Is It Time To Fix Safety Car Rules Yet?

Let me get this out of the way first.  Robert Kubica, you drove a great race, beat your teammate’s pit strategy, and have shown  that BMW can be a force in F1.  Good on you!  But I must point out that you did benefit from a very strange pit accident.

As all of my readers are aware, Lewis Hamilton made a costly and inexcusable mistake by driving into a stationary car while the pit exits were closed.  There should be enough checks within the McLaren team to point out to him that the exits are closed, or that the cars are stopped, or Lewis could have noticed he was gaining on cars in the pit lane.  There were many signals that could have been sent, and some that were, and Lewis and McLaren missed them all until it was too late.  However, I have a small amount of pity for Lewis.  He and his team did screw up, but the current safety car periods are confusing and are not encouraging the safety the rules changes were intended to bring.

Before I totally change topics, yes Lewis Hamilton deserved a penalty.  I even said to someone as I was watching the race with that he should lose ten spots at the next race.  No punishment would be absurd as he did cause a preventable accident, and he did not ruin just his own race.  However, a more severe punishment is unfair as Lewis was doing nothing malicious.  He wasn't trying to knock Kimi out of the race.  Given his race pace Lewis would likely be favored to win that race unless Kimi can pull away with an open track.  Lewis had nothing to gain, and I am sure he was aware he was in the wrong, but that doesn't undo him ending someone else’s race in the manner he did.

Back to the topic at hand; the current safety car periods are unfair, chaotic, and no safer than in the past.  This is not the first time the safety car has been a huge factor this year for any team.  This isn't the second time.  This is the third.  Maybe someone is caught out at a bad time and needs to get fuel while the pits are closed.  Or maybe there is a crash.  Or maybe, as in Monaco, Lewis Hamilton had two well timed safety car periods.

I doubt you can find one person who is against a safety car as a method to reduce the chance of life loss in F1.  They are needed to protect the lives and safety of everyone involved.  Furthermore, Formula One fans are aware that safety car periods will affect the race by eliminating previous gains, and can give a great boost to a lucky driver.  That is part of the sport.  Lewis's luck at Monaco, and his excellent drive, gave him the win.  That is bound to happen.  But is there something that can be done?

I think so, and here are the rules I would suggest:

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