Chiefs act to cut out crashes

Formula One chiefs have moved to prevent a repeat of Michael Schumacher’s accident at last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix by altering the safety car rules.

Schumacher clashed with Juan Pablo Montoya behind the safety car when the world champion’s sudden acceleration and heavy braking – a tactic used to warm his brakes – caught the Colombian by surprise.

Montoya tried to sneak past but ran into Schumacher, punting the German into a wall.

Schumacher had been taking advantage of rules which gave drivers one lap’s notice of the safety car pulling into the pits, offering him the chance to prepare for racing again.

World governing body the FIA have today amended the regulations and no notice will now be given, in an attempt to discourage drivers from sudden acceleration and braking.

The pit lane exit will now be closed as soon as the safety car is deployed in another rule change.

Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button used the safety car period to their advantage at Monaco by pitting instantly when it became clear the cars were to be slowed, thereby losing less ground than they would under racing conditions.

They were able to drive at full speed as they caught up with the safety car, something they will not now be able to repeat, with the FIA saying they “expect the leader to slow down to allow the cars to bunch up”.

In a letter to teams, the FIA’s race director Charlie Whiting added: “Following the race in Monaco it became clear that whilst the safety car was deployed some cars were being driven at a pace which was clearly too fast for the prevailing conditions.”