• News

FIA set to discuss safety car issues

The root of the problem: Lewis Hamilton overtook the saftey car in Valencia © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News:
• Alonso backs down on 'manipulated' race comments
  
• Feature:
• The safety car lottery
  
• News:
• Livid Ferrari calls for safety car rule change
  
• News:
• Schumacher seeks rules clarification
  

• Race:
• European Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso
• |
• Ross Brawn
• |
• Tonio Liuzzi

• Teams:
• Ferrari
• |
• McLaren
• |
• Racing Point
• |
• Renault

Meetings have been arranged to address the issues that arose around the safety car regulations after Sunday's European Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso and Ferrari were furious when a drive-through penalty was issued to Lewis Hamilton several laps after he had broken the rules by overtaking the safety car, allowing him to hold onto second place. But also unhappy were several of the nine drivers given five-second time penalties for driving too quickly during the same safety car period.

"Vitaly (Petrov) came in too quickly and we accept the penalty for him, but it's hard to understand Robert (Kubica)'s penalty," said Renault's chief engineer Alan Permane.

Tonio Liuzzi told ESPNF1 that the stewards need to be more consistent with the punishments they hand out: "To be honest, I think the five-second penalty that was handed down was a bit ridiculous. In my opinion they should give a 20-second penalty or nothing at all - it should be one or the other."

Also seeking clarification is Mercedes, after Michael Schumacher found a red light at the end of the pitlane despite the fact a line of traffic was not yet formed up behind the safety car.

"There was a green light for a moment and then suddenly it went red again. We believe that this was not correct," said Michael Schumacher.

Alonso wrote on his Ferrari blog: "I was pleased to hear that the FIA has reacted promptly, calling an extraordinary meeting of the Sporting Working Group and I am confident, certain even, that all the points up for discussion will be cleared up in a comprehensive fashion."

It is understood the meeting will be held next week.

Moreover, Mercedes' Ross Brawn told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport that the issues will be discussed by the team bosses at Silverstone next Wednesday.

"There are too many unanswered questions that can be interpreted either way," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.