Lewis Hamilton suggested Formula 1 should adopt a British Touring Cars-style system for safety cars during a race in the wake of the anti-climactic ending to the Italian Grand Prix.
The race at Monza was an intriguing one, as the lead switched several times with Red Bull and Ferrari embroiled in a tight tactical battle. Max Verstappen looked like he was going to win the race, but a safety car in the final few laps made sure of it.
Daniel Ricciardo's mechanical issue caused the safety car to be called. And due to delays in moving the McLaren off the track, there was no time to restart the race – meaning Charles Leclerc never got the chance to try to overtake his rival before the chequered flag.
The disappointing end to what could have been a much more exciting race led to some calling for changes to make sure it doesn't happen again. And Hamilton even weighed in on the debate with an idea of his own.
In the British Touring Car Championship, laps are often added onto the race if some of it takes place behind a safety car. And over team radio, the Mercedes driver suggested that the same idea could be adopted by F1.
"I mean, what’s the harm in extending it?" he also said when asked to expand on the idea afterwards by RaceFans . "Naturally, as a racer, you want more time."
Hamilton was infamously burned by an improper use of the safety car in Abu Dhabi last year, when the procedure was rushed to squeeze in one more lap of racing. The Brit led the race, but was on old tyres and so Verstappen was able to roar past with ease on his new softs.
He finished this race fifth behind the safety car, and admitted it could have been another bad situation for him if the racing had resumed. Hamilton added: "I wanted to be able to challenge the Ferrari ahead of me and see if I could get another position. But I think in hindsight it was probably a good ending. I'm really grateful to have come back from the last row.
"My tyres didn't feel bad, I felt like I could keep temperature in them. They said there was two people in my pit window so if I'd pitted I would have come out behind two people and I didn't want to risk it so I just stayed out."
