Lewis Hamilton pushes for red-flag rule change after Silverstone chaos

Lewis Hamilton has called for the FIA to adopt a more aggressive red-flag policy after a frustrating finish to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 18 June.

What happened?

Hamilton claimed his fifth podium of the season, finishing third behind teammate Charles Leclerc and George Russell. The race turned chaotic in its final laps when Max Verstappen’s incident at Stowe triggered a Safety Car. Race Control then compounded the confusion with a “software error” on Lap 51, sending a misleading message about a Safety Car signal.

Why it matters for Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton was running second before the Safety Car, but lost position to Russell after pitting for fresh tyres while Leclerc stayed out. The race finished under the Safety Car, leaving Hamilton “disappointed” and fans shortchanged. “Definitely finishing under the Safety Car is something I would be disappointed about,” he told Motorsport Week. “I am disappointed being in the car, and as an athlete, so I can only imagine how the fans are feeling.”

The push for change

Hamilton and former Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer have urged the FIA to red-flag late-race incidents more often. Hamilton pointed to the 2023 Australian GP, where a late red-flag created a two-lap shootout that thrilled fans. “It happened in Australia, and it was like one of the best races,” he said. “Ideally, when you are in the lead, it would not be a great thing, but it would really give the fans the maximum experience.”

What comes next?

The FIA now faces pressure to act before the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps, a track with a 50% chance of Safety Car-worthy incidents. Hamilton’s call could reshape how late-race chaos is handled, giving fans the spectacle they crave-or risking more anticlimactic finishes like Silverstone’s.