Norris raises objection to Sainz’s VSC plan: what about rain?

Carlos Sainz wants to make the VSC rules fairer by temporarily closing the pit lane. Lando Norris raises a concern: what if drivers are on slicks and it suddenly starts raining?

GPBeat · Newsroom23 Sept 2026, 23:40 · 2 min

Williams driver Carlos Sainz believes the VSC system, under which drivers must adhere to a prescribed delta time, is unfair. Writing on 23 September ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, RacingNews365 describes his proposal to close the pit lane temporarily during such a neutralisation. This raises the question of how the rules should deal with the advantage that the timing of a VSC can bring.

Speaking to RacingNews365 and other outlets, McLaren driver Norris raises a practical objection: what should drivers do if it starts raining while they are still on slicks and the pit lane is closed? His question shows why he does not see closing it as a simple solution. The report does not make clear whether Sainz envisages an exception for rain.

According to RacingNews365’s reconstruction, Norris experienced the consequences of the timing himself during the Spanish Grand Prix. He was leading Kimi Antonelli by six seconds, but was already going through the final corner when the VSC was deployed. Antonelli, by contrast, could head straight into the pit lane.

Norris stopped a lap later, when the race had returned to green-flag conditions. The outlet attributes his dropping behind Antonelli and Max Verstappen and ultimately finishing third to this. The six seconds cited were therefore his lead before that sequence of stops, not a measured pit-stop advantage.

Norris does not offer a fully developed alternative. He says he has given it little thought because, in his view, the rules cannot be changed this season anyway. He does, however, want the FIA to speak to the teams first and then ask the drivers for their views.

Source context

Based on a single RacingNews365 article dated 23 September 2026; independent confirmation and official timing data are not available.

The quotation in the source title has been translated from the supplied Dutch wording.

Claims and supporting evidence 6

According to RacingNews365, Williams driver Carlos Sainz believes the VSC system with delta times is unfair and wants changes. The outlet describes his proposal as temporarily closing the pit lane during a VSC period. The discussion takes place in the build-up to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

This finding from the source must be read within the stated scope and source context. Sainz’s position and proposal. Build-up to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix; published on 23 September 2026. Sainz’s proposal is summarised in this report. His full explanation and any exceptions are not available.

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McLaren driver Lando Norris objects that a closed pit lane could pose a problem if it starts raining while drivers are on slicks. RacingNews365 presents this as a comment made to its own outlet, among others.

This finding from the source must be read within the stated scope and source context. Norris’s substantive objection. Published on 23 September 2026. This is a hypothetical objection from Norris, not evidence that every version of Sainz’s proposal is unworkable. No full transcript of the conversation has been supplied.

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According to RacingNews365’s reconstruction, Norris had a six-second lead over Kimi Antonelli in the Spanish Grand Prix. When the VSC was deployed, Norris was already going through the final corner, while Antonelli could enter the pit lane immediately.

This finding from the source must be read within the stated scope and source context. Race context: the lead and the timing of the VSC. Spanish Grand Prix; recounted in the report of 23 September 2026. The lead and timing are taken from the news report; official timing data have not been supplied. The six seconds refer to the lead over Antonelli, not a measured pit-stop advantage.

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RacingNews365 reports that Norris stopped a lap later under green-flag conditions. The outlet attributes his dropping behind Antonelli and Max Verstappen to this sequence of pit stops; according to the report, Norris finished third.

This finding from the source must be read within the stated scope and source context. Race context: the stop under green-flag conditions and the finishing position. Spanish Grand Prix; recounted in the report of 23 September 2026. The finishing position is a result reported by the outlet. The causal link comes from RacingNews365’s reconstruction, with no lap times or pit-stop analysis supplied.

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Norris believes the FIA should first discuss the subject with the teams and then put it to the drivers to hear their views.

This finding from the source must be read within the stated scope and source context. Norris’s preferred consultation on the rules. Published on 23 September 2026. This is Norris’s preferred approach, not an announcement that the FIA has scheduled or is already holding these discussions.

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Norris says he has given little thought to a solution because, in his view, nothing can be changed about it this year anyway. His response therefore contains a specific objection, but no fully developed alternative.

This finding from the source must be read within the stated scope and source context. Limits of Norris’s position. 2026 season; published on 23 September 2026. The absence of a fully developed alternative applies only to the supplied comments. His assessment of changes within the season has not been established as a formal rule.

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This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.