F1 overtaking rules under safety car explained as Mercedes launch appeal

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Nico Rosberg has explained F1's rules surrounding overtaking under a safety car following Abu Dhabi's controversial ending on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton seemed to be flying to another Drivers World Championship, but Nicholas Latifi's crash forced a safety car onto the track.

Max Verstappen took the opportunity to pit, but lapped cars were not originally allowed to pass.

But in a controversial u-turn, four cars were allowed to pass the safety car, leaving Verstappen and Hamilton neck-and-neck with one lap to go and the championship on the line.

Verstappen, on the fresher tires, was able to overtake Hamilton to claim his first Drivers World Championship.

Mercedes have lodged an to the FIA as they deemed Verstappen to have overtaken Hamilton behind the safety car, while they have also questioned the race results.

And Rosberg told Sky Sports: "First they said they're not allowed to un-lap themselves, then they changed their message once they saw that the track was safe to do so.

"But the thing is, in the written document all cars will be required to un-lap themselves and yet they only let those five cars that were between Lewis and Verstappen un-lap themselves, the others not.

"That's why Mercedes are thinking, is that ok?

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"I guess it's just going to be in the end Michael Masi can decide what he wants, he's the director. He wants to go racing, they go racing, in a safe way, and they did that."

Article 39.12 states: "If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message 'LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE' has been sent to all teams Competitors via the official messaging system.

"Any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.

"This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.

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"Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking.

"And make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car."

While Article 48.8 also states: "With the exception of the cases listed under a) to h) below, no driver may overtake another car on the track.

"Including the safety car, until he passes the Line (see Article 5.3) for the first time after the safety car has returned to the pits."

  • Lewis Hamilton
  • Max Verstappen
  • Formula One

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