Since its first appearance at the British Grand Prix in 1993, the Safety Car has been called out 28 times at Silverstone – with two additional VSC periods. Here’s a list of every time that the Safety Car has been deployed at the British Grand Prix!
1993 British Grand Prix, Lap 36
The Safety Car was deployed for only the third time in Formula 1 history at the 1993 British Grand Prix after Luca Badoer crashed out of the race. The Safety Car in this race was driven by Mark Goddard.
1997 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
Ukyo Katayama spun out on the opening lap of the 1997 British Grand Prix. His car was left in a dangerous position, necessitating a Safety Car while it was removed.
1998 British Grand Prix, Lap 45
With rain falling, a number of spins due to worsening weather conditions led to the Safety Car being called out on the 45th lap of the 1999 British Grand Prix.
1999 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
Jacques Villeneuve and Alessandro Zanardi stalled on the grid at the original start of the 1999 British Grand Prix, leading to a red flag. Notably, Michael Schumacher crashed out under the red flag, breaking his leg in the process.
Pedro de la Rosa stalled on the grid at the second start of the race, leading to the Safety Car being called out. Oliver Gavin had driven the Safety Car in both the 1997 and 1998 British Grand Prix, but Alex Ribiero took over driving duties at this event due to Gavin competing in the Formula 3 race.
1999 British Grand Prix, Lap 32
Jacques Villeneuve stopped on the main straight with a smoking engine, recording his eighth retirement in his eight races with BAR. The car was soon cleared away and the Safety Car was out for only one lap.
2003 British Grand Prix, Lap 6
David Coulthard’s headrest came loose and flew out of the car at Turn 1 on Lap 6 of the 2003 British Grand Prix. The Safety Car was called while it was removed from the circuit. Three years since taking on the job as Safety Car driver, this was the first time Bernd Maylander led the field at Silverstone.
2003 British Grand Prix, Lap 12
One of the more bizarre reasons for a Safety Car in Formula 1 history. An Irish priest, Neil Horan, ran on track and alongside the cars on the Hangar Straight. Displaying banners which read “Read the bible” and “The Bible is always right”, he was eventually tackled to the ground by a marshal and dragged away. He was sentenced to two months imprisonment for the incident.
2004 British Grand Prix, Lap 41
Jarno Trulli destroyed his car with a crash at the exit of the Bridge corner on the 41st lap of the 2004 British Grand Prix.
2005 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
Takuma Sato, who didn’t actually start the race, stalled at the back of the grid. Marshals pushed his car off the track but the Safety Car was called half way around Lap 1 as the car was taking some time to clear.
2006 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
Mark Webber and Ralf Schumacher retired following opening lap contact, in an incident caused by a Toro Rosso. The Safety Car was deployed right at the end of the first lap.
2010 British Grand Prix, Lap 28
The Safety Car was called due to debris on the track at the 2010 British Grand Prix. Debris from Pedro de la Rosa’s rear wing was on the pit straight. There was further debris on the Hangar Straight.
2013 British Grand Prix, Lap 16
The 2013 British Grand Prix is infamous for a spate of tyre failures in the race. Jean Eric-Vergne suffered a tyre blowout – the third deflation of the race – on Lap 16. The Safety Car was called due to debris, but also allowed marshals to check for debris elsewhere on the track, in hopes of finding a cause of the punctures.
2013 British Grand Prix, Lap 42
While leading the 2013 British Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel slowed with gearbox issues. He stopped on the main straight. Deemed to be in a dangerous position, the Safety Car was called while the Red Bull was removed from the track.
2014 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
Kimi Raikkonen spun and suffered a heavy crash on the opening lap of the 2014 British Grand Prix. Felipe Massa was collected in the incident but was able to continue, albeit to retire in the pit lane. The Safety Car was called immediately, with the red flag being shown just one minute after the deployment. With the cars not reaching the end of Lap 1 – pulling into the pit lane under red flag conditions instead – the Safety Car did not actually lead the cars at any point.
2014 British Grand Prix, Lap 2
The 2014 British Grand Prix restarted under Safety Car conditions. After one lap, the Safety Car pulled into the pit lane for a rolling restart.
2015 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
Three cars were eliminated in a first lap crash at the 2015 British Grand Prix, which saw both Lotus drivers and both McLaren drivers colliding.
2015 British Grand Prix, Lap 34
The VSC made its first appearance at the British Grand Prix in 2015. It was utilised when Carlos Sainz came to a halt, pulling his car up just off track at the exit of the final corner. The VSC was out for just over three and a half minutes while the car was removed.
2016 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
The 2016 British Grand Prix began behind the Safety Car due to a downpour ten minutes prior to the start of the race
2016 British Grand Prix, Lap 7
Pascal Wehrlein aquaplaned off the circuit at Abbey on the seventh lap of the 2016 British Grand Prix. The VSC was deployed for two minutes while the Manor car was cleared away.
2017 British Grand Prix, Lap 2
Carlos Sainz was eliminated on the first lap of the 2017 British Grand Prix following contact with Toro Rosso team-mate Daniil Kvyat through the Maggotts and Becketts complex.
2018 British Grand Prix, Lap 33
Marcus Ericsson crashed out at Abbey, leading to the first Safety Car deployment in the 2018 British Grand Prix.
2018 British Grand Prix, Lap 38
Halfway around the lap following the Safety Car returning to the pit lane after Ericsson’s previous incident, it was deployed once again when Romain Grosjean collided with Carlos Sainz through Copse corner.
2019 British Grand Prix, Lap 20
Antonio Giovinazzi spun out into the gravel in the final sector on his 19th lap, causing the only Safety Car deployment in the 2019 British Grand Prix.
2020 British Grand Prix, Lap 2
Kevin Magnussen spun out at Club corner following contact with Alex Albon at the end of the opening lap of the 2020 British Grand Prix.
2020 British Grand Prix, Lap 12
Daniil Kvyat suffered a right rear tyre failure through the Maggotts/Becketts complex, leading to a hefty shunt into the barriers. The Medical Car was deployed along with the Safety Car. Lasting seven laps, this is the longest Safety Car period to date at the British Grand Prix.
2021 British Grand Prix, Lap 1
An opening lap collision between race leaders Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton sent Verstappen spearing into the tyre barriers at Copse corner. Verstappen was taken to hospital following the incident but escaped without injury. The Safety Car was out for two minutes before the red flag was shown. The red flag was necessary due to barrier repairs being required at the crash site.
2021 British Grand Prix, Lap 3
Following the red flag period, the Safety Car led the drivers around for a standing restart at the 2021 British Grand Prix.
2022 British Grand Prix, Lap 2
Following a huge first lap collision, which saw Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo overturn and scrape along the track surface – for which the race was immediately red flagged – the Safety Car led the drivers around for a standing start.
2022 British Grand Prix, Lap 39
Running eighth, Esteban Ocon slowed on Lap 39 of the 2022 British Grand Prix and came to a stop on the national pit straight, leading to the second Safety Car appearance of the afternoon.
2023 British Grand Prix, Lap 33
Kevin Magnussen stopped on the Wellington Straight with a power unit failure on Lap 33 of the 2023 British Grand Prix. Initially a VSC was called for the incident. However, with the rear of his car on fire, the full Safety Car stayed out for six laps while the fire was put out and the Haas car was pushed to safety.
