Who is betting on a safety car in Valencia?

Many people expect the safety car to play a crucial role in the outcome of the European Grand Prix on the new Valencia street circuit.

The maximum speed reached is compared to that of Montreal, and some teams, through their drivers, predict that the race could be decided by a safety car.

The current regulation, which penalizes drivers who are forced to pit while the safety car is on track, affected several races, such as the Canadian Grand Prix last June where Lewis Hamilton hit the back of Kimi Räikkönen’s car at the end of the pit straight.

The proximity of the walls lining the Valencia track increases the risk of accidents. The teams do not yet know how long it will take to erase all traces of an accident. Therefore, they will attempt to work on race strategies that include long periods of safety car.

Force India’s technical director, Mike Gascoyne, stated that he would look to take advantage of such a situation.

« A team like ours can gain a lot from such a situation. You have the walls and the cars in front of you. The risk of a safety car intervention is high, » he explained.

« We will implement a strategy that will allow us to synchronize with the other teams so that we can benefit from it. »

But for the teams at the front of the grid, the safety car can both spoil the race and improve it.

Mark Webber, who is fighting for fourth place in the constructors’ championship with Red Bull, is concerned about the effect the safety car could have on the race.

« It’s the biggest concern for this type of racing because if you have a good weekend, the safety car can ruin everything!