Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
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 |
While Hamilton stayed out, Russell came in. He was the first of the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at RaceFans…