Audio SC warning system to be tested

The FIA has been experimenting with ways of revising F1's safety car regulations, and in particular the element that means the pit lane remains closed until all the cars are in formation.

Teams and drivers all believe that closing the pits is unfair, and the FIA is looking to change that rule as long as it can find a way of limiting drivers' speed during a caution period.

The concept being pursued is to set a minimum sector time for the area of track where an accident has taken place.

In practice at recent races the teams have tested a warning system on the dashboard that informs drivers if they are going too fast or too slow through a sector, but this idea has received mixed reactions.

With some drivers complaining the dashboard information is too distracting for them, the FIA is now updating the software to test a system whereby drivers will get an audio warning through their car's radio system to let them know if they are going too fast.

It is hoped that the system could be ready to be tried out for the first time during the Monza test that takes place at the end of this month.

Toyota team manager Richard Cregan told autosport.com: "There is a software update coming, and as soon as that is ready we will start testing.

"The FIA is upgrading its software after what they have learned so far, and then it will do the next step. There should be the possibility to have audio and lights - and you can choose to have either or both."

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber said: "They are trying to get the software right, with an audio system, so there is a cue for us to see if we are going faster or slower.

"And I know I always get in trouble when I say this, but Charlie (Whiting) keeps saying we can improve it, but I don't think there is anything we can do to make it more complicated than it is now!"