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Formula 1 teams were waiting for the Italian Grand Prix to restart but as the final laps ticked down it became increasingly clear something had gone wrong.To the frustration of most drivers in the field, the race never restarted, and the Safety Car continued to circulate at the front of the field, finally peeling off just in time for the chequered flag to be waved.
The top three drivers in the queue all pounced on the opportunity to pit. Lewis Hamilton, running fifth, stayed out. But as their radio messages show, none of them expected the race was essentially over at that point.
But behind race leader Max Verstappen and pursuer Charles Leclerc, something had gone awry. Instead of appearing at the front of the field, the Safety Car was running ahead of third-placed George Russell.
The delay in reorganising the field behind Verstappen added to the delay of clearing the stranded McLaren of Daniel Ricciardo, which had caused the Safety Car period in the first place. When that happened, six laps before the end of the race, the drivers were quickly alerted to the possibility of a decisive late-race restart.
| Lap: 47/53 | |||||||
| Bonnington | So we have double yellow between turns six and seven, Ricciardo stopped. Right-hand side, exit turn six, Ricciardo car stopped. | Musconi | So you’re entering yellow, yellow. Recap of stop the rate of sight. After six. | Verstappen | I see a car stopped. | Marcos Padros | Double yellow, turn seven. Double yellow, turn seven. Switch position yellow. Switch position yellow. And flap update when you can. |
| Bonnington | Let us know about… Safety Car, Safety Car, keep the delta positive. Let us know about restart, there are two cars in your windows. We have six laps remaining. | Russell | What are we doing? | Lambiase | If you see Safety Car or VSC, pit, Max. Stay out for now. | ||
| Hamilton | Tyres should be okay. Are they… car behind me is going to have better rear, that’s for sure. | Musconi | So be on standby. So remember if it’s Safety Car you’re in, VSC you’re staying out. | ||||
| Bonnington | Yep, don’t know if Norris will take it, he will lose track position. | Musconi | Safety Car! Box. Box. Box. Box. Box. Box. Box. Box. Box. So nice and easy, stop on your marks. | ||||
| Hamilton | [Unclear] depends how long this is out for. Depends how long this is out for. | ||||||
| Bonnington | Keep the delta tight. So we’ll stay out. Stay out, stay out. Go strat mode one, just keep tight on that delts. | ||||||
While Hamilton stayed out, Russell came in. He was the first of the…
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