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The way the Italian Grand Prix ended, and the reaction to it, is in stark contrast to what happened in Abu Dhabi last year, in terms of the driving forces behind the event and how the rules work.
Social media was flooded with mockery of the time it took for Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren to clear between the two Lesmo corners, effectively finishing the race. That disappointed those expecting a short but intense shootout, sparking the usual conspiracy theories from those who believe the safety car time was deliberately extended to end the victory for Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
As we all know, the Italian Grand Prix has completed the provisions for proper application, So this is not to revisit it. It’s also not about looting Abu Dhabi’s coal because what happens there is well known in terms of rules being ignored. Rather, it’s about motivation and response.
What we saw at Monza was a version of the fallout that would have happened in Abu Dhabi if the race ended under the safety car. Frustration and unfinished business is natural when a grand prix isn’t done in race conditions, and the desire to avoid that anti-climax was at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s decision. It doesn’t matter whether it favors or compromises a driver – what F1 wants is an end to the race that suits the occasion. This has far-reaching implications.
There is already a tacit understanding that race control will do its best to ensure that any race is completed under green flag conditions. The reason for this is simply to avoid a wet burst of the safety car finish.
If Abu Dhabi ends this way, the consequences will be similar to Monza, but multiplied. Let’s not pretend that no one will accuse the safety car of taking too long to protect Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ positions.
But we can also consider other alternative versions of Abu Dhabi​​. Many believe the races at Monza last weekend and in Abu Dhabi last December should be marked with red flags to ensure the race is over.
An oft-cited example is the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw a two-lap stand-up sprint after the race was stopped.
The only difference was that Verstappen’s car and a lot of debris were littered on the high-speed straights, meaning it was an ironclad race stoppage.
In Abu Dhabi and Monza, red flags are unnecessary.
You can argue that stopping the game is pragmatic, but does that mean it’s correct? Let’s say Abu Dhabi ’21 is flagged with a red flag and the race starts a few laps from the stand. Many thought it would be a fairer race since everyone had a chance to change the tyres, but if Verstappen passed Hamilton and won the race, there would be complaints about whether the red flag was necessary. There are valid reasons for doing so, as this is an event that is adequately covered by the safety car.
Likewise, if Charles Leclerc skips Verstappen and wins at Monza when the stance restarts, Ferrari being allowed a chance to win a fair and equitable race will cause outrage.
What Abu Dhabi and Monza have revealed is that if you do it, damn it, if you don’t, damn it. Any safety car periods or red flags cannot but affect the shape of the race. Stakes vary, but race control decisions will create or limit competitive opportunities in different ways for each competitor on the track. This brings us back to the rules.
Events on the track are responded to as race control sees fit. Depending on the severity of the incident, it can range from a yellow flag all the way to a stoppage of play. While there is no hard and fast rule about when a safety car is needed instead of a virtual one, or when a red flag is needed over a safety car, the deciding factor is safety. If a car can be safely recovered and not scattered too much on the track, then a safety car may be sufficient. With multiple cars, extreme debris and track jams, a red flag is clearly needed.
If we think either or both of Monza or Abu Dhabi should be flagged as red flags, race control will get a major swing vote. How far is it from the end of the game? Give control of the race to decide to intervene for race reasons and you have a big problem at hand.
That’s what happened in Abu Dhabi with all the consequences. Race control is more interested in making sure the green flag is done than doing the work it does – let’s not pretend there’s no pressure as teams, drivers and pretty much everyone else have previously expressed their preference for races being done under the green flag .
Since this is about rules, the answer can be found in the rules. If F1 wants to stop racing to avoid this, it will be necessary to have rules on when this should or should not happen. So if an accident occurs that requires the safety car to be within a set percentage of completion, that’s a red flag and start over. Everyone knows where they stand and racial control cannot be accused of making choices other than by following the rules. It’s still possible to race for or against individual competitors, but it’s unavoidable when neutralizing the race is required.
There are other possible rules that can be used, but it is important that they are set in stone and applied correctly. The desire to “give fans what they want” and finish the race is legitimate, but it can be abused at worst and lead to misunderstandings and conspiracy theories at best.
Monza ’22 and Abu Dhabi ’21 are two sides of the same coin. Both suggest that F1 needs to make a simple choice between changing the rules to ensure the race ends, or just accepting that every once in a while, circumstances mean the race will end under the safety car.
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