Gasly confirms drivers will challenge FIA over controversial Silverstone finish

Gasly to raise Silverstone ending with FIA

Pierre Gasly has confirmed that Formula 1 drivers will discuss the controversial British Grand Prix finish with the FIA during Thursday evening’s drivers’ meeting ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Alpine driver crossed the Silverstone finish line in 10th place after sarcastically applauding from inside his cockpit. His frustration reflected the mood among several drivers and fans, who were left with an anticlimactic conclusion after a late crash involving Max Verstappen triggered a safety car period that consumed the remaining laps.

Charles Leclerc was classified as the winner for Ferrari, ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. However, the circumstances of the finish quickly became the central talking point, with boos from the grandstands and criticism within the paddock.

The FIA later explained that a “Safety Car In This Lap” message had appeared erroneously because of a software error. The message briefly suggested that a restart was possible before being corrected.

Why the race could not restart

The regulations also limited the options available to race control. Under Article B5.13.5 of the safety car regulations, one full lap must be completed after the un-lapping procedure. Because that lap coincided with the final lap of the scheduled 52-lap distance, there was no legal opportunity to resume racing before the chequered flag.

Gasly acknowledged that he did not have all the information while still in the car, but said the outcome was unsatisfactory from a competitor’s perspective.

“I’m a racer, and I obviously think, as much as possible, it’s never great for anyone, on or off the track, to finish a race behind a safety car,” he told select media, including RacingNews365. “Afterwards, I understood why things happened the way they did.”

Drivers want a faster solution

Gasly said the drivers’ meeting at the end of media day would focus on finding a practical way to prevent a repeat. He suggested that decisions could be made more quickly or that the race director could be given a more efficient route to restart a race when circumstances allow.

“I think we all agree that, in future, ideally we don’t have a situation where a race basically ends behind the safety car in that fashion,” Gasly said. “I don’t think it looks great for us or for you guys [the media].”

The issue will follow the paddock into Spa, with the weekend already covered in our 2026 Belgian Grand Prix guide. For Gasly, the principle is straightforward: if another lap can legally be raced, the drivers should have the chance to contest it.

“If you ask me, ‘Do you want to race for one more lap and get a chance to make up a few more positions?’, I’ll always be happy to do it,” he added. “That’s the way I see racing.”