Yellow flag: danger ahead
It is shown when there is something dangerous on part of the track, such as a stopped car, debris or a spin. It applies only in that area. While it lasts, nobody can overtake. There are two levels:
- Single yellow
- There is a hazard near the track. The driver must ease off and be ready to avoid it.
- Double yellow
- The danger is greater: the track is partly blocked or people are working there. The driver must slow down a lot and be ready to stop completely. That lap can no longer be a fast lap, and in qualifying it is deleted.
How officials know a driver really slowed down
It is not enough for a driver to say they lifted off. Every car records what it does, and the stewards check it. They look at three things and compare them with earlier laps:
- Whether they braked earlier: hitting the brakes or lifting off sooner than on a normal lap.
- Whether they went slower: speed through that section must be clearly lower.
- How long the sector took: this is the simplest check. If the time barely changed, they did not slow down.
Take an example. A driver does a sector in 30 seconds on a normal lap. Under a single yellow they are expected to take at least 5% longer, around 31.5 seconds. Under a double yellow, at least 15% longer, around 34.5 seconds.
If they do not comply, the usual race penalty is 10 seconds or a drive-through for a single yellow, and a stop-and-go for a double. They can also get points on their licence.
The 5% and 15% figures are a guide for the stewards, not an automatic limit. Each case is judged on its own.
The other flags
- Green
- The danger is over. It appears after the yellow zone, and the driver can accelerate and overtake again.
- Red
- Everything stops, because of a serious accident or very heavy rain. Drivers slow down, cannot overtake and return to the pits.
- Blue
- A faster car is approaching. In a race, the driver about to be lapped must let it through. In qualifying, it warns that someone is on a fast lap.
- White
- There is a slow vehicle on track, such as a medical or service car. The driver must take care when catching it.
- Red and yellow stripes
- There is less grip ahead because of oil, water or gravel. The driver must take care when braking and turning.
- Black and white
- A personal warning for bad conduct, such as exceeding track limits. It is shown with the driver's number. If they repeat it, they can be penalised.
- Black with orange circle
- The car has a dangerous problem, such as a loose part. The driver must come to the pits to fix it. It is shown with their number.
- Black
- Disqualification. The driver must return to the pits and is out of the session. It is shown with their number.
- Chequered
- The session or race is over. The driver completes the lap and returns to the pits.
Safety car: step by step
When there is a serious danger, for example a crashed car with debris on the track, the yellow extends to the whole circuit and the safety car comes out, an official car with orange lights. It makes the cars go slowly so marshals can work in peace. This is what happens:
- Race control orders it. All the panels show SC and the car goes out on track.
- Drivers slow down and respect a minimum time, so nobody can take advantage of the moment.
- They form a queue behind the safety car, with no more than 10 car lengths between one and the next.
- Nobody can overtake, with exceptions such as entering the pits or if a car is going slowly because of a problem.
- If race control allows it, cars that are a lap down pass the queue and join at the back.
- When the track is clear, it is announced that the safety car will come in on that lap, and it turns off its orange lights.
- The leader sets the pace and nobody can overtake until they cross the line.
A safety car can completely change a race, because it wipes out the gaps between cars. A driver who had a 20-second lead suddenly has their rival right behind them.
Virtual safety car
It is used when double yellow flags are needed in a sector and someone is at risk, but the problem does not justify bringing out the safety car. For example, a stopped car that can be removed quickly.
There is no car on track. All the panels show VSC, and each driver must slow down and not go faster than a set pace, which an electronic system checks. Nobody can overtake, except in cases such as entering or leaving the pits.
The big difference is that the gaps stay almost the same. A driver with a 10-second lead still has about 10 seconds. When it ends, the panels turn green and everyone accelerates at the same time. Drivers must also respect the minimum time at that moment.
What happens with a red flag
If it is not safe to continue, the race is suspended. Red flags are shown around the whole circuit and these are the steps:
- Overtaking is banned and the pit exit is closed.
- Everyone returns slowly to the pit lane and lines up in the order they arrive.
- Teams can change tyres and repair crash damage, among other permitted work.
- The clock does not stop, but that time is added to the 2-hour maximum. In total, the race cannot go past 3 hours.
- A new order is set and the race restarts.
If the race cannot continue, the result is taken at the end of the second-to-last lap before the red flag. Depending on how much was run, all the points or only some are awarded, as we explain in the article on points.
That chance to change tyres for free means a red flag can be great for some and terrible for others. A driver who has just made a full pit stop loses that advantage.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there panels as well as flags?
Because they are easier to see at over 300 km/h, and they also appear on the driver's steering wheel. The lights mean exactly the same as the flags.
Can a race finish behind the safety car?
Yes. If there is no time to restart, the cars finish in a queue without overtaking. It is not very exciting, but it is part of the rules.
What is the difference between a yellow flag and the safety car?
A yellow flag affects only part of the track. The safety car and the virtual safety car neutralise the whole circuit.
Do drivers stop at the chequered flag?
Not straight away. They complete one more lap and go directly to parc fermé, the closed area where cars are held. Only the winner can celebrate a little on the way, as long as it is safe.