FIA makes F1 rule change after unusual Max Verstappen-Ollie Bearman incident

The FIA has made a change to the F1 sporting regulations after an unusual incident involving Max Verstappen and Ollie Bearman in the Australian GP.

In Melbourne, Bearman was a lap down when the safety car was called for, and in custom with the rules, was allowed to unlap himself and catch back up to the rear of the pack in time for the resumption of racing.

However, Haas elected to pit the Briton, who then emerged from the pit-lane among the leading gaggle of cars, and in front of Verstappen on the road, who was running third behind the leading pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. 

Bearman was subsequently allowed to re-unlap himself, but ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, five races later, a change has been made to the sporting regulations, and specifically Article 55.14.

The new rule, with the change in italics, has been made to allow race control, and race director Rui Marques the power to close the pit-exit when the safety car train is passing by to block a backmarker from rejoining in the leading gaggle of cars.

"Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking and they must make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. 

Whilst such cars are proceeding around the track to rejoin the line of cars behind the safety car, and at the sole discretion of the race director, the pit lane exit may be closed when the safety car and line of cars behind it are approaching and passing the pit lane exit."