Plainly

By which I mean that there was a miscommunication between the FIA and the Monaco track authorities, who give signals to the drivers.

Green flags mean 'race' (including overtaking). Whereas yellow flags mean 'no overtaking'. And 'SC' means "you are racing under safety car conditions'.

If that entire lap was under safety car conditions and no overtaking - even after the safety car had gone in - then there was no reason at allto give the drivers the green flag.

Which was what they did.

So plainly a cock-up (and I'd bet any money that if there's another last lap safety car this season, they'd keep the yellow flags out).

I actually think the other drivers all followed the spirit of what the FIA intended, whereas Mercedes followed the signals they were actually given.

It's very harsh to punish Mercedes for doing that though (particularly to relegate him to 12th). It was the FIA that cocked up, not really Mercedes or Schumacher.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, May 17, 15:14:13