Has an F1 race ever finished behind the safety car?

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was just the second time an F1 race has finished behind a virtual safety car since its official introduction in 2015.

Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz were squabbling for third on the penultimate lap in Baku, but tangled coming out of Turn 2 causing both to crash into the wall.

It was deemed a “racing incident” and meant the grand prix finished under a VSC, where drivers must reduce their pace by 30% and cannot overtake one another.

The first time an F1 race concluded under a VSC was the 2024 Australian GP, where George Russell crashed at Turn 6 during the final lap leaving his Mercedes lopsided at Albert Park.

But there have been 11 occasions in which an F1 grand prix has finished under full safety car conditions, making it a more common occurrence.

So, when were those times?

F1 races which finished behind the safety car

1999 Canadian Grand Prix

The 1999 Canadian GP was the first F1 race to finish behind a safety car after Heinz-Harald Frenzen crashed at Turn 3 with four laps remaining. It was a devastating incident for the Jordan driver, who was running second at the time and was set for a third podium in six races until a brake failure sent him spinning into the barriers at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

This caused the race’s fourth safety car period – a then record – and the barrier damage plus close proximity between the stationary Jordan 199 and the track meant the grand prix could not be restarted, leaving Mika Hakkinen as the victor.

It was a third win of the season for that year’s world champion, who was joined on the podium by Giancarlo Fisichella and Eddie Irvine after a race where Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve all crashed at the final corner – thus coining the term ‘Wall of Champions’.

2009 Australian Grand Prix

The 2009 Australian GP was the second time an F1 race has finished behind a safety car and it happened because of a collision between Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica with three laps remaining.

Both drivers were battling for second in which Vettel attempted an overtake on the inside of Turn 3, but he went into the side of Kubica’s BMW causing each car to lose its front wing. Although they were initially able to continue, the Pole crashed out two corners later while Vettel also hit that wall but didn’t stop his Red Bull until the following lap between Turns 10 and 11.

There was a lot of debris, so a safety car finish was ordered which…