F1 News

Formula 1 to contemplate race restarts approach after Max Verstappen’s Brazil move

19 November 2019 at 08:40
  • Bevan Youl

Formula 1 could potential change its format of race restarts according to motorsport director Ross Brawn after Max Verstappen’s approach in Brazil to bunch the field up until the last second.

The restart rules for this year were change so that the start/finish line marked the green flag point upon restarts from when a safety car returned to the pits rather than the safety car line at the pit entry.
 
Verstappen waited as long as he could before accelerating before the line to ensure he didn’t give those behind a slipstream down to turn one.
 
“Verstappen was particularly strong at the second re-start, when he slowed the field right down with the aim of ensuring no one would be able to slipstream past him and snatch victory,” said Brawn as quoted by MotorsportWeek.
 
“It was an exciting and fascinating re-start which will be analysed very carefully, as the closeness of the pack in the seconds leading up the green flags resulted in a thrilling spectacle as drivers jockeyed for position and where the slightest advantage proved decisive.
 
“Examining the possibility of procedurally recreating those conditions in future is an interesting concept and one that will undoubtedly be explored in the coming period.”
 
Brawn also praised the Dutchman on his win at Interlagos for Red Bull making a statement to Mercedes and Ferrari for 2020.
 
“Red Bull was definitely the best package on the day but Max, too, was in superb form,” he added.
 
“He didn’t waver, he trusted the judgement of his engineers and strategists, and he delivered a winning drive of pace, power and precision.
 
“Of Max’s three wins this year, this was the one where the Red Bull-Honda package was at its best, as it seems to have closed on if not actually matched the level of its rivals.
 
“There’s only one race to go, but the Milton Keynes team and the Japanese manufacturer have laid down a strong marker for 2020.”