Red Bulls team boss Christian Horner pleaded for a rule adjustment after the safety car crossed the finish line in Monza. The Italian Grand Prix was practically neutralized on the last laps on Sunday, and there could be no more attacks. The reason was a safety car phase, because Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren, which had been parked, could not be removed from the danger area quickly enough because it was in gear. “The biggest losers” were the fans. “We have to tackle this quickly,” emphasized the team boss of Italy winner Max Verstappen.
The 24-year-old Dutchman was already clearly heading for victory when his lead in the race over Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was gone by the safety car. The leading group with Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell and Sainz had fresh tires missed and lined up close together for the flying restart. Would the dominant Dutchman still have defended his lead? “I wouldn’t have worried,” he said.
The pulse rose, the tension grew, Ferrari’s hope was awakened: Leclerc has the faster car on the straights, he could suck, overtake, refine the celebration of Ferrari’s 75th anniversary. But Formula 1 is – too slow. Within five laps it is not possible to get the McLaren out of the danger zone, one gear is stuck. And so the field rolls behind the safety car, obeying the regulations, to the finish. The fans whistle. “The ending was frustrating. I would have liked to have driven another race, ”says Leclerc with a bitter expression.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff emphasized that the German race director Niels Wittich, unlike his predecessor, only followed the rules at the highly controversial season finale last year. In Abu Dhabi, the then race director Michael Masi made sure with his decisions that on the last lap after a safety car phase there was still the all-important showdown for the world championship and Verstappen was still able to overtake record champion Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. After that, the procedure for safety car phases was revised.
After the race in Monza, the World Automobile Association confirmed that safety is the top priority during a rescue and that it doesn’t matter what phase of the race it is in. Eight years ago, while salvaging a racing car that had strayed off the track, the young French Ferrari driver Jules Bianchi crashed under a recovery crane with his then Marussia racing car. He died of his most serious injuries in the summer of the following year (2015).
The finale behind the safety car was also a topic in the international media:
Great Britain:
„The Telegraph“: “Verstappen is very close now. It is possible that he will make it at the next race in Singapore. That is (but) unlikely. Not only would Verstappen need to win, but Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and George Russell would all need to finish far behind. He will probably have to wait until the next race in Japan. But that hardly matters now. The air is long gone from this championship.”
„Daily Mail“: “Despite his success, the victory of the 24-year-old Red Bull driver (Max Verstappen) was marred by the fact that a safety car was deployed in the closing stages after Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren stalled with an engine problem.”
„The Sun“: “But this 31st win of (Max Verstappen’s) career (…) was panned by Ferrari fans who felt their husband Charles Leclerc was deprived of a chance to fight for victory.”
„The Guardian“: “They are indeed painful days for Ferrari and perhaps none with a more merciless finality. As the sun went down over Monza, the Scuderia were downright beaten this season. The Italian Grand Prix was another masterful win for Max Verstappen, who was definitely within reach of a second title at Monza. But I guess it’s infinitely harder for Scuderia to deal with because they’ve been beaten this time without really doing anything wrong.”
Spain:
“Sports world”: “It was a reality check. (…) That was what Ferrari experienced at home.”
Italy:
“The Republic”: “Final under boos in Monza”
“La Gazzetta dello Sport”: “For God’s sake, while safety is paramount in a risky profession like auto racing, the finale of the Italian Grand Prix did quite a bit of damage to the image of Formula 1.”
„Tuttosport“: “The Italian GP was destroyed. Chaos FIA. And who is making up for it now?”
“Corriere dello Sport”: “Chaos at Monza. Ferrari pissed off. The safety car prevented Leclerc’s final attack.”
Switzerland:
„Blick“: “For the 13th time since 1950, a Formula 1 World Championship round has ended under the yellow flag. The around 140,000 cheerful spectators in Monza didn’t deserve such a lazy end.”
