Motorsport-Magazin.com – In 2021, Formula 1 will have two official partners for the first time for the safety car and medical car, Aston Martin and Mercedes. The game was far from such an elegant appearance at the premiere of the first official safety car. On March 28, 1993, a 125 hp flagship vehicle was supposed to keep F1 cars under control.
Today the safety car has a permanent place in the Formula 1 universe. It drives on the track when it is not safe enough to race in normal condition. For example it may be necessary due to an accident or heavy rain. FIA race director Michael Massey decides to use the safety car and is in constant contact with his driver Bernard Melander and co-driver Richard Darker. This ensures that all cogs are required for a smooth process mesh.
1973 First safety car in Canada GP
This was not the case after an accident at the 1973 Canadian GP, the first time a Formula 1 safety car was sent on the track and caused a lot of confusion. Because some drivers stopped the pit, the order was received and the safety car gave the brake to the wrong car. After the race, it took a few hours to correct the error in the result lists. Peter Revson won the race at Mosport in McLaren.
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Why the first and the only safety car phase for a long time came about in Canada which has to do with the structure of the game. At the time, the organizers of the Grand Prix still had more autonomy over the organization of the race. There was still no article in the rules determining the provision of a safety car. In terms of regulations, it was not the first safety car used in Formula 1.
A security car ensured safety in Mosport for the first time since an incident in 1973
It was two decades before it came into existence. Meanwhile, some organizers such as the Automobile Club de Monaco, which were hosts of the Monaco GP, used safety cars.
In the 1992 season, the rule-makers wrote the specifications to prepare the official introduction of the safety car. He tested the approach in the middle of the season in the Maggi-Court and Silverstone races. History repeated itself: Practicing at Silverstone, Mika Häkkinen was chosen as the fictional leader who was the first to follow the safety car. But it did not come to that. Häkkinen entered the pit lane. Messed up again.
Official safety car premiere in Brazil
Safety cars were included in the rules for the 1993 season. From then on, it can be used in every race if the situation calls for it. The case was first reported in the 1993 Brazilian GP. After Ukiyo Katyama and Aguri Suzuki had an accident at the direct start / finish in the rain, the race management used the official safety car for the first time. This slowed down the field for eight laps. The used car was not a sports car like it is today. It was a Fiat Tempera, a traditional sedan.
In order to draft the rules, Benetton team boss Flavio Briatore brought up the idea of a non-safety-relevant safety car before the 1993 season. It should have been used when lead was more than twelve seconds ahead. This proposal has not been implemented.
