FIA clarifies software error caused late British GP safety car confusion

The FIA has clarified that a software error caused the British Grand Prix to finish under safety car conditions, explaining why the race did not restart for a final green-flag lap despite an on-screen message suggesting otherwise. Confusion erupted after Max Verstappen's late spin triggered a safety car that mixed lapped cars with the leaders.

Why it matters:

The incident shows how technical glitches can undermine race operations and fan trust. With championships often decided by fine margins, clarity in officiating is essential.

The details:

• Verstappen's retirement at Turn 15 prompted the late safety car, bunching lead-lap and lapped runners behind Bernd Mayländer's Mercedes-AMG machine.
• On lap 50 of 51, race control ordered lapped cars to unlap themselves. The "Safety Car Ending" message then appeared erroneously due to a software bug.
• Regulatory requirement: Article B5.13.5 mandates one full lap after unlapping before the safety car can return. The FIA confirmed this rule was followed, even though the message misled teams and viewers.
• Per the sporting regulations, once the "LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE" instruction is issued, the safety car returns to the pits at the end of the following lap.

What's next:

The governing body faces pressure to tighten race control systems and prevent similar failures. While the rule was followed precisely, the error has reignited debate over whether F1 needs more flexibility to ensure races finish under racing conditions.