Editorial on the Italian Grand Prix: it shouldn’t end like this

The finish of the race was once again controversial, as the safety car remained on the track much longer than it should have.

Over the past year, it has become increasingly difficult to determine the exact rules governing the use of a safety car at the end of a Grand Prix. Since the controversial finish in Abu Dhabi in 2021, any intervention by Mercedes or Aston Martin has been criticized.

When it's not a virtual safety car being deployed ad infinitum, it's the real thing that comes under fire. At the Italian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo's late retirement forced organizers to call in the safety car. With only a few laps to go and a temperamental car that refused to move, the prospect of contesting even three laps of the race was dwindling.

The decision to keep the safety car on the track drew fierce criticism on social media. Fans felt cheated out of an exciting finish and a clash between the two title rivals, and the race ended in a parade. Boos replaced cheers, drowning out any moments of joy. After the drama of the 2021 title, this is yet another controversy sparked by the FIA and the stewards. In hindsight, many commentators wondered whether a red flag would have been more appropriate. A dramatic finish like last year's race in Baku could have added suspense and unexpected twists to an otherwise flat event. Of course, it could have upset the standings and perhaps “stolen” a victory that Max Verstappen had already secured more than 30 laps earlier. But racing is racing, and safety car restarts are part of the sport. It would have been preferable to this dull and insipid ending in front of a crowd of 200% enthusiastic tifosi cheering on Charles Leclerc, who could have set Monza alight with the Italian national anthem.

Once again, the FIA mishandled the end of the race, but the claim that the sport's highest authority was paid by Red Bull to guarantee Verstappen's victory is absurd. As if a world champion on the verge of winning a second title needed it. With 11 wins out of 16 Grand Prix races, it's clear that he has nothing left to prove this season.