The Italian Grand Prix ended under the safety car. Was it a mistake and how to fix it in the future?
The 2022 Italian Grand Prix ended behind the safety car. Daniel Ricciardo’s car was parked on the track. The procedures were complicated by three things: the stewards failed to go into neutral, the car stopped in an inaccessible spot (for example to push) and the safety car waited for Russell instead of Verstappen, so it took of the time before the camp came together.
The situation somewhat rekindled the controversy surrounding the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as Michael Masi at the time argued that the teams had always pushed for races not to take place under the safety car.
Now the topic is back on the table. Only ten times in history has the race ended up under the safety car. So the question is whether this is such an urgent matter.
Races completed under the safety car
- 1999 Kandy Grand Prix
- Australian Grand Prix 2009
- 2009 Italian Grand Prix
- Monaco Grand Prix 2010
- Brazilian Grand Prix 2012
- 2014 Canadian Grand Prix
- 2015 Chinese Grand Prix
- Bahrain Grand Prix 2019
- Bahrain Grand Prix 2020
- Italian Grand Prix 2022
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Some have suggested that the race could be extended by a few laps, as in the case of Formula E. However, in that case, the drivers would run out of fuel: they will save a little behind the safety car, but he probably won not even enough for one. ride in full race mode. In the regulation it should be defined that in the tank the driver must have, for example, a reserve of 3, 4 laps beyond the scope of the race distance. However, this will mean further weight gain.
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Another option is simpler. Put the rules that if the safety car has to go out at a time when there are less than 5 laps to go to the end of the race, for example, red flags will be displayed. This can be followed by a fixed start or a flying start.
The FIA president has already called a meeting with the team leaders on various topics before the race, and it is almost certain that this issue will also be addressed.
“I think there is always something we can learn,” Christian Horner told Motorsport.com. “But it goes against the principles we discussed: it’s not good to finish races with the safety car. When they knew they wouldn’t be able to make it work, they should have raised a red flag and started over. But of course it didn’t.”
Toto Wolff has not ruled out this procedure, but according to him today it has no basis in the rules.
“I am really happy to have a referee and his colleagues who are enforcing the regulations under pressure from the media, fans and everyone to break the rules,” Wolff said. “At least Abu Dhabi has given the FIA more confidence in applying the rules.”
Asked by Motorsport.com if race management could have put the red flag to make sure the race was completed under the green flag, Wolff replied. “Why stop the race with a red flag? If someone is in the wall, if the track is blocked, put a red flag because you can’t pass. Why put a red flag just because you want to do a show for a lap or two?
If we want to do a truly first-rate last lap, let’s change the rules. I am for this. But today it is not in the rules “.
“I don’t want to make a title here that Toto wants to change the rules because racing sucks. I think we should all sit down and ask ourselves if there is anything we can do better. ‘
“I think we have to decide if we want the race to end under the green. And then we analyze it backwards. It may be that if there are five or ten laps to go we will have a safety car at the end, we will put the red flag and eventually we can race. rules, fine. But there are many more intelligent people, sports directors, who will have ideas. “
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