Skip to content

Published with permission from the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile.

41) SUSPENDING A RACE
41.1 Should it become necessary to suspend the race because the circuit is blocked by an accident or because weather or other conditions make it dangerous to continue, the clerk of the course will order red flags to be shown at all marshal posts and the abort lights to be shown at the Line.
41.2 When the signal is given overtaking is forbidden, the pit exit will be closed and all cars must proceed slowly to the red flag line where they must stop in a line on the pole position side of the track.
Any cars between the red flag line and the leader, in addition to any lapped cars between cars on the lead lap, will then be moved into a line on the opposite side of the grid. They will then resume the race from this position in accordance with Article 42.3.
If the safety car has been directed into the pit lane (see Article 40.11) cars should stop in line in the fast lane of the pits.
41.3 If any cars are unable to return to the grid as a result of the track being blocked they will be brought back when the track is cleared and will be arranged in the order they occupied before the race was suspended. The order will be taken at the last point at which it was possible to determine the position of all cars. Any such cars will then be permitted to resume the race.
The Safety Car will then be driven to the front of the line of cars behind the red flag line.
41.4 Whilst the race is suspended :
- neither the race nor the timekeeping system will stop ;
- cars may be worked on once they have stopped behind the red flag line or entered the pits but any such work must not impede the resumption of the race ;
- refuelling is forbidden unless a car was already in the pit entry or pit lane when the signal to suspend the race was given ;
- only team members and officials will be permitted on the grid.
41.5 Cars may enter the pit lane when the race is suspended but a drive through penalty (see Article 16.3.a) will be imposed on any driver who enters the pit lane or whose car is pushed from the grid to the pit lane after the race has been suspended. Any car which was in the pit entry or pit lane when the race was suspended will not incur a penalty. However, if the cars have been directed into the pit lane (see Articles 40.11 and 41.2) a penalty will only be imposed on any driver whose car is moved from the fast lane to any other part of the pit lane.
All cars in the pit lane will be permitted to leave the pits once the race has been resumed but any which were in the pit entry or pit lane when the race was suspended will be released before any others. Subject to the above, any car intending to resume the race from the pit exit may do so in the order they got there under their own power, unless another car was unduly delayed.
Under these circumstances working in the fast lane will be permitted but any such work will be restricted to:
- starting the engine and any directly associated preparation ;
- the fitting or removal of permitted cooling and heating devices ;
- changing wheels.
At all times drivers must follow the directions of the marshals.

42) RESUMING A RACE
42.1 The delay will be kept as short as possible and as soon as a resumption time is known teams will be informed via the timing monitors, in all cases at least ten minutes warning will be given.
42.2 Signals will be shown ten minutes, five minutes, three minutes, one minute and fifteen seconds before the resumption and each of these will be accompanied by an audible warning.
42.3 When the three minute signal is shown all cars must have their wheels fitted, after this signal wheels may only be removed in the pit lane or on the grid during a further race suspension. Any car which does not have all its wheels fully fitted at the three minute signal must start the race from the back of the grid or the pit lane. Under these circumstances a marshal holding a yellow flag will prevent the car (or cars) from leaving the grid until all cars able to do so have crossed the red flag line.
At some point after the three minute signal, which will be dependent upon the expected lap time, any cars between the red flag line and the leader, in addition to any lapped cars between cars on the lead lap, will be waved off to complete a further lap, without overtaking, and join the line of cars behind the safety car.
42.4 When the one minute signal is shown, engines should be started and all team personnel must leave the grid by the time the 15 second signal is given taking all equipment with them. If any driver needs assistance after the 15 second signal he must raise his arm and, when the remainder of the cars able to do so have left the grid, marshals will be instructed to push the car into the pit lane. In this case, marshals with yellow flags will stand beside any car (or cars) concerned to warn drivers behind.
42.5 The race will be resumed behind the safety car when the green lights are illuminated. The safety car will enter the pits after one lap unless :
- all cars are not yet in a line behind the safety car ;
- team personnel are still clearing the grid ;
- a further incident occurs necessitating another intervention.
When the green lights are illuminated the safety car will leave the grid with all cars following no more than ten car lengths apart. Soon after the last car in line behind the safety car passes the end of the pit lane (including any cars which were waved off under 42.3 above) the pit exit light will be turned green, any car in the pit lane may then enter the track and join the line of cars behind the safety car.
42.6 Overtaking during the lap is permitted only if a car is delayed when leaving the red flag line and cars behind cannot avoid passing it without unduly delaying the remainder of the field. In this case, drivers may only overtake to re-establish the order before the race was suspended.
Any driver who is delayed leaving the red flag line may not overtake another moving car if he was stationary after the remainder of the cars had crossed the Line, and must form up at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. If more than one driver is affected, they must form up at the back of the field in the order they left the grid.
42.7 Either of the penalties under Article 16.3a) or b) will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, unnecessarily overtook another car during the lap.
During this lap Articles 40.13, 40.14, 40.15 and 40.16 will apply.
42.8 If the race cannot be resumed the results will be taken at the end of the penultimate lap before the lap during which the signal to suspend the race was given.