This weekend the Monaco Grand Prix, the most famous race in Formula 1, takes place in Monte Carlo. In many ways, it occupies a special place in the championship, but its main characteristic is not the glamor and luxury that reign there ( Is there enough elsewhere?), but it is almost impossible to overtake on this track.
This weekend’s qualifying therefore becomes crucial, and in history there have been cases where drivers deliberately blocked the track under the guise of a mistake, preventing their rivals from improving and taking pole. Once even Michael Schumacher was caught in such a scam.
And F1 drivers proposed a solution to the problem: simply cancel the driver’s best lap that causes red or yellow flags to appear. This will make it useless to try to block the route and deliberately interfere with others. Is this proposal really a good idea?
The authors of “Championship” did not agree:
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Formula 1 race in Imola: the best! Or deadly boredom? let’s discuss
“Needs to be removed”
First of all, it should be noted that problems arise not only in cases of bad intentions. Even if the driver made an unintentional error, like Sergio Pérez in the final classification of 2022, when Verstappen, Sainz and Ocon behind him on the track were deprived of the last attempt because of the Mexican. There were 30 seconds left in Q3, during which it was no longer possible to achieve a fast lap.
“There have already been cases in which drivers caused red flags and the FIA was not sure that this was done intentionally, although we, as drivers, always know what is intentional and what is not,” Sainz said at a press conference this anus. “I hope that, for the sake of the show, we have fair racing and don’t take unnecessary risks.”
Carlos Sainz qualifying for Monaco 2022
Photo: MB Media/Getty Images
“We eliminate laps for handover, and I think if you cause a yellow or red flag, your lap should be eliminated. “I have nothing more to add,” George Russell said unequivocally before the Monaco stage. “This is definitely how it should be,” added Sergio Pérez, who won the Monaco Grand Prix after that mistake in qualifying.
“As far as I know, the FIA is already studying this issue. I think we even discussed in the driver briefing that it was necessary to study every episode in which a driver caused red flags and prevented others from completing a lap. You have to be careful, but you have to be attentive to this,” Esteban Ocon agreed with his colleagues.
The teams use all possible loopholes:
The F1 driver deliberately violated the rules and didn’t care about the fines. Why are judges impotent?
Was that possible?
A similar rule appeared in the juniors F-2 and F-3, but there the decision is at the discretion of the judges. “A driver who, in the opinion of the judges, has alone caused red flags in the classification, will not be able to continue the session and his best lap may be eliminated,” the text says.
However, so far the rule has not been applied: Callum Voisin wasted no time after his exit and the red flags in qualifying at Imola. In IndyCar the rule is automatic, without the participation of the judges. If a rider causes yellow flags, the best attempt is automatically disqualified. If it’s red, two best tries.
Will this F1 rule help? In theory it seems reasonable and would be useful in other stages. And if such a rule is introduced, it is unlikely to affect just one race. The question is how it will be formulated.
Flag Marshal at the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix
Photo: Formula 1 via Getty Images
Will a driver lose a lap only because of a red flag or also because of a yellow flag? Is it fair if he stopped due to technical problems? How can it be proven that the car was actually damaged and that the driver’s order to stop was not a secret signal?
Perhaps, except in the strictest version, this rule would benefit F1. In such a way that nothing is left in the hands of the judges, so that the punishment follows both a red flag and a yellow flag: doesn’t the latter deprive other pilots of trying? Technical problems? But do you win and lose as a team? So this time you lost together.
It is clear that the rules will not change this weekend; Changing the rules takes time, but it’s great that they’ve started talking about the problem. Plus, the rule of discarding the best return is a healthy way to add intrigue to the fight. In the final rounds, drivers will not only fight for pole position, but will also risk losing their place on the second or third row if they make a mistake.
After the battle of Imola, the fight promises to be close:
Verstappen will no longer have an easy life. Main results of the F1 Grand Prix in Imola
