Australian GP showed FIA ‘learned from last few years’ · RaceFans

Aston Martin has defended the FIA’s handling of the Australian Grand Prix following the controversial conclusion to the last round of the championship.

The race was red-flagged and restarted with two laps to go following Kevin Magnussen’s late retirement. Six drivers were involved in collisions at the standing restart, which led to a further red flag.

Following a lengthy delay a final restart was called but with only one lap remaining all the drivers could do was follow the Safety Car without overtaking. Some criticised the final lap as unnecessary, while others argued it was inappropriate to use a standing restart so late in the race.

Both Aston Martin drivers lost places at the standing restart. Fernando Alonso was hit by Carlos Sainz Jnr, while Lance Stroll skidded off at turn four. However as the FIA subsequently chose to reset the running order to the positions drivers held at the previous start – another decision which attracted criticism – both drivers were restored to their positions.

Aston Martin’s sporting director Andy Stevenson believes the FIA got every call right in Melbourne. “The Australian Grand Prix ended the only way it could have,” he told the team’s website. “It’s clearly written in the regulations.

“We had a conversation with race control before it all happened, to let them know what our understanding of the rules was, and they informed us of the decision they were going to make and that their interpretation of the rules was the same. There was a bit of uncertainty, but the FIA got it right.”

The FIA’s handling of late-race restarts has drawn criticism in recent years. A similar late standing restart was used at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2021. But that year’s season finale ended in controversy when a rolling restart was used on the final tour without all drivers being allowed to re-join the lead lap – a rule-breaking call which influenced the outcome of the world championship.

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Last year’s Italian Grand Prix ended under Safety Car conditions due to a delay in the recovery of Daniel Ricciardo’s stricken McLaren, prompting some to ask why a standing restart was not used. Stevenson said the Australian Grand Prix showed the FIA has taken recent lessons on board.

“They’ve learned from things that have happened over the last few years and they managed the…