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James Allison: I would get rid of blue flags


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#101 ExFlagMan

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Posted 23 September 2020 - 13:22

To the point raised about Trulli trains and tracks where overtaking is impossible. Surely if you have enough of a speed differential to lap a car you’ll have enough of a difference to pass them? And surely we shouldn’t be racing at tracks where overtaking is not possible even if there is a massive speed difference.

 

These same tracks are used by all sorts of formulae, many of which are for spec cars which have very little speed differential - funny how most of them have very little trouble overtaking.

 

Maybe there is a clue in there somewhere!



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#102 ExFlagMan

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Posted 23 September 2020 - 13:27

Terrible idea. The cars still can't overtake easily enough. It would also make people like RoGro and KMag even more dangerous/reckless, and would prove problematic with Ferrari and Red Bull having sister teams that are further down the grid. You could say the same about RP, but they're competitive this season. Maybe in 2022, if the new regs allow for better overtaking, but I still think blue flags are a necessity. If you're not fast enough to avoid being lapped, then gtfo of the way.

 

As an alternative solution, how about a 'Devil Take the Hindmost' rule - every 2-3 laps black flag the last running car and return it to the paddock.  Should circumvent the perceived problems caused by lapped cars.



#103 ExFlagMan

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Posted 23 September 2020 - 13:38

Speed isn't the only problem with overtaking backmarkers.  All too often they are the less able, new drivers or in the case of the Haas drivers - clowns.  Poor drivers are unpredictable at the best of times, having a Mercedes suddenly appear alongside them without warning is asking for trouble.

 

That is why they have these guys in orange suits with bits of blue cloth on sticks situated around the track - to indicate there is a car behind them that may need to be aware of.

 

The interpretation of the blue flag rule I used to try and instil in trainee flag marshals was as follows.

 

Stationary Blue - Please look in you mirrors and react accordingly.

 

Waved Blue - For **** sake look in you mirrors whilst you still have mirrors to look in.

 

I recall using this during a flag marshals training session which happened to be attended by Derek Ongaro - who was the FIA safety delegate at the time.

 

Afterwards he commented that he liked it, but was unsure well it would translate into French for the FIA Yellow Book



#104 pdac

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Posted 23 September 2020 - 14:37

As an alternative solution, how about a 'Devil Take the Hindmost' rule - every 2-3 laps black flag the last running car and return it to the paddock.  Should circumvent the perceived problems caused by lapped cars.

 

Oh, no. I think it would be much more fun to black flag every car that is lapped. Therefore, those cars at the back will fight tooth and nail to stop the lead car from overtaking them. This will lead to the field being compressed and give more overtaking chances for the cars behind.