How many of you are the Formula One fans?. And how many of you know the function of each race flags that is used in the F1?. So, here, we bring some information for you all to understand the race flags.Racing flags traditionally used in auto racing to communicate important messages to drivers.Typically, the primary flagman, sometimes the grand marshal of a race, waves the flags atop a flagstand near the start/finish line. On road courses, officials are also stationed at strategically chosen positions along the course in order to communicate both local and course-wide conditions to drivers.
But nowadays, race flags are also used to warn drivers about potential danger ahead or even to hand drastic penalties.A driver cannot possibly know if the car behind him is driven by someone who’s looking to lap him or his rival for a better position in a race.Different racing series have different flags, or maybe the same colour but different meaning depending on the championship. For example, the checkered flag is commonly used across all of motorsport to signify the end of a session while the penalty flags differ from series to series.
We will today start a series of articles, aimed at providing you with the necessary knowhow to interpret it.After this we will bring you another story about race flags in Motor racing, karting and also Nascar.Or maybe A1 racing.
YELLOW FLAG.
The solid yellow flag, or caution flag, universally requires drivers to slow down due to a hazard on the track.When the race marshals are waving a single yellow flag, that means the drivers should keep an eye on the track as a dangerous situation is expected ahead. One yellow flag means that there has been an accident/crash resulting in debris all over the track – therefore they are expected to slow down due to slight lack of grip, while two yellow flags, either waved by the same marshal or two marshals standing one next to each other waving one flag each, means a severe accident has happened ahead.
In the first situation (one flag), the drivers should decelerate throughout the section insisted upon by the stewards, while in the second (two flags) they should also be prepared for stopping the car on the track. Either way, on the track section where the yellow flags are waved, drivers are prohibited from passing until either the hazard or the next flag station displaying a green flag (signifying the end of a cautionary section) is passed. This flag is shown at the discretion of the marshals manning the station.Overtaking is not permitted until the cars have passed the green flag at the start line.
GREEN FLAG.
The solid green flag is usually displayed to indicate the start of a session. During a race, it is often also displayed at the end of a caution period or a temporary delay to indicate that the race is restarting. Sometimes it is displayed by default when no other flags are appropriate. Therefore, if the race is not under caution or delayed, it is said to be under green-flag conditions.
Before the use of starting lights in Formula One and most other FIA sanctioned or associated events, the national flag of the country in which a race is occurring, instead of a green flag, was used to signal its start, and still does on occasion in the event of equipment failure.
The green flag is usually waved by the race marshals after the yellow ones. Green stands for “no more danger on track”, therefore racing actions may resume immediately. It also gives the drivers the possibility to overtake one another.
WHITE FLAG.
In all championships which use the FIA International Sporting Code, hen the white flag is waved by the race marshals, it means the drivers should immediately slow down, as it indicates the presence of a safety car, ambulance or towing truck ahead, on the track. In this situation, overtaking is strictly prohibited.
RED FLAG.
It means the conditions are too unsafe.The red flag signals the temporary stopping of the race, due to a number of reasons. Most commonly, torrential rain that makes it impossible for the drivers to maintain control over their cars – therefore causing high danger in terms of the drivers’ safety. Also, a massive on-track accident resulting in loss of human lives might also cause the stewards to wave the red flag.Depending on the series, the cars are directed to proceed to pit road, or to stop at a specific spot. Also depending on the series, any repair work in the pits or garage area may not be done under red flag conditions.
If the red flag is waved before the half of the race, all drivers will be awarded half points for their current positions in the race. Otherwise, they will receive all points.
BLUE FLAG.
It indicates that faster car approaching.Most commonly, the light blue flag is waved to a driver during a race in order to inform him that he will soon be lapped by another driver. Under the circumstances, the former will immediately have to slow down and let the latter pass him. The same goes in the qualifying session, if one driver is obviously in his in-lap and the one behind him is trying to score a quick lap. The former will be notified via the blue flag and will be forced not to interfere with the other one’s quick lap, or else risk a 5-place grid penalty.
Also, when a drivers will try to rejoin the field after previously refueling & changing tires at the pits, he will be waved the blue flag to warn him that other cars are approaching on the track, at the end of the start/finish line.
BLACK FLAG.
Black flag indicates that instant disqualification for a driver.If you’re a racing driver, black is the last color you want to see on a race flag. Once a race marshal waves the black flag and it attaches the race number of your car to it, that means you’re disqualified for the ongoing race. After seeing the black flag, a driver must enter the pits within the next lap and report immediately to the Clerk of the Course.
Black flags can be waved at all observation posts simultaneously to order all drivers to clear the track after the starter waves the red flag, often in the case of a serious accident.
BLACK & WHITE FLAG.
This flag indicates a penalty for bad conduct.We’re not talking about the black & white chequered flag at the end of the race, but the diagonally-divided black-and-white flag during the race. Just as the aforementioned black flag, this one should come attached with a car number. The driver in question is warned by the race stewards that he has been spotted breaking a sporting rule and, if he doesn’t go back to his fair-play ways, he will face disqualification from the race. Also, the black and white flag should come with a drive-through penalty during the race or a 10-second penalty (at the end of the race) for the driver in question.
BLACK FLAG WITH ORANGE CIRCLE.
This flag also known as the “meatball” flag.This is black flag has a 40-cm in diameter orange circle in the center. This is also something that one would prefer to see as fewer times as possible during his racing career, as the flag signals a telemetry problem with his car, or oil, water, or fuel leak.Consequently, the team asks for the driver to head immediately to the pits and solve the problem.
RED & YELLOW FLAG.
The red-striped yellow flag, also known as the “surface flag”, is waved to the drivers when there are slippery conditions ahead.E.g oil, coolant, small pieces of debris or sand.They are advised to slow down in order to prevent a potential visit to the run-offs. Overtaking is also prohibited in the sector of the track where this flag is being waved.
CHEQUERED FLAG.
The checkered flag is displayed at the finish line to indicate that the current session has been completed.The flag is commonly associated with the winner of the race, as he is the first driver to ‘take’ (drive past) the checkered flag.
Usually, he who takes it first can already start thinking of the champagne fight.
Jom komen!