FIA working to stop VSC system cheating after Vettel complaint
The FIA has worked out how the software governing Formula 1's virtual safety car can be manipulated and will fix it to stop drivers cheating the system
When a VSC period is activated, an ECU map gives drivers a delta laptime that is 30% slower than a reference that they need to adhere to.
After last month's Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel hit out at the system, saying it was possible to drive "ridiculous" lines that cut the distance needing to be travelled at the reduced speed.
FIA race director Charlie Whiting disagreed with Vettel's claim at the time, but says he now understands what the four-time world champion was trying to say.
Whiting now acknowledges that a small gain can be made and, although such advantages are very small, the FIA will act to close the loophole.
"Yes, I've worked it out now," said Whiting. "The calculation that the system does every 50 metres is based on the distance from the timing line.
"So, if you can shorten that, you can gain tiny fractions.
"The way we've calculated it with our software guys is you can possibly gain about 150 milliseconds [per lap]. But in Formula 1 that's worth having.
"That's the extent of it, as far as it was explained to be me by our software people.
"We can rectify it, and make it a bit more bulletproof."
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