Video: Is Monza finish outrage justified or ridiculous?
Does Formula 1 need rule changes to prevent a repeat of the Italian Grand Prix’s safety-car finish, or would that be a ludicrous kneejerk? The Race has that debate in our new video
Formula 1 and the FIA received plenty of criticism both inside the paddock and from fans after the Italian Grand Prix fizzled out with a long safety car period.
But amid the clamour for format or rule changes to ensure racing finishes, there is also a line of argument that this will sometimes just happen in motorsport and there’s no need for contrived, kneejerk changes.
And that debate is taking place among The Race’s team too – as Glenn Freeman, Ben Anderson and Scott Mitchell-Malm prove in our new video on the subject.
Glenn: “I just think the lesson that should have been learned from the end of last year was a better system than – this far into the 21st century – still ending a race under a full course yellow.”
Ben: “I don’t really see what all the fuss is about here. The safety car isn’t deployed to make the races more exciting – that’s a happy accident that you sometimes get. The point of the safety car is to protect the field and particularly the marshals. And sometimes, you just run out of time.”
Scott: “I understand that some people in life just like eating plain bread sandwiches and watching paint dry but I just don’t fit into the same category as Ben I’m afraid, so I completely disagree!”
Here’s their full debate, including suggestions for what – if anything – should change:
