FIA replies to Verstappen: 'That is not the purpose of the safety car'

After the Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with Aston Martin's safety car. The Dutchman described it as a turtle, as he found the Aston Martin slow. The Dutchman did not understand at all why a maximum of 140 kilometers per hour was driven on the straight. The Red Bull driver could not warm up his tyres because of this and states that this is not part of F1.

FIA makes a statement

Verstappen had not directed this attack at the driver Bernd Mayländer. He is doing everything he can with the car, as Charles Leclerc also saw. He understood the criticism from Verstappen but saw Mayländer sliding over the track. He was at the max. The safety car driver was happy with Leclerc's defence but now gets more help.

In a statement, the FIA says it would like to emphasise what the primary function of the safety car is: the safety of the drivers, marshals and officials. It is not about speed. The safety car must bring the field back together and drive the field safely past debris on the track.

Protection of Aston Martin

The FIA, therefore, does not understand why there is talk about the speed of the cars. According to the FIA, the speed of the safety car is not limited by the cars, but how fast those cars are driven is discussed beforehand. The speed of the safety car and the performance of the cars driving behind it is of secondary importance, according to the FIA. It is the same for all drivers, so they should simply behave themselves behind the safety car.

With this statement, the FIA seems to be protecting the two brands of safety cars in particular. Aston Martin and Mercedes alternate in the safety car and are of course not served by drivers who, like Verstappen, say that their car is a turtle. Especially the Aston Martin is under fire, since it was used in Melbourne.

FIA Statement on @F1 Safety Car pic.twitter.com/5p0uHGo6mu

— FIA (@fia) April 14, 2022