The FIA have responded to criticism they received for their handling of the F1 Qatar Gran🐎d Prix, outlining that it’s “normal practice” for the Safety Car not to be deployed due to debri♔s.

Sunday’s race at the Lusail International Circuꦅit was turned on its head due to a winꦛg mirror from Alex Albon’s Williams.

The mirror was ejected onto the start-finish straight - but ofಌf 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 iꦐt, 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 punctur🧸es that t🌜he Safety Car was ultimately deployed to clear the debris. 

While Hamilton and Mercedes are unsure꧒ the debris was the cause🍎 of the punctures, the delay of the Safety Car had a significant impact on the race.

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

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

“The extensive debris after a car♑ hit the mirror and the punctures tha𝐆t 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 suffi�꧃�cient time for a marshal to clear the debris.

“The FIA constantly reviews 𓆉its methods and processes and will analyse further the specific scenario, and discuss it with the teams, in order to see whether in the future a different course of act🍃ion 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 McLaren driver was handed the penalty for fa🌜iling to slow do🍌wn under double-waved yellow flags.

A 10-second stop-go penalꦰty - besides from an outright disqualification - i🤪s the harshest penalty that can be given by the stewards.

Due to the timing of the Safety Car, it dropped Norris 🌺to the ♕back of the field once it was served, before recovering to finish 10th.

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

Additionally, they noted Norris’ offence was a “serious compro🗹mise of safety” thus the harsh penalty.

Since 2014, a 10-second stop-go penalty was hanಌded out on two previous occasions for th🍬e same offence.

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

Siꦗmilarly, the sam🔴e for Kimi Raikkonen at the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix.

Safety Car lights

The FIA also confirmed that the Safety Car light𓆉s had malfunctioned during the 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 lights malfuncti♑oned.

“All𝔉 teams we♕re verbally advised that the SC would be coming in, so the re-start took place in the normal fashion.

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