Formula One: Safety car rules tweaked by FIA in wake of controversial 2021 title decider

Formula 1's safety car rules have been changed to make it impossible for a race to be conducted in the manner of 2021's controversial title decider.

Michael Masi was removed from his role as race director last month as a result of failing to apply the rules correctly in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Masi's actions had a direct result on the outcome of the world championship.

Governing body the FIA has now made it clear «all» lapped cars must un-lap themselves before a restart.

The change replaces the phrasing in last year's rules, which said «any» lapped cars between the leaders should overtake and join the back of the field before a restart after a safety car.

Masi's decision to allow only the cars between race leader Lewis Hamilton and title rival Max Verstappen to un-lap before a restart was at the heart of the Abu Dhabi controversy.

It meant not all drivers in the field were treated equally — as lapped cars between Verstappen and third-placed Carlos Sainz's Ferrari, and others further down the field, were left in place.

McLaren's Lando Norris said the climax to the race had been «made for TV» and his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo added: «I'm glad I wasn't part of that.»

Hamilton had dominated the race and was on his way to an eighth world title. But after the restart the Mercedes driver was left exposed on old tyres and passed by Verstappen's Red Bull, earning the Dutchman a maiden championship.

Verstappen's Red Bull team used this as an argument that Masi had not erred in his procedures and the result should stand. And the stewards also used it to retro-fit a justification for Masi's actions and keep the outcome in place after Mercedes lodged an appeal after the race.

The second rule at the heart of the Abu Dhabi controversy