at it], maybe it’s a bit more fair, but I don’t think it’s what Formula 1 needs, especially for a midfielder."