The FIA have responded to criticism they received for their handling of the F1 Qatar Grand Pr🐼ix, outlining that it’s “normal practice” for the Safety Car not to be d🍌eployed due to debris.

Sunday’s race at the Lusail Internation♑💯al Circuit was turned on its head due to a wing mirror from Alex Albon’s Williams.

The mirror was ejected onto the start-finish straight💯 - but off the racing line.

Several laps later, Sauber’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Valtteri Bottas ran over itꦦ, scattering debris across the circuit.

It wasn’t until 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz picked up punctures that the Safety Car was ultimately deployed toꦇ clear the debris. 

෴While Hamilton and Mercedes are unsure the debris was the cause of the punctures, the delay of the Safety Car 💞had a significant impact on the race.

On Monday,𓆉 the FIA explained they followed their unusual procedures and that a Virtual Safety Car would not have been a solution.

The FIA noted: “Normal practice is for the safety car not to be deployed if there is a small amount of debris, and off thꦡe racing line.

“The extensive debris after a car hit the🐈 mirror and the punctures that occurred shortly after forced the decision on a safety car.

“A VSC would not have been a solution, as the cars remain spread-out and there is not suffici𝓰ent time for a marshal to c🔥lear the debris.

“The FIA constantly reviews its methods and processes and will analyse furthe🍌r the specific scenario, and discuss it with the teams, in order to see whether in the future a different course of action needs to be taken.”

Lando Norris’ hefty penalty

Another point of contention for the FIA and stewards was 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris’ 10-second stop-go penalty.

The Mc🦹Laren driver was handed the penalty for failing to slow do🎃wn under double-waved yellow flags.

A 10-second stop-go penalty - besides from an outright disqualification - is the harshe𓃲st penalty🦩 that can be given by the stewards.

Due to the timing of the Safety Car, it dropped Norris to the b💖ack of the field once it was served, bꦐefore recovering to finish 10th.

The FIA explained that the penalty Norris received was in line “with the pe𝐆nalty guidilnes” given to the teams in February 2024.

Additionally, t൲hey noted Norris’ offence was a “serious compromise of safety” thus the harsh penaltᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚy.

Since 2014, a 10-second🃏 stop-go penalty was handed out o💧n two previous occasions for the same offence.

Nikita Mazepin🌳 and Nicholas Latifi received the same penalty at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix for ignoring double-waved yellows.

Similarly, the𓆉 same for Kimi Raikkonen at the 2017 Belgian Graᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚnd Prix.

Safety Car lights

The FIA ꦑalso confirmed that the Safety Car lights had malfunctioned during thไe second period.

The issue was discussed between 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri in the podium cooldown room.

The FIA explained: “During the 2nd safety car period, the lightꦅs malfunctioned.

“All teams were verbally advised that the SC would be coming in, so the re-start too𓆉k place in the normal fashion.

“While the reason for the malfunction was identified and fixed, out of ꧙caution, the safety car was swapped in time for its 3rd deployment.”