Lapped cars may now overtake rule ammended to prevent Verstappen-like situations
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How Safety Car procedures are handled have been of particular interest in F1 since the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The FIA has made various adjustments since, with the latest being confirmed ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
During a Safety Car period in the Australian Grand Prix, Haas driver, Oliver Bearman, after unlapping himself, came into the pits for fresh rubber, and came out ahead of Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman unclear of what was to happen next, reached out to the Red Bull pitwall and asked for clarification on what the British rookie was going to do. To which his race engineer replied that he would be staying ahead until the restart, but would have to let him go as soon as racing was resumed.
Oliver Bearman comes out ahead of Max Verstappen during Safety Car perior in the Australian Grand Prix
FIA ammend lapped cars rule to avoid Verstappen-Bearman confusion repeat
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According to the updated regulations published yesterday, the Race Director's ability to alter the procedure as needed reads as follows:
“If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, the message ‘lapped cars may now overtake’ will be sent to all competitors using the official messaging system, and the green light on the safety car will be illuminated to signal to all cars that have been lapped by the leader that they are required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the Safety Car. […]"
“Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the Safety Car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking and make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the Safety Car."
"Whilst such cars are proceeding around the track to rejoin the line of cars behind the Safety Car, and at the sole discretion of the race director, the pit lane exit may be closed when the Safety Car and line of cars behind it are approaching and passing the pit lane exit."
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