FIA stewards call for F1 rule talks after safety car near-miss

Three drivers were cleared of wrongdoing after almost colliding under safety car conditions

Ewan Gale

Sunday 10 April 2022 11:15 Updated: 12:04

The FIA race stewards have called for potential changes to F1's regulations after clearing three drivers of an incident behind the safety car at the Australian Grand Prix.

Mick Schumacher came frighteningly close to hitting AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda under safety car conditions on the start-finish straight at Albert Park, with the Haas driver almost triggering scenes similar to the multi-car crash at Mugello in 2020.

Both drivers plus Tsunoda's team-mate Pierre Gasly were summoned to the stewards but subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing.

The stewards' report read: "Drivers were in line on the main straight behind the safety car with lights on.

"Cars were accelerating and decelerating to keep tyre and brake temperatures up in anticipation of the restart.

"GAS [Gasly] slowed in reaction to the car in front, TSU [Tsunoda] also slowed in reaction. MSC [Schumacher] was closer to TSU as he slowed, while trying to maintain the ten car length maximum separation specified in the regulations, and had to move left and overtake TSU while braking to avoid colliding with him."

F1 drivers are not permitted to leave a gap of more than ten car lengths to the car ahead when under safety car conditions but suggesting change needs considering, the report added: "The stewards find no driver guilty of breaching the regulation.

"However, it is clear that the speed and braking capabilities of F1 cars, especially while trying to maintain required temperatures in tyres and brakes, are in tension with the ten car length separation behind the safety car traditionally specified in the regulations.

"This needs to be a point of emphasis in future driver briefings, to ensure the drivers collectively agree on how best to address this challenge before an unfortunate incident occurs."

Magnussen escapes punishment for forcing Alonso off-track

Late in the race, Fernando Alonso began to drop back as his Alpine experienced severe graining on his left-front medium tyre.

Kevin Magnussen was promoting himself through the midfield for Haas and after making a move on the Spaniard at turn three, Alonso tried to repass the Dane into turn four.

Alonso ran wide and after investigating the incident, the stewards determined Magnussen has not contravened the rules.

"After MAG [Magnussen] passed ALO [Alonso] at turn 3, ALO had a run and was attempting an outside pass on MAG going through turn 4," read the stewards' report.

"The cars went through turn 4 essentially side by side but at the exit ALO was off the track.

"The drivers agreed that this was hard racing with no clear breach of the regulations. The stewards agree and take no further action."