BMW hope for SC rules change by Monaco

FIA race director Charlie Whiting is believed to be considering changing the way the pitlane is closed during the start of the safety car period, because some drivers are being unfairly penalized if they need to refuel during this spell.

The impetus to make a change has increased following Nick Heidfeld's penalty in the Spanish Grand Prix, where he was robbed of a good finish because he needed to stop during a safety car period.

Although some remain sceptical about making the changes, Theissen thinks there are obvious solutions to prevent drivers racing back to the pits in the event of a safety car, and putting themselves in dangerous situations.

"I am hoping we can change it for Monaco, because that is where we have the highest risk of safety car, and the trickiest conditions," said Theissen in Turkey on Thursday.

"I think the ultimate solution can be something controlled by the car itself, by the electronics. But that is probably not an immediate solution because that needs to be sorted out and tested, so I don't see that for the coming races.

"However, Charlie Whiting has made a proposal to set a minimum sector time in yellow areas, which I think will be something immediately workable and certainly better than what we have now."

Heidfeld, who has been involved in discussions between drivers and the FIA since the start of the season, thinks that most people in the sport are now eager for a change.

"We're thinking about different solutions at the moment," he said. "I think there's nothing that has come up so far.

"If it was me deciding, I would just go back to the old rule - but there's the thinking that it's too dangerous - that you go back to the pits too quickly and maybe crash, like (Fernando) Alonso in Brazil. But I think everybody agrees it's not good."

When asked if he thought agreement could be reached to make the change by Monaco, Heidfeld said: "I hope so, but I don't know.

"We've been working on it for a couple of weeks and it was addressed months ago. It's not just that I was unlucky (in Barcelona). I don't think any driver likes it. I don't know anybody who likes it."