The final phase of the British GP, which ended behind the safety car after Max Verstappen’s crash, led to much discussion. Due to an incorrect message, it briefly seemed that the safety car would come in before the last lap, but that ultimately did not happen. The FIA later confirmed that the procedure was carried out fully according to the rules. In the aftermath of the British GP, alternative regulations were considered, but the team bosses are not convinced.
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Afterwards, various alternatives were suggested to avoid races ending behind the safety car, including a NASCAR-like approach or an automatic red flag in the final phase. During the official FIA press conference at Spa-Francorchamps, several team bosses were asked whether race control should be given more freedom to increase the entertainment value of the sport.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane emphasized that this decision lies with race director Rui Marques and the FIA. “I think he (Marques, ed.) has the authority to do that if he wants to. Honestly, I would leave the organization of the races to the race director and the FIA, and generally they do that incredibly well.” Racing Bulls benefited from the neutralization; Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad secured sixth and seventh place respectively. “For me, the situation was of course perfect,” Permane admitted. “But I realize that’s not what we are here for. We are here to put on a show, and that show could perhaps have been better. But I think they already have that authority if they want it, so that’s up to them.”
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‘Sometimes that just happens’
Audi race director Allan McNish also acknowledged that no one wants to see a race end behind the safety car, but pointed out that safety always comes first. “I might add that no one wants a race to end behind the safety car, regardless of the reason,” he added. “It also depends on the specific circumstances of the race, so you can’t make a general rule about it. It may be related to safety, but other factors can also play a role.”
“Regarding the entertainment, I thought the event at Silverstone was great, by the way,” McNish noted. “The race itself was very good in my opinion. It was just a pity that it ended behind the safety car. That’s not what we want to see, and I include the FIA in that. But sometimes that just happens.”
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Read everything about the Belgian GP here
