SC system to be tested again today

The FIA is looking at ways of introducing a minimum sector time to cover safety car incidents as a way of ending the need to close the pits to prevent drivers racing back for more fuel and tyres.

It comes after complaints from drivers and teams about the unfair way some drivers are penalized if they need to come in for fuel at the very moment the pit lane is closed because of a safety car.

After an initial try-out during practice at the French GP, where drivers were requested to try and achieve a minimum time for a sector to ensure they did not drive too fast, another test will be done today.

A statement from Formula One race director Charlie Whiting said: "Shortly after every car has crossed the Line after the end of P2, i.e. every car on the track has taken the chequered flag, all marshal's posts will show yellow flags and SC boards, yellow lights will be illuminated in the cars and the message "SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED" will be displayed on the timing monitors.

"Within five seconds of the message being displayed, all drivers should select the Safety Car Mode and then proceed back to the pits.

"However, any driver who is in the third sector when he receives the message may cross the Line for a second time if he wishes, the system will reset to zero and a new target delta time will be displayed."

Although some drivers said the system worked well in the Magny-Cours try-out, there were some concerns about how distracting it was trying to follow a minimum sector time on the dashboard readout while keeping attention on the track.