What is required from drivers when the Safety Car is deployed?

When the Safety Car is deployed, drivers are required to form up in a single file behind it. This procedure is essential for ensuring the safety of all participants on track, as it allows the Safety Car to control the pace of the race while providing a safe environment for marshals to attend to any incidents.

By forming a single file, drivers reduce the likelihood of collisions and maintain an organized formation that reflects the order of the race prior to the Safety Car's deployment. Additionally, this helps to clearly inform drivers about their positions and ensures that they are not racing against each other while the track is being cleared for safety reasons.

Maintaining racing pace or speeding up to follow a leader would undermine the purpose of the Safety Car, which is to slow down the field and protect the integrity of the event during hazardous conditions. Allowing each driver to decide their pace would create chaos and potential dangers on the track, which is precisely what the Safety Car aims to avoid. Thus, forming up in a single file is critical for maintaining safety and order during a race involving a Safety Car.