FIA - F1

F1 drivers given clampdown on dangerous safety car restarts

Ian Parkes Saturday 9 April 2022 08:15 Updated: 08:32

F1 drivers given clampdown on dangerous safety car restarts

The FIA has warned F1's drivers against potentially dangerous safety car restarts in the wake of what has been witnessed this season.

Niels Wittich, one of two new race directors brought in to replace the axed Michael Masi, has issued a clampdown ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

The directive comes after counterpart Eduardo Freitas oversaw the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in which Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen played cat and mouse with one another after Williams driver Nicholas Latifi's crash.

Verstappen, in particular, has developed a habit of pulling virtually alongside a rival after the safety car has peeled away and the games begin building up to the restart line.

Following on from the events at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Wittich has now made clear to the drivers that such antics will not be tolerated in the future.

An updated version of Wittich's event notes read: "In order to avoid the likelihood of accidents before the safety car returns to the pits, from the point at which the lights on the car are turned out, drivers must proceed at a pace which involves no erratic acceleration or braking nor any manoeuvre which is likely to endanger other drivers or impede the restart."

For clarification, the notes provide a diagram of what will be allowed and what won't be tolerated which can be seen below.

Latest News

Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice

F1 Results Today: Hamilton ROARS back as slippery track causes chaos

2 hours ago

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Hamilton BOMBSHELL drops as Red Bull announce NEW contract for 2025

38 minutes ago

GPFans Recap

Ricciardo tipped for NEW F1 role as star makes COMEBACK at Las Vegas Grand Prix - GPFans Recap

Yesterday 23:57

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: The music artists set to star at STUNNING event

Yesterday 22:57

Latest F1 News

Mercedes star SHOCKED by FIA reaction after damning drivers' statement

Yesterday 21:33

Latest F1 News

Verstappen reveals F1 RETIREMENT clue ahead of Las Vegas GP

Yesterday 20:47

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2024

GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun

George Russell

GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP HUNGARY 19 - 21 Jul

Oscar Piastri

GP BELGIUM 26 - 28 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP NETHERLANDS 23 - 25 Aug

Lando Norris

GP ITALY 30 Aug - 1 Sep

Charles Leclerc

GP AZERBAIJAN 13 - 15 Sep

Oscar Piastri

GP SINGAPORE 20 - 22 Sep

Lando Norris

GP USA 18 - 20 Oct

Charles Leclerc

GP MEXICO 25 - 27 Oct

GP QATAR 29 Nov - 1 Dec

GP ABU DHABI 6 - 8 Dec

Complete kalender 2024

F1 News 24/7

Races

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 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

F1 drivers given clampdown on dangerous safety car restarts

F1 drivers given clampdown on dangerous safety car restarts