Martin Brundle, former Formula 1 driver and current analyst for Sky Sports, has questioned the FIA’s safety regulations, recommending three changes after the disappointing finish of the British GP.
In the race held at the legendary Silverstone circuit, it seemed that an exciting finish was on the way with Charles Leclerc leading the final laps, despite the pressure from Kimi Antonelli. However, the situation became complicated when the safety car was deployed on lap 48 of 52, after four-time champion Max Verstappen got stuck in the gravel at Stowe corner.
The race ended under safety car conditions, leaving fans without an exciting finish. This situation occurred due to the easing procedure, which prevented the race from being played to the end.
On lap 51, the race director allowed lapped cars to pass in front of the leaders. Brundle pointed out that this system can extend safety car periods, especially on long circuits like Silverstone. “If it is considered safe, the race director can allow lapped cars to pass the leaders and drive at a faster but safe speed,” Brundle wrote in his article for Sky Sports.
The inception of this system was previously intended to avoid interference from lapped drivers in the race, but Brundle argues that on circuits like Silverstone and Spa, this can unnecessarily prolong the safety car period. Additionally, he recalled the controversial last lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.
To address this situation, Brundle suggested three possible adjustments: firstly, in the case of being in the last 10 laps, lapped cars could retire to the pit lane and rejoin at the end of the line; secondly, lapped cars could stay behind the competitive group; and finally, a red flag could be opted for to allow a restart in race order. According to Brundle, “it prioritizes those who haven’t made the necessary merits ahead of the leaders and, most importantly, the fans.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_e6832480b15f33d00626e7b0f9f3c3aa7b6054e3