FIA reveals cause of British GP false restart

The Silverstone race ended behind the Safety Car after Max Verstappen crashed out late at Stowe, denying what briefly appeared to be a one-lap shootout to the flag.

Race control initially displayed a “Safety Car in this lap” message, raising expectations the race would resume for a final lap of green-flag running.

That message was then effectively reversed moments later, with the Safety Car remaining on track through to the chequered flag as Charles Leclerc completed victory ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

The FIA clarified that race control followed the regulations correctly, and that the confusion was caused by the wrong automated message being displayed.

“The Safety Car period regulation, Article B5. 13.5, states that one lap must be completed following the unlapping procedure,” the FIA said.

“This process was followed by Race Operations. The “Safety Car In This Lap” message was displayed erroneously due to a software error.”

The key issue centred on the timing of the unlapping procedure, with lapped cars instructed to pass the Safety Car and rejoin the back of the queue late in the race.

Under the sporting regulations, once that message is issued, the Safety Car is not permitted to return to the pits until the end of the following lap.

With the unlapping process only completed in the closing stages, there was no longer enough time to restart the race without breaching the regulations.

That meant the race had to finish behind the Safety Car, even though the earlier race control message had suggested otherwise.

The situation created confusion for teams, drivers and fans, particularly as Leclerc and Hamilton had both pitted under the Safety Car in anticipation of a possible late restart.

Russell stayed out, which allowed him to jump Hamilton for second, while Leclerc retained the lead and ultimately won the race without having to defend on a final lap.

The incident drew immediate scrutiny given Formula 1’s recent history with late-race Safety Car procedures, particularly after the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

On that occasion, the regulations were not followed correctly before a final-lap restart, with the FIA later acknowledging errors in how the title-deciding race was handled.

At Silverstone, however, the governing body stressed the correct process had been followed, even if the messaging system created the impression that a restart was about to happen.

Leclerc wins dramatic British GP as rivals hit late trouble