41) SUSPENDING A RACE
41.1 Should it become necessary to suspend the race because the circuit is blocked by an accident or because weather or other conditions make it dangerous to continue, the clerk of the course will order red flags to be shown at all marshal posts and the abort lights to be shown at the Line.
41.2 When the signal is given overtaking is forbidden, the pit exit will be closed and all cars must proceed slowly to the red flag line where they must stop in a line on the pole position side of the track.
Any cars between the red flag line and the leader, in addition to any lapped cars between cars on the lead lap, will then be moved into a line on the opposite side of the grid. They will then resume the race from this position in accordance with Article 42.3.
If the safety car has been directed into the pit lane (see Article 40.10) cars should stop in line in the fast lane of the pits.
41.3 If any cars are unable to return to the grid as a result of the track being blocked they will be brought back when the track is cleared and will be arranged in the order they occupied before the race was suspended. The order will be taken at the last point at which it was possible to determine the position of all cars. Any such cars will then be permitted to resume the race.
The Safety Car will then be driven to the front of the line of cars behind the red flag line.
41.4 Whilst the race is suspended :
- neither the race nor the timekeeping system will stop ;- cars may be worked on once they have stopped behind the red flag line or entered the pits but any such work must not impede the resumption of the race ;
- refuelling is forbidden. A ten second time penalty (see Article 16.3b) will be imposed on any driver who enters the pit lane and whose car is refuelled after the signal to suspend the race was given. However, any car which was in the pit entry or pit lane when the signal to suspend the race was given will not incur a penalty ;
- only team members and officials will be permitted on the grid.
41.5 Cars may not enter the pit lane when the race is suspended. A drive through penalty (see Article 16.3.a) will be imposed on any driver who enters the pit lane or whose car is pushed from the grid to the pit lane after the race has been suspended. Any car which was in the pit entry or pit lane when the race was suspended will not incur a penalty. However, if the cars have been directed into the pit lane (see Articles 40.10 and 41.2) a penalty will only be imposed on any driver whose car is moved from the fast lane to any other part of the pit lane.
All cars in the pit lane will be permitted to leave the pits once the race has been resumed but any which were in the pit entry or pit lane when the race was suspended will be released before any others. Subject to the above, any car intending to resume the race from the pit exit may do so in the order they got there under their own power, unless another car was unduly delayed.
Under these circumstances working in the fast lane will be permitted but any such work will be restricted to:
- starting the engine and any directly associated preparation ;
- the fitting or removal of permitted cooling and heating devices ;
- changes made for driver comfort ;
- changing wheels.
At all times drivers must follow the directions of the marshals.