FIA Blames Software Error for 1-Lap British GP Safety Car Finish
Updated
Updated · Motorsport.com · Jul 5
FIA Blames Software Error for 1-Lap British GP Safety Car Finish
3 articles · Updated · Motorsport.com · Jul 5
Summary
An erroneous “safety car in this lap” message triggered confusion at Silverstone before race control reversed it 8 seconds later, leaving the safety car out to the checkered flag.
FIA said the finish still complied with Article B5.13.5 because lapped cars had only just been released on the penultimate lap and one full lap had to follow that unlapping procedure.
Charles Leclerc therefore won without the expected final-lap restart, while George Russell rose to second after Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had pitted for fresh soft tyres.
Hamilton still faces investigation for an earlier yellow-flag infringement, adding another post-race issue to a finish already under scrutiny.
The episode drew extra attention because late-race safety car procedures remain highly sensitive after the 2021 Abu Dhabi title decider, when FIA rules were applied incorrectly.