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Confusion over Safety Car finish: Leclerc won, but understands little
Although Charles Leclerc still does not fully understand two weeks on why the British Grand Prix finished behind the Safety Car, the Ferrari driver admitted he was extremely happy with his victory at Silverstone.
By Sanne Vermeer - 2026-07-16T16:27:52.000Z - 2 min read
Charles Leclerc has secured his first victory since 2024, but two weeks after the British Grand Prix, a lingering question remains for the Monegasque. While he was delighted with the win, the manner in which the race concluded continues to baffle him. The Safety Car remaining out until the chequered flag raises questions even for the winner.
The incident that prompted the neutralization was Max Verstappen's late-race spin into the gravel trap at Stowe. What followed was confusion: television broadcasts briefly displayed an indication that racing would resume on the final lap. Nevertheless, the Safety Car led the field until the very end, after which the race was flagged off behind the green Aston Martin. The FIA later stated that race control had acted entirely according to the rules.
Leclerc, who called the procedure 'not a nice way to end a Formula 1 race', does not entirely understand why there was not more time. He referenced a potential rule stating that after lapped cars unlap themselves, one further lap must be waited. Still, the Ferrari driver firmly emphasized that safety must always come first in such crucial moments, adding he doubts whether a different decision would have significantly altered the race result.
The debate regarding race finishes under the Safety Car is not new. In other motorsport series, such as NASCAR, substantial efforts are made to avoid this, including extending races. However, as Liam Lawson pointed out, Formula 1 faces specific challenges—such as tight fuel limits and much longer circuits—that make such a rule difficult to implement.
While it is 'always a shame to finish a race like this', as Leclerc noted, there appear to be few immediately viable alternatives within the current Formula 1 framework. The consensus remains that a finish behind the Safety Car is an anticlimax, but the priority on safety and practical constraints mean the sport has yet to find a bulletproof solution.