The FIA changes the double-waving rule when a safety car is deployed!
F1. "Any cars" is the term used in 2021 regarding the fate of lapped drivers who have to unlap themselves to catch up with the leading car. This rule change could have completely changed the outcome a few months earlier in the Hamilton-Verstappen battle.
While last month several actions resulted from the FIA council, including the implementation of a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and the change of race director by two people alternating (see all the information), there was still one piece of information that had not been addressed: clarifying the regulation regarding the fact that "any F1 car must be able to lap." This rule was not clear enough and led to confusion.
Indeed, during the last Grand Prix of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, the FIA, represented by Michael Masi, only allowed the lapped drivers between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves and regain their position if they were within one lap of the race leader. The other lapped drivers behind Verstappen were ordered not to move.
The FIA sporting regulations stated until now: « Any car located behind the leading driver, at more than one lap, must be able to regain its position when the safety car is deployed. » The English version of the regulation uses the term « Any », which leaves doubts about whether it means "All".
For these reasons, the FIA's decisions could not be overturned despite Mercedes' appeal following the Grand Prix and Hamilton's loss of the world title to Verstappen, successfully overtaking Hamilton on the final lap.
The new rule
The FIA did not directly communicate about this new rule but published an update of the sporting regulations which includes paragraph 55.13.
« If the race director deems it safe and the message "Backmarkers can now overtake" has been sent through the official messaging system, anyall cars that are at least one lap behind must overtake the leader and the safety car. »
This will only apply to cars overtaken by the leader at the moment they cross the safety car line for the second time after the safety car has been deployed.
Having overtaken the leader, the cars must then catch up at a sustained pace, without overtaking, their position at the back of the safety car queue. While being lapped by slower cars, the cars must always stay on the ideal race line, except when necessary.
« Unless the race director deems it necessary, the safety car will come back in the following lap after the backmarkers have been allowed to unlap.
»
Three letters of great importance.
This rule, left to the understanding of the race director in 2021, has therefore been clarified to avoid any confusion in the future. These three letters "Any" or "All" would undoubtedly have changed the title of world champion for 2021.
With several lapped cars between Hamilton, the race leader in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Verstappen, Verstappen would have had to overtake several lapped cars before getting close enough to Hamilton to attempt a pass. With only one lap remaining, it would have undoubtedly been much more difficult for the Red Bull driver.
If nothing can change the past, the FIA at least makes the effort to correct elements that could lead to confusion, and there is no doubt that with a 101-page sporting regulation, other elements will still need to be improved in the future.
