As the ultimate seconds ticked down in qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen over-committed on the high-speed entrance to the penultimate nook and spun off right into a barrier.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli noticed the yellow flag waving and reacted instantly, backing off to keep away from bettering his lap time and risking a penalty.
However George Russell noticed the identical sign and reacted in a different way. Noticing that solely a single yellow flag was waving and never a double, Russell instantly understood he solely wanted to scale back his velocity quickly and that his lap would stand if he accomplished it.
Russell’s data of the rules paid off: he grabbed pole place whereas his workforce mate admitted he ought to have lifted after which pressed on.
Weeks later on the Hungaroring, dealing with an analogous state of affairs, Antonelli did precisely that. On this event the stewards determined he didn’t decelerate sufficient and penalised him.
However ought to drivers ever be allowed to enhance their lap occasions below yellow flag circumstances? The very fact a single yellow flag was utilized in response to Verstappen’s crash on the Purple Bull Ring attracted appreciable remark: the incident occured at a high-speed nook the place one other driver may simply have gone off and hit the stationary automobile. Yellow flags are supposed to forestall this type of incident from taking place, but when drivers are allowed to merely elevate the throttle briefly after which resume at full velocity, are they not serving their meant function?
There may be multiple method F1 may handle this. Any lap time enchancment by a driver below double waved yellow flags is mechanically deleted; this identical association could possibly be launched for single waved yellow flags. Or using double waved yellow flags could possibly be mandated for any incident in qualifying.
Both method, ought to F1 take away the motivation for drivers to reply to a yellow flag with a perfunctory elevate adopted by a full dedication method to the remainder of the lap, doubtlessly together with the accident scene?
For
The Purple Bull Ring case demonstrated a transparent security danger below the present rules. Permitting drivers to go the crash scene at velocity created an apparent hazard.
Though introducing stricter guidelines would doubtlessly result in extra lap occasions being deleted, groups will anticipate this and modify their run plans accordingly.
In opposition to
F1 drivers are skilled racers who perceive the bounds of adhesion much better than extraordinary observers. Requiring them to briefly elevate for yellow flags is ample.
Introducing stricter limits would result in extra occasions being deleted throughout qualifying and would make it simpler for drivers to forestall rivals from bettering their lap occasions.
I say
F1 completely must toughen this up. It’s no small leap of creativeness to see how an analogous resolution may result in a a lot worse final result, significantly in moist climate circumstances.
One of the best ways to forestall this may be to increase the present rule stopping drivers from bettering their occasions below double waved yellow flags to singles. This might instantly take away the doubtless harmful incentive for drivers to carry out a box-ticking elevate of the throttle earlier than resuming their lap at full velocity.
If it results in undesirable penalties comparable to drivers trying to intentionally trigger yellow flags, that may be handled in different methods. The precedence must be to minimise the potential security danger.
You say
Does F1 must cease drivers bettering their lap occasions once they go a yellow flag whereas on a qualifying lap? Solid your vote beneath and have your say within the feedback.
Ought to System 1 stop drivers bettering their lap occasions below yellow flags in qualifying?
Strongly disagree (13%)
Barely disagree (6%)
Neither agree nor disagree (4%)
Barely agree (15%)
Strongly agree (62%)
Whole Voters: 68
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