MOTOR RACING: Silverstone safety car decision was the right call for Wolff

SILVERSTONE, England – Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended Formula One's decision to end Sunday's British Grand Prix under safety car conditions, saying race officials correctly followed the regulations despite disappointment from fans hoping for a dramatic final-lap battle.

The finish revived memories of the controversial 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, when then-race director Michael Masi altered standard safety car procedures, allowing Red Bull's Max Verstappen to overtake Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on the final lap and claim his first world championship. The incident denied Hamilton a record eighth drivers' title.

A similar situation unfolded at Silverstone after Verstappen crashed with four laps remaining, prompting the deployment of the safety car. Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, pitted for fresh tires while running second, but Mercedes' George Russell stayed on track. Although Ferrari expected Russell to pit as well, the race remained under caution until the checkered flag after lapped cars were allowed to unlap themselves, leaving no time to resume racing.

Wolff said the outcome may not have produced the most exciting finish, but it was the correct application of the rules.

He acknowledged fans would have enjoyed seeing Hamilton on fresh soft tires challenge Russell and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in the closing laps, but stressed that sporting integrity should take priority over entertainment.

The crowd's frustration grew after race control initially announced that the safety car would come in for the final lap before later keeping it on track. The FIA later said the announcement resulted from a software error.

Russell, who finished second behind Leclerc, admitted the safety car finish worked in his favor since his tires had cooled and he would have struggled to defend his position in a late restart. However, he said races ending under safety car conditions are part of the sport and should not be changed because of a single outcome.

Hamilton, who finished third, said he did not regret pitting late in the race but suggested he would have stayed out had he known the stop would cost him track position. He added that he trusted the team's strategy at the time of the decision. -Reporting by Alan Baldwin; editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters