Major split revealed over possible F1 regulation change

RacingNews365 readers are almost evenly divided on whether pit stops should be restricted during virtual safety car and safety car periods, with a poll following the Spanish Grand Prix showing 49.0 per cent in favour of leaving the current rules untouched, against 47.7 per cent who want pitting banned unless a car has suffered major damage. A further 3.3 per cent said they were unsure.

The poll was launched after a VSC period at the Madring, triggered by Lance Stroll's stranded Aston Martin, handed several drivers a cut-price pit stop while race leader Lando Norris had already passed the pit entrance. 

Norris went on to finish third, behind winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen.

Norris used the aftermath to call for changes, suggesting the pit lane should be closed during neutralisations or that a minimum one-lap duration should apply to any VSC, arguing that the current system lets timing alone decide races.

Under existing FIA Sporting Regulations, competitors may enter the pit lane to change tyres during both VSC and full Safety Car periods, provided race control has not explicitly closed pit entry. Cars must still respect delta time restrictions before crossing the pit entry line.

Critics of the system point to precedent, including Sebastian Vettel's win at the 2018 Australian Grand Prix, where a VSC-timed stop jumped him ahead of Lewis Hamilton. 

Opponents of closing the pit lane counter that damaged cars need immediate access to the pits to avoid compounding an incident, a safety argument that has repeatedly stalled reform proposals.

With the poll result essentially a dead heat, the debate over fairness versus safety looks set to run well beyond Madrid.