FIA clarifies safety‑car protocol that decided the British Grand Prix

The FIA attributed the contentious conclusion of the British Grand Prix to a software error that triggered an initial safety‑car deployment for a final‑lap shootout, only to have the decision overturned.

When Max Verstappen crashed with six laps remaining, the safety car was deployed, sparking a frenetic finish at Silverstone.

After Verstappen’s Red Bull was retrieved from the Stowe gravel trap by the marshals, FIA race control executed its standard protocol, permitting the lapped cars to unlap themselves.

These cars were cleared on the penultimate lap; however, F1 regulations require one lap to be completed after the unlapping procedure, which was scheduled to be the race’s final lap.

On the penultimate lap, race control’s system displayed a “safety car in this lap” message to signal a one‑lap restart.

Eight seconds later, the messaging was updated to “safety car deployed,” and the safety car remained on track for the concluding lap, effectively ending the race.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photo by: Ben Stansall / Pool /AFP via Getty Images

The FIA issued a clarification regarding the incident, noting that Safety Car period regulation, Article B5.13.5, requires one lap to be completed after the unlapping procedure.

Race Operations adhered to the regulation; however, the “Safety Car In This Lap” message was shown in error due to a software glitch.

Consequently, Charles Leclerc secured victory without a final‑lap battle, having pitted for fresh soft tyres in anticipation of a restart.

George Russell, who elected not to pit for new tyres, consequently inherited second place for Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton also made a pit stop.

The seven‑time world champion, still under investigation for an earlier yellow‑flag infringement, remains the subject of scrutiny.

The heightened focus on late‑race restarts in Formula 1 is understandable given the contentious restarts witnessed at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where procedural errors allowed Max Verstappen to pass Lewis Hamilton and claim the championship.

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