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Safety car confusion at Silverstone
Charles Leclerc won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone after Max Verstappen’s spin at Stowe triggered the safety car with six laps left, and the race finished under safety car conditions rather than with a final-lap restart.
“'Safety Car In This Lap' message was displayed erroneously”
Quotidiano Motori said the race ended “in modo caotico sotto safety car” after race control first announced the end of the safety car on the last lap and then revoked the communication.
Sky Sports reported the FIA explained that an “erroneous message” had suggested racing was about to resume for the final lap, but the correct procedure was followed to finish behind the safety car.
The FIA said the “Safety Car In This Lap” message was displayed erroneously due to a software error, and that the Safety Car period regulation, Article B5. 13.5, required one lap to be completed following the unlapping procedure.
ESPN added that when safety car driver Bernd Marylander approached the pit lane at the end of the race, he stayed out, meaning Leclerc took the checkered flag under safety car conditions at reduced speed.
Wolff, Verstappen, and Leclerc
After the farcical finish, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said, “I would have preferred this [finishing behind a safety car] to happen in 2021 – that was more important,” and added, “But it's good that the regs have been followed.”
The Telegraph reported Verstappen was furious after crashing out again, quoting him saying “f--- this car, f---ing unbelievable, f--- this” after he crashed out for the second race running.
Leclerc, who had pitted for fresh soft tyres in preparation for a restart, told Jenson Button that “Unfortunately, the end was maybe not the one I will have dreamt of,” while also saying he hoped to keep momentum going forward.
George Russell said it would have been great for the fans for it to have restarted, and he also noted that his tyres were “stone cold” before bringing them home.
Hamilton, sitting alongside Russell in the post-race press conference, said “Same. Nothing further to add.”
Championship impact and investigations
The result left Kimi Antonelli penalized and out of the points, with Quotidiano Motori saying he was 16° after a 5-second penalty for repeated track limits violations and two non-programmed stops due to damage to his car.
“The seven-time F1 world champion is still under investigation for an earlier yellow flag infringement.”
Quotidiano Motori also said Antonelli kept the lead of the World Championship with 25 points over Russell and 32 over Hamilton, while Motorsport.com’s account described Leclerc taking victory without a final-lap fight despite pitting for fresh soft tyres.
Hamilton was under investigation for a potential yellow flag infringement, and Motorsport.com noted that “The seven-time F1 world champion is still under investigation for an earlier yellow flag infringement.”
Crash.net reported that Hamilton faces a post-race investigation for a potential yellow flag infringement, while also stating that Russell managed to sneak ahead of Hamilton when Hamilton pitted for new soft tyres under the safety car.
In the paddock, Paddock News 24 quoted Wolff saying, “Sarebbe stato preferibile una gara diversa nel finale, ma le regole sono le regole,” as he argued that “le decisioni sono corrette” despite the lack of a restart.
