Martin Brundle has called for a complete rewrite of the FIA’s safety car regulations after the British Grand Prix finished under caution.
Silverstone disappointment sparks calls for change
The race at Silverstone ended with a safety car on lap 52, stripping spectators of a competitive finish after Max Verstappen stalled at Stowe corner.
Race dynamics before the incident
Charles Leclerc had overtaken most of the field, chasing Kimi Antonelli, yet the safety car was deployed on lap 48 when Verstappen disappeared in gravel.
Unlapp procedure erodes the climax
Three laps later, the race director lifted the rule that allows lapped cars to pass the leaders. Brundle argues this “unlapp” process can extend safety car periods on a circuit as long as the 3‑hour Silverstone.
Brundle’s critique of the current system
He notes that the rule enables backmarkers to interfere with front‑row drivers and yet, on a dry track, can still lengthen the caution. The regulator is supposed to send lapped cars home by the next lap, but the Swissman James MIT in 2021 shows inconsistencies.
Three proposed fixes
- Adopt IndyCar’s approach: in the final 10 laps, lapped cars would exit the track and rejoin at the back.
- Force lapped runners to fall behind the front pack using a stand‑by procedure.
- Invoke a red flag and issue a standing restart, preventing the safety car from re‑entering the race floor.
Implications for future races
Brundle believes prioritising unable runners instead of leaders diminishes fan expectation and jeopardises the sport’s integrity. The suggested measures could shorten safety car durations and preserve race excitement.
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