The FIA has shed light on why the British Grand Prix concluded under Safety Car conditions despite an erroneous message suggesting a final lap restart. The race, held on July 9, 2026, saw Charles Leclerc of Ferrari taking the victory, followed by George Russell from Mercedes and Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The Safety Car was deployed on lap 48 after Max Verstappen spun out in his Red Bull at Stowe, leaving his car stranded. With limited laps remaining, uncertainty surrounded the possibility of a race restart. As the field bunched up behind the Safety Car, a message indicating 'Safety Car in this lap' was displayed, hinting at a potential thrilling finish. However, this was quickly retracted, and the race continued under the Safety Car, finishing in formation without overtaking.

In the aftermath, the FIA clarified that according to regulation Article B5. 13.5, a lap must be completed post-unlapping procedures, which were correctly followed. They attributed the misleading message to a software error.

This marked the first time since the 2022 Italian Grand Prix that an F1 race concluded under a full Safety Car. Leclerc expressed a desire for a more conventional finish, while Mercedes boss Toto Wolff remarked that it was better for regulations to be upheld, even if it meant less excitement.

Russell and Hamilton echoed similar sentiments, with Russell noting that while it was disappointing to end under the Safety Car, such occurrences are part of racing. Hamilton added that there was not much more to say, highlighting the shared understanding among drivers regarding the situation.