Sainz labels Virtual Safety Car as 'useless'

Carlos Sainz believes that VSC only advantages the race leader and hampers those racing further down the field, labeling the feature as 'useless'.

The VSC was deployed three times last weekend at Sepang, and while many consider the system as being more fair as it a approximately preserves a gap between two drivers, Sainz says that is precisely why in his view the system contributes nothing  to a race, especially for midfield runners.

"In my opinion, they [VSC periods] are a bit useless, I don’t like it, it is not something that I enjoy," Sainz said after the Malaysian Grand Prix.

"Because when you are a midfielder, you prefer safety cars all the time, proper safety cars to regroup the field.

"It works as it should, but obviously people play a lot with it to warm their tyres, to create their own gaps before the pitstops.

"You can play a lot with it to your advantage or disadvantage of the others, so I don’t really enjoy it. I don’t think that it is something that is contributing in F1, that’s my personal opinion."

The Toro Rosso driver underlined the advantage the VSC brings to a race leader.

"If I am a race leader, I probably like it, if I am a midfielder, I probably don’t like it.

"I have been in many racing series where you have a 10-second lead, suddenly a safety car comes out and you have to battle again.

"But looking [at it], maybe it’s a bit more fair, but I don’t think it’s what Formula 1 needs, especially for a midfielder."

2016 Malaysian Grand Prix - Quotes of the week

F1i's driver ratings for the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix

FULL REPORT: Ricciardo wins in Malaysia as Hamilton retires from lead

Breakfast with... Gianni Morbidelli

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter