Former F1 Driver Hits Out At FIA After Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Safety Car Confusion

Tiff Needell questions the need for the safety car which favoured Max Verstappen.

Former F1 driver Tiff Needell has taken to social media to hit out at the FIA after the safety car was deployed during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. 

Viewers heard the Aston Martin team frantically say to Lance Stroll over the team radio to stop the car immediately. The Canadian driver managed to pull his AMR23 off the track before marshals needed to get involved. 

Shortly after, the safety car was deployed bringing the field much closer together going in Max Verstappen's favour as he was working his way up the grid after starting in fifteenth place. 

Confusion spread over the introduction of the safety car as no one had to enter the track to assist Stroll as he had taken the car through the barriers into a safe space. Needell questioned the move on social media, writing:

"So the Safety Car was deployed because the GPS said Stroll was still on the track!! And the 300 screens and cameras in the Steward's Mission Control didn't tell them otherwise???"

So the Safety Car was deployed because the GPS said Stroll was still on the track!! And the 300 screens and cameras in the Steward's Mission Control didn't tell them otherwise???

— Tiff Needell 🏁 (@tiff_tv) March 19, 2023

One fan responded pointing out that the move went in Red Bull's favour, writing:

"The safety car was a huge advantage to Red Bull so it was always going to be deployed."

The safety car was a huge advantage to Red Bull so it was always going to be deployed.

— Paul Stephens (@pgsgolfer) March 19, 2023

Another F1 viewer responded alluding to the same situation, writing:

"Virtual safety cars exist. Could've called one of those, checked the car was safe or not, then throw a full SC if it needed it. We know very well why they went full SC as soon as possible."

Virtual safety cars exist. Could've called one of those, checked the car was safe or not, then throw a full SC if it needed it. We know very well why they went full SC as soon as possible.

— Jay Bee 🏆TEAM LH🏆 : CAESAR AGRICOLA 🫡 (@vandinz20) March 19, 2023