Lewis Hamilton open to greater red flag 'freedom' after Silverstone anti-climax

Lewis Hamilton has signalled he would be open to the FIA race director having more 'freedom' to red-flag grands prix late on to ensure a non-safety car finish. 

After Max Verstappen's late crash at Silverstone, there was an expectation that the safety car would be withdrawn at the end of Lap 51 to allow one final lap at racing speed to decide the winner of the British GP. 

However, following the rulebook, the safety car was required to be withdrawn at the end of Lap 52, meaning there would be no overtaking as Charles Leclerc won the race, with the FIA explaining that a "software error" was responsible for the 'Safety Car in this Lap' message being displayed towards the end of Lap 51.

Previously, in 2021, the Azerbaijan GP was red-flagged on Lap 46 of 51 after a tyre failure for Verstappen, with the race restarting with a standing start on Lap 50, creating a two-lap shootout, where Hamilton famously locked up and went wide at Turn 1. 

Hamilton himself also raised the 2023 Australian GP, which was red-flagged on Lap 55 of 58 for debris after Kevin Magnussen hit a wall, setting up a two-lap shootout, which itself was red-flagged after multiple collisions at Turns 1 and 2, with the 58th and final lap then being completed behind the safety car. 

When asked if he would welcome the race director being given more freedom to red flag races in the closing laps to ensure a green-flag racing finish, Hamilton signalled that he would. 

"Yeah, definitely," Hamilton began when asked by media, including RacingNews365.

"It happened in Australia, and it was like one of the best races. Ideally, when you are in the lead, it would not be a great thing, but it would really give the fans the maximum experience.

"So they've done it before, and definitely finishing under the safety car is, I would be disappointed.

"I am disappointed being in the car, and as an athlete, so I can only imagine how the fans are feeling."