Szafnauer: FIA Should Have Red-Flagged British GP After Verstappen Crash

Former Formula 1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes the FIA missed a golden opportunity to give the British Grand Prix a spectacular finish. The Silverstone spectacle concluded behind the safety car after Max Verstappen beached his Red Bull in the gravel at Stowe on lap 48 of 52, leaving race control without enough time to properly cycle the field and resume green-flag racing before the chequered flag.

Why it matters:

The call denied a sell-out British crowd a grandstand finish at one of the season's marquee events and reignited debate over how race control balances strict procedure with on-track entertainment. Szafnauer contended that while officials followed the unlapping regulations to the letter, they possessed full authority to throw a red flag and guarantee a competitive conclusion without contravening the rules, drawing a pointed contrast to the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi finale.

The details:

• Charles Leclerc secured his first victory of the season ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, though the closing stages were defined by the safety car rather than on-track battles.
• Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast, Szafnauer revealed he directly contacted FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis after the race to discuss the handling of the incident.
• The former Alpine chief argued a red flag should have been shown purely "for the fans," insisting it would have been entirely within the regulations and ensured a fair, standing restart.
• The mandatory unlapping procedure consumed the final four laps, preventing any racing action after Verstappen's retirement and leaving the field frozen in position.

What's next:

The paddock now shifts focus to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Round 10 of the 2026 season runs from July 17-19, marking the final race before the summer break and a crucial checkpoint in the development race up and down the grid.