FIA reveal regulation quirk to blame for lengthy Nürburgring safety car
FIA reveal regulation quirk to blame for lengthy Nürburgring safety car
Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has explained strict regulations left him unable to end the safety car period sooner than was possible during the Eifel Grand Prix.
The safety car completed five laps from 45 to 49 at the Nürburgring as marshals recovered the McLaren of Lando Norris.
After noticing the car had been removed from the confines of the circuit, leading duo Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen questioned the safety car's pace and called for the race to resume citing concerns tyre temperatures would drop below the operating window. Asked as to why he was unable to act on these comments sooner, Masi replied: “Quite simply, there is a requirement in the sporting regulations to wave all the lapped cars past.
"So I think from that point, it was position six onwards that were still running, so it would have been 10 or 11 cars that had to unlap themselves and therefore, the safety car period was a bit longer than what we would have normally expected.”
Questions were also raised as to why a full safety car was required given that Norris had parked alongside a marshals' post with a gap in the fencing.
Explaining why a virtual safety car would have been inappropriate, Masi added: “A couple of points there. One was, obviously, Lando’s car had some smoke and fire.
“The other was that at first glance we weren’t confident that the car could actually be recovered into the opening that was there due to the tightness of it, so rather than having to react along the way, it was determined to go for a safety car.
“That way it could be dealt with all at once immediately, so it was the safest action in that circumstance.”
Before you go...
Hamilton and Raikkonen write history, but Eifel GP provided so much more
Albon slated for "unprofessional" move by Kvyat
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Haas announce Hulkenberg EXIT as F1 star's new team confirmed
- 34 minutes ago
Red Bull to lose F1 MVP as true cost of Horner saga hits
- 2 hours ago
F1 pundit reveals the thing about Wolff that ANNOYS Horner
- 2 hours ago
Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave
- 3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 legend reveals flood of death threats
- Today 06:27
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Related news
FIA boss HITS OUT at 'court of public opinion' after interference allegations
FIA announce crucial top three UPDATE in China after investigating F1 star
FIA CANCEL important drivers' meeting after huge drama in China
Ecclestone's wife signs letter of SUPPORT for under-fire FIA president
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860