autoevolution
 

FIA to Clarify Last-lap Safety Car Rules

Following the controversial decision taken by the F1 stewards in the recent Monaco Grand Prix, when Michael Schumacher was handed a penalty for passing Fernando Alonso after the safety car left the track in the last lap of the race, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued a statement in which it calls for clearer rules for the future.

Schumacher was allegedly told from the pits that he may pass Alonso after the safety car would leave the track, despite the fact that the field was running in the last lap and there were only a few hundreds of meters left to race.

After the race, the F1 stewards argued that “if the race ends whilst the safety car is deployed it will enter the pitlane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the chequered flag as normal without overtaking,” quoting rule 40.13 of the F1 regulation.

In a recent statement, the FIA revealed that “a proposal of the F1 Sporting Working Group will submit an amendment to the Sporting Regulations to address this issue,” with a final decision to be taken by the World Motor Sport Council at its next meeting in Geneva on June 23.

Adjustments to the regulations are necessary to clarify the procedure that cars must meet when the last lap is controlled by the Safety Car whilst also ensuring that the signaling for teams and drivers is made more clear,” said the FIA.

These adjustments will help to avoid the problem which occurred during the Monaco Grand Prix from happening in the future,” added the statement.

Mercedes GP initially issued an appeal to the decision, but eventually dropped it.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories