Six-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has called for a rethink on how races are re-started behind the safety car because he fears drivers are being put at risk.
Sunday’s Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello was stopped twice due to crashes, the first time after a four-car pile-up when backmarkers accelerated too soon.
Valtteri Bottas had been leading for Mercedes and controlling the pace, backing the pack up and delaying his getaway for maximum effect.
Hamilton, who took his 90th career win at the Italian circuit, told reporters the safety car lights were being turned off, effectively handing over control to the race leader, later and later.
“They’re obviously trying to make it more exciting but ultimately today you’ve seen they’ve put people at risk, so perhaps they need to rethink that,” said Hamilton, who felt Sunday was “a little bit over the limit.”
Red Bull’s Alex Albon agreed it had been dangerous. “I think tracks like this are always going to be difficult as well, with long straights but definitely something could have been done better,” he added.
Ferrari-owned Mugello was being used for the first time as a grand prix venue. Bottas said Mercedes had expressed some concern before the race, but to no effect.
“They said basically they’re going to keep doing it because it’s better for the show. I think that was the reply,” added the Finn. Asked whether safety was being compromised for the show, Hamilton said he did not want to overstep the mark.
“They definitely need to take into account the safety aspect because today wasn’t particularly safe with the restart,” declared the Briton.
Race director Michael Masi said there was no need for a review of safety car re-starts.


FIA investigating Hamilton for Breonna Taylor T-shirt: report

Formula One’s ruling body is reported to be considering action against world champion Lewis Hamilton after he wore a T-shirt highlighting police brutality at Sunday’s Tuscan Grand Prix.
The six-time world champion and series leader, who won the race, wore a T-shirt bearing a message that said “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” before and after the race, during an anti-racism ceremony and television interviews.
A spokesperson for the International Motoring Federation (FIA) told the BBC that the case against Hamilton is “under active consideration”. Hamilton had previously worn a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt at every race without any comment from the FIA.
Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, was shot by police in Kentucky in March. She was a medical worker and was killed in her own home. The FIA rules state that drivers are not to use advertising that is “political or religious in nature of that is prejudicial to the interests of the FIA”. “It took me a long time to get that shirt and I’ve been wanting to wear it and bring awareness to the fact that there’s people that have been killed on the street and there’s someone that got killed in her own house, and they’re in the wrong house, and those guys are still walking free,” said Hamilton after his 90th career victory.