The FIA and Formula 1 are continuously working to make the World Championship even safer. For this reason, the International Automobile Federation is implementing stricter speed restrictions on the track during Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car (VSC) periods in areas where double yellow flags are displayed.
This measure has been developed and will be implemented following research and examination of past incident situations, as well as consultation with Formula 1 teams and drivers.
Until the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which was not held due to flooding in the Italian region, the FIA International Sporting Code stipulated that when double yellow flags are displayed, indicating “a danger that partly or wholly blocks the track and/or marshals working on or beside the track,” drivers must “significantly reduce speed, not overtake, and be prepared to change direction or stop.”
However, things will change starting from this weekend, specifically the Monaco Grand Prix, the seventh event of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship. With double yellow flags displayed, the requirements for drivers will be more precise and strictly enforced. They will have to respect a maximum speed limit in the areas where double yellow flags are shown.
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“What we want to do is provide drivers with a tool that helps them during incidents and makes races even safer,” explains FIA Technical Director Tim Goss, who oversaw the project.
“For several years, with the Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car, we have used delta times, which are reference speeds we have around the track. So, when there is a physical or virtual safety car, drivers are informed of the delta time on their dashboard display and through radio messages, and they must maintain a positive value, meaning they should be slower than the reference time for the lap. However, there are occasions where cars can legitimately temporarily increase speed to recover time lost compared to the reference time.” – the FIA Technical Director explained.
“What we want to do now is extend the use of the delta time concept to ensure that cars are strictly slowed down to the required delta time when double-waved yellow flags are displayed under a Virtual Safety Car or a Safety Car, so we are introducing a dedicated reference speed limit in the area where the flags are displayed.” – he pointed out.
At the beginning of the year, the FIA completed an extensive series of on-track tests – the tests were conducted at different circuits – and this revealed that the reference speed limit for the Safety Car in wet track conditions would allow for a significant step forward in terms of safety.
Olivier Hulot, FIA F1 electronics manager, explained how drivers will become aware that the restrictions are in effect: “In the case of Virtual Safety Car, when a driver enters an area with double-waved yellow flags displayed, what they will see on the dashboard is zero, so the delta time is reset and they must drive below the new speed limit. This way, they achieve a positive or negative delta compared to the speed limit. So, it’s the same principle as before, only specific to an area where double-waved yellow flags are in effect.”
The introduced restriction will not catch drivers by surprise, as they will be informed both on the dashboard display and via radio about the presence of an area where double yellow flags are displayed.
“We have already introduced a warning system for single and double yellow flags. The driver receives a warning in the marshalling sector before the yellow or double yellow flag. This system has already been successful and will assist us with the new system.” – the FIA F1 electronics manager explained.
Olivier Hulot admitted that occasionally, cars slowed down due to a brief period of double yellow flags may experience a loss of performance, but safety will prevail.
“If one car goes through a double yellow but another one doesn’t and has to slow down, it loses time compared to its competitors. However, for the FIA, safety is paramount, and when there is a danger on the track or marshals on the track, we must minimize risks regardless of everything else.” – Olivier Hulot concluded.
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