When race stewards and officers have to ship a message to Components 1 drivers on observe, they’ll name on groups to relay the data over the radio, or can throw up a flag across the observe to immediately alert drivers. Marshals at F1 circuits can wave 9 totally different flags, and a few are used much more than others.
Initially of each race, the inexperienced flag is waved to point that the observe is evident and racing can begin, whereas the chequered flag is waved to sign the tip of a grand prix. F1 followers the world over shall be conversant in these two flags, whereas the opposite seven flags obtainable to marshals might be waved at any level throughout a race to both warn drivers about one thing or give racers a selected instruction.
Over the course of a race, marshals could wave yellow flags to sign an obstruction on observe forward and, relying on how they’re waved, name on racers to scale back their pace. The blue flag means a fast-moving automobile is approaching and mandates that slow-moving vehicles transfer off the racing line to let the leaders handed, or in a race for a automobile to maneuver over to be lapped by the leaders.
The purple flag is one other frequent website in F1 and it brings the on-track motion to an finish, generally as a result of climate points or different incidents on observe that make it unsafe to proceed. When it’s waved in a race, drivers are required to scale back their pace and proceed to the pits the place they then line up on the pit exit whereas they await additional directions.
Whereas barely much less frequent, the black and white flag signifies to a driver that they’ve been reported for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Today, this flag is mostly waved to alert racers to trace limits violations.
However there are three flags which can be seen even much less steadily in F1, together with one which hasn’t been waved in additional than a yr.
Picture by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Photos
Yellow and purple flag
The yellow and purple striped flag is likely one of the instruments that stewards and marshals need to alert F1 drivers to the situations on observe. The flag is waved by marshals to warn racers a few change in grip ranges up forward and is usually waved if oil or water spill onto the floor of the race observe.
In contrast to the yellow flag, which is waved for hazard on observe, this striped counterpart doesn’t require a response from drivers – like slowing down. Additionally, not like most different flags on the marshals’ disposal, the yellow and purple striped flag isn’t waved and is, as a substitute, held stationary for drivers to see.
Picture by: Cello Sports activities Media
Black and orange flag
This flag contains a black background with an orange circle within the centre, and because of this it’s typically known as the “meatball” flag.
This flag is waved for any driver dealing with a mechanical challenge on their automobile that might influence the opposite drivers on observe. It’s waved for issues like a leak or a free half – assume a clipped entrance wing finish plate – and requires drivers to go into the pits for repairs.
The flag was infamous by the 2022 season, with it waving an a number of consecutive grand prix – even prompting the FIA to confess that it was trigger-happy with its use over the season. Now, it’s use has dwindled to the purpose that groups are even calling for stewards to make use of it in races extra often. How the tables have turned.
Ignoring a black and orange flag will end in disqualification from the grand prix.
Marshall holding out a black Flag, Dallas GP
Picture by: David Hutson / Motorsport Photos
Black flag
The least waved flag in F1 is the black flag, which has solely been used 16 occasions over the course of the championship’s 75-year historical past.
This flag is used to immediately disqualify a driver from a grand prix, and as soon as the black flag is waved at them the racer on the receiving finish should return to their pit storage without delay. The choice to point out this flag rests solely with the stewards presiding over a grand prix and its use in an F1 weekend is uncommon.
The black flag was final waved at Nico Hulkenberg on the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix for receiving exterior help. Previous to that, it was final used on the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix when Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa each left the pitlane whereas the purple gentle was displaying.
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