The FIA’s statement addresses three incidents/issues on track – the lack of a safety car after a mirror fell off Albon’s car, the severity of Lando Norris’ penalty, and an issue with the safety car lights.

Why was a safety car not deployed in response to Albon’s wing mirror on the main straight?

On lap 30, a double waved yellow flag was thrown in sector 1 towards the end of the main straight after a wing mirror, that we later learned had fallen off Albon’s Williams, ended up off line just before pit exit. The yellow flag was later cleared, despite the mirror still being on track, but at no point was a VSC or safety car deployed to clear the debris. A few laps later, Valtteri Bottas ran over the mirror, turning it into a scattering of debris which perhaps played a role in the punctures suffered by Sainz and Hamilton soon after.

The FIA stated: “Normal practice is for the Safety Car not to be deployed if there is a small amount of debris, and off the racing line.

“The extensive debris after a car hit the mirror and the punctures that occurred shortly after forced the decision on a Safety Car.”

They continued to explain why a VSC wouldn’t have been appropriate, stating that: “as the cars remain spread-out and there is not sufficient time for a marshal to clear the debris.”

But it’s also stated that further analysis will be conducted, along with a discussion with the teams “in order to see whether in the future a different course of action needs to be taken.”

Why did Lando Norris receive a 10-second stop and go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags?

Lando Norris was found to not have slowed under the double waved yellow flags in sector 1 for the debris on track, prior to the deployment of the safety car. He was subsequently handed a 10-second stop and go penalty for this offence, with 3 penalty points also. This is one of the most severe penalties a driver can receive, but its use did follow a precedent for failing to slow for double waved yellows set at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix.

The FIA stated regarding the penalty that it “was in accordance with the penalty guidelines circulated to the teams on 19 February 2024.

“A double yellow flag infringement is considered a serious compromise of safety, which is why such offences carry such a severe penalty” – a sentiment echoed in the stewards’ report on Norris’ penalty.

What went wrong with the safety car lights?

Two different safety cars were used throughout the Qatar Grand Prix after the warning lights on the rear of the safety car failed to turn off at the end of its second appearance. The lights are used to signal the race’s status to the drivers and this malfunction prompted confusion from some drivers including Max Verstappen, who was leading the pack.

The FIA confirmed this issue: “During the second Safety Car period, the lights malfunctioned. All teams were verbally advised that the SC would be coming in, so the restart took place in the normal fashion.”

By the third deployment, the safety car had been replaced “out of caution” though the FIA stated that “the reason for the malfunction was identified and fixed.”