New FIA Safety Car Pit-Exit Rule Unveiled Ahead of Miami GP as Verstappen Reacts

The FIA has amended Article 55.14 of the F1 Sporting Regulations following an unusual safety-car incident at the Australian Grand Prix involving Max Verstappen and Haas rookie Ollie Bearman. In Melbourne, Bearman-then a lap down-was permitted to unlap himself and subsequently pitted. He rejoined the track ahead of Verstappen in third place, prompting confusion over backmarkers’ re-entry into the pack. Racing News365

Under the revised rule, race control-and specifically Race Director Rui Marques-now holds explicit authority to close the pit-lane exit when the safety-car train is passing, preventing any unlapping car from extending an unintended advantage. The amendment, with new text italicized below, reads:

“Whilst such cars are proceeding around the track to rejoin the line of cars behind the safety car, and at the sole discretion of the race director, the pit-lane exit may be closed when the safety car and line of cars behind it are approaching and passing the pit-lane exit.” RacingNews365

Red Bull’s triple world champion welcomed the change but voiced a preference for a more flexible, race-control-led solution. Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, Verstappen said:

“I personally don’t like it, I would much prefer a situation where race control says you can give the position back-‘We believe you should do it’ and give them that option, rather than leave it up to them [the drivers] and suddenly it goes to the stewards and it’s a penalty. We get trapped in this world too often.” The Race

Verstappen’s comments underline a broader debate over F1’s reliance on post-incident penalties versus in-race directives. As teams prepare for this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, the new regulation aims to streamline safety-car restarts and ensure lapped cars cannot inadvertently disrupt leading battles. Teams and drivers will keenly observe its practical impact when lights go out at the Miami International Autodrome.