(Motorsport-Total.com) – After the controversial end of the British Grand Prix behind the safety car, Formula 1 is once again discussing how to handle late neutralization phases. While former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard sharply criticizes the existing procedures and demands changes, Sky expert Anthony Davidson defends the race management’s approach, referring to the applicable regulations.
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The trigger for the debate was the incident involving Max Verstappen, who got stuck in the gravel trap at Stowe in lap 48 of 52. The safety car was then deployed. While Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton took the opportunity for a final tire change, George Russell stayed out and thereby took second place ahead of Hamilton. Many viewers then hoped for a restart, but that did not happen.
Additional confusion arose from a faulty TV graphic announcing that the safety car would come into the pits before the last lap. In fact, the field remained behind Bernd Mayländer until the finish. The FIA later explained that the graphic was due to a software error. Leclerc won the race ahead of Russell and Hamilton.
Coulthard criticizes slow safety car procedure
For Coulthard, this procedure is the real problem. In the podcast “Up To Speed”, the 13-time Grand Prix winner criticized what he sees as unnecessarily long processes.
“So boring and somehow something we need to find a solution for,” explains Coulthard. “We have a race track almost six kilometers long. There is an incident in a single corner. The safety car is deployed quite quickly once it is decided that the car cannot get out of the gravel trap anymore.”
Afterwards, however, Formula 1 loses unnecessary time. “Then we spend several laps waiting for the field to catch up to the safety car. And when everyone is behind the safety car, we wait again for the race director to allow the drivers to overtake the safety car. That just takes way too long.”
More speed thanks to modern technology?
The Scot is convinced that the top class could work much more efficiently with today’s technology. “We are Formula 1. We change wheels in 2.2 seconds, the world record was even once at 1.8 seconds. We develop the fastest racing cars in the world. As soon as the safety car is out, this process could start immediately.”
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With the help of GPS data, the process could be significantly accelerated in his view. “Because you know exactly where the cars are on the track based on the GPS data, that would be completely feasible as long as the drivers comply with the prescribed speed in the double yellow flag zone. We are absolutely capable of handling the entire process faster.”
According to Coulthard, such an approach could have prevented both the events at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi and the race finish in Silverstone.
Red flag as a solution for late incidents?
When podcast host Will Buxton later suggested that incidents within the last ten race laps should automatically be penalized with a red flag in the future, Coulthard was open to this approach. “Yes, I think that is a solution. That would give the opportunity to reorder everything.”
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At the same time, he emphasizes again that he also considers a faster procedure under safety car conditions to be realistic. “It is not beyond the possibilities of Formula 1 to implement that quickly on the track. There are only 22 cars, provided they are all still driving. It is not that complicated. These are the best drivers in the world.”
With regard to safety requirements, he adds: “They drive at more than 300 km/h just a few centimeters behind another car. And yet, in the event of an incident in a single corner, we act as if they were kindergarten children who are not trusted with certain things.”
Davidson insists on consistent rule interpretation
Anthony Davidson sees the situation much more soberly. The former Formula 1 driver defended the race management’s approach on the Sky Sports F1 Show and pointed out that the rules must be applied consistently.
“I think that is exactly why so many people were dissatisfied in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Those who knew the regulations knew what was prescribed there, because this rule has not changed since then,” explains Davidson.
He therefore sees a contradiction in the current criticism. “Back then, Hamilton fans and Mercedes fans wanted the regulations to be followed word for word. So you cannot now demand the opposite and say the race should definitely have been restarted. You have to apply the rules. They exist for a good reason.”
The fact that there was no restart in Silverstone was ultimately due only to the timing of the incident. “The only unfortunate thing was that we ran out of time. If there had been ten laps left to go, we would have restarted the race and everything would have been no problem.”
Davidson also sees advantages of a red flag
However, Davidson can also see some merit in the suggestion of a red flag in such situations. “Some people I have spoken to say that both in 2021 and in Silverstone, the red flag would have been the right solution. I think that would actually be a fairly simple option.”
Basically, Davidson has no problem with a Grand Prix ending behind the safety car. “Of course, I would prefer to see a race finish under green flag conditions. But especially in the last laps, the result is usually already clear anyway.”
The discussion about possible adjustments to the safety car procedure is therefore probably not over yet. Whether the FIA will draw consequences in the future and consider faster procedures or automatic race interruptions in the final phase, or decide to consistently apply the existing regulations, remains to be seen.
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