Formula 1 is considering tweaks to its safety car rules to minimise delays before restarts, AUTOSPORT has learned.
One factor that has attracted criticism in recent years is the length of time it takes for lapped cars to unlap themselves and join up with the back of the field.
In some cases, it has taken several laps for the backmarkers to catch up and allow F1 race director Charlie Whiting to restart the race.
The matter has now been tabled for discussion at a sporting regulations working group meeting at the Brazilian Grand Prix to try to come up with a better solution.
Sources have suggested that one idea that will be looked at is that rather than the lapped cars unlapping themselves, they simply drop back to the rear of the field instead.
They will then be credited with an extra lap so they are not put at a disadvantage.
By having this system in place, it would be straightforward to restart the race within a single lap of the instruction being given, which should minimise delays in bringing the safety car in.
Other items due to be discussed are revisions to F1's engine penalty rules, whether the current five-second penalty for driving offences is too lenient, whether current cars can be used in show events and if there should be changes to parc ferme restrictions.
One factor that has attracted criticism in recent years is the length of time it takes for lapped cars to unlap themselves and join up with the back of the field.
In some cases, it has taken several laps for the backmarkers to catch up and allow F1 race director Charlie Whiting to restart the race.
The matter has now been tabled for discussion at a sporting regulations working group meeting at the Brazilian Grand Prix to try to come up with a better solution.
Sources have suggested that one idea that will be looked at is that rather than the lapped cars unlapping themselves, they simply drop back to the rear of the field instead.
They will then be credited with an extra lap so they are not put at a disadvantage.
By having this system in place, it would be straightforward to restart the race within a single lap of the instruction being given, which should minimise delays in bringing the safety car in.
Other items due to be discussed are revisions to F1's engine penalty rules, whether the current five-second penalty for driving offences is too lenient, whether current cars can be used in show events and if there should be changes to parc ferme restrictions.
