Bernie Collins says the FIA waived ‘black-and-white’ regulation for Lewis Hamilton in Malaysia

Former Formula 1 strategist and Sky Sports pundit Bernie Collins stated that the FIA bypassed a clear rule by reinstating Lewis Hamilton to his front-row starting position in Malaysia. Software issues during a rain-delayed formation lap caused several drivers, including polesitter Max Verstappen and Hamilton, to slow significantly and lose positions. Rather than requiring cars to restart in pit lane entry order, race officials suspended the procedure and restored the original grid.

Collins noted that regulations state in black and white that cars should restart based on the order they enter the pit lane. The disruptions occurred because teams were running mandatory wet-weather modes for the first time this season, which prompted the FIA to release an updated software fix prior to the start.