Rosberg proposes multiple VSC changes to prevent future Norris-style setbacks

Lando Norris was the driver who lost out the most from the timing of the VSC in Madrid. The McLaren driver had already passed the pit entry when the neutralisation was triggered following Lance Stroll's stoppage, leaving him unable to take advantage of the reduced-speed conditions. His rivals were able to stop under the VSC and lose significantly less race time, with Norris paying the price for being in the wrong place at the wrong moment.

Speaking on the Sky F1 Show podcast, the former German driver backed the continued use of the Virtual Safety Car for incidents that can be resolved without fully neutralising the race. In Rosberg's view, the system remains a useful alternative to sending out the Safety Car, with Stroll's retirement in Madrid providing a recent example of a situation that only required a brief intervention.

At the same time, Rosberg acknowledged that the current rules can have a major impact on strategy depending on when the VSC is deployed. To make such situations less influential on the outcome of a race, the 2016 world champion raised the possibility of changing the rules surrounding pit stops, either by restricting access to the pit lane or adjusting the speed drivers are allowed to maintain while passing through it.

Rosberg also added that the main issue lies in the strategic advantage created by making a pit stop under VSC conditions. With the cars on track travelling at a reduced speed, drivers who enter the pits lose considerably less time than they would under normal racing conditions. The German therefore believes the regulations could be adjusted to make the time loss more comparable in both situations, creating a more level playing field for all drivers.

Norris himself, speaking to Sky Sports, revived a proposal that had already been discussed in previous drivers' briefings as a possible way of making VSC periods fairer. The McLaren driver argued that the neutralisation should remain in place for at least one full lap after being deployed, ensuring that every driver has the opportunity to react before racing resumes.

The Brit believes the current system can have a significant impact on a Grand Prix simply because of where a driver happens to be on the circuit when the VSC is activated. That was the case in Madrid, where he was unable to benefit from the reduced time loss associated with pitting under VSC conditions while his rivals could. Norris estimated that the timing of the intervention cost him around 20 seconds of race time and ultimately played a major role in his fight for victory.