The FIA will be trialling a tweaked blue flag system at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Race numbers will now be shown alongside blue light panel to make it clearer who the flags apply to.
During a race, drivers are given various warnings when a front runner is coming up to lap them. They first get a “pre-warning” when they are three seconds ahead, then shown blue flag warnings – which include flags, light panels, and a cockpit light – when the gap is closed to 1.2s.
Backmarkers must “allow the faster driver past at the first available opportunity” after the blue cockpit light lights up.
But many drivers have complained backmarkers are moving aside for the leaders quickly enough, impacting the battles at the front of the field. Most recently, Fernando Alonso was reprimanded after the Japanese Grand Prix, when he did not let race leader Lewis Hamilton past fast enough.
The FIA hopes the new system will make the process more efficient. It will assess the success of the system after the race before deciding whether to make the change permanent.
