The aborted restart at the end of Formula 1's British Grand Prix was the consequence of a "software error", according to the FIA.

Competitors and spectators were treated to a confusing end to the Silverstone race as a single-lap shootout was declared via a "safety car in this lap" message on lap 51 of 52, before being swiftly called off - with a "safety car deployed" message being issued shortly after.

The safety car had come out due to an incident for Red Bull's Max Verstappen on lap 48 of 52, and track staff and race control faced a tight time window to get the race restarted.

The exact rules governing F1 restarts are a particularly sensitive subject after a race direction call that contravened the regulations swung the outcome of the 2021 title race in that year's Abu Dhabi finale.

On this occasion, like then, it ended up that restarting the event would have breached the regulations.

A message that lapped cars were allowed to unlap themselves and rejoin the queue was sent out, which is required by regulations for the restart to proceed properly.

Article B5.13.5 b) of F1's sporting regulations states that "once the message 'LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE' has been sent to all competitors [...], the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap".

But the message appeared to come mere moments after race leader Charles Leclerc crossed the start-finish line to begin lap 51 of 52.

From that moment on, no restart could take place by law until the end of lap 52 - so effectively no racing could take place, with the chequered flag out immediately after the safety car released the pack.

The FIA pointed to the regulation in explaining why the restart could not take place.