4
The start of Sunday's British Grand Prix has been criticised by drivers, who believe the safety car stayed out longer than necessary.
After a sudden downpour minutes before the start of the race, the decision was made to abandon the traditional start, with the field instead following the safety car for the first five laps of the race.
Max Verstappen, who finished the race third on the road but was later promoted to second said that he was "ready to race after maybe two laps."
Race winner Lewis Hamilton agreed, saying that the safety car stayed out too long, and even suggested that the race could have started as normal on the grid.
"For sure there were patches (of water) all over the place and it would have been tricky -- but that's what motor racing's about," he said. "For sure we did stay out (behind the safety car) for far too long."
Despite the criticisms, there were some people in the paddock who believed the safety car start was the right call, including Hamilton's team mate Nico Rosberg.
"Yes, for sure," he said. "There were some big, big rivers in places so it's important to let us have a look at least where they are before getting going."
Red Bull boss Christian Horner echoed Rosberg's sentiments, but also said that the safety car stayed out for too long.
"The decision to start behind the safety car was fully justified because of the standing water," he said. "But in my view, the safety car stayed on the track for too long."
Toro Ross driver Carlos Sainz shared a similar viewpoint: "The safety car was necessary at the start because we could see nothing, but after the first two laps, once we saw the condition of the track, it was no longer necessary."
Silverstone - 10 July 2016
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
724,056 comments on Red Bull Racing
966 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Max Verstappen
ianf1
Posts: 185
At least the rolling start meant LH couldn't fluff it...