Article B5.15.4
Standing Start Resumption Procedure
Sporting Regulations
Article B5.15.4
Standing Start Resumption Procedure
Chapter: B5
In Simple Terms
When the Race Director decides conditions are safe after a safety car period, they send a 'STANDING START' message to all drivers. The pit lane closes, the safety car's orange lights turn off, and the race is about to restart. The lead driver behind the safety car can now control the pace and create gaps larger than normally allowed as the field prepares to race.
- Race Director must declare 'STANDING START' message to signal safety car period is ending
- Pit lane exit closes when standing start is announced
- Safety car's orange lights are extinguished as the signal to drivers
- Lead driver behind safety car may exceed normal gap limits and dictate restart pace
Official FIA Text
When the Race Director decides it is safe, the message 'STANDING START' will be sent to all Competitors. The pit lane exit will be closed and orange lights on the safety car will be extinguished. The first Car in line behind the safety car may dictate the pace and may fall back from the safety car, exceeding the maximum allowable gap.
standing startsafety carrace directorpit lane closureorange lights
2026 Season Regulations