Flags, gambling and fixing
Discussion
After Saturdays mess with the flags I had a thought, if you wanted a particular driver to win/loose, qualify better/worse all you need to do is to hold a yellow flag out for a bit longer/shorter. if they are not careful this could be a very easy one to fix.
Could it really be that easy?
Could it really be that easy?
Are all Flag Marshals equipped with radios? Usually only the Post Chief has one on posts where there are no flags. If this were the case with Flag Marshals too, then there could be a delay in relaying the message to show/withdraw the flags.
By the time Rosberg arrived at the scene, Alonso had gone and there appeared to be no marshals trackside. But equally I didn't spot a green flag at the next post down which is standard protocol to indicate the end of the fellow flag section.
By the time Rosberg arrived at the scene, Alonso had gone and there appeared to be no marshals trackside. But equally I didn't spot a green flag at the next post down which is standard protocol to indicate the end of the fellow flag section.
rubystone said:
Are all Flag Marshals equipped with radios? Usually only the Post Chief has one on posts where there are no flags. If this were the case with Flag Marshals too, then there could be a delay in relaying the message to show/withdraw the flags.
By the time Rosberg arrived at the scene, Alonso had gone and there appeared to be no marshals trackside. But equally I didn't spot a green flag at the next post down which is standard protocol to indicate the end of the fellow flag section.
Generally flaggies work line of sight and don't have radios...you have 2 working face to face, one with warning flags ie yellow and slippery surface the other with blue and green...they work together to feed eachother information but there can sometimes be a delay, also flags aren't withdrawn until the car who could have seen the flag is through the area. Ie if the marshals can see Nico they would want to withdraw the yellow too quickly to give mixed messages, and likewise if there was a car infront of Nico they cannot withdraw the double yellows until that car is past the green meaning the single yellow Nico saw also could not be withdrawn By the time Rosberg arrived at the scene, Alonso had gone and there appeared to be no marshals trackside. But equally I didn't spot a green flag at the next post down which is standard protocol to indicate the end of the fellow flag section.
rubystone said:
Are all Flag Marshals equipped with radios? Usually only the Post Chief has one on posts where there are no flags. If this were the case with Flag Marshals too, then there could be a delay in relaying the message to show/withdraw the flags.
By the time Rosberg arrived at the scene, Alonso had gone and there appeared to be no marshals trackside. But equally I didn't spot a green flag at the next post down which is standard protocol to indicate the end of the fellow flag section.
for the british GP - the Observer has a radio (often 2 per Post, standing each side of the track). the sector Incident Officer has a separate radio network (one IO each side of the track per sector) Snatch vehicles & recovery on their own network, each Flag Marshal has a radio - one on the Yellow Flag network and the other on the Blue Flag network. the FIA lights marshals are also on the Blue Flag network.By the time Rosberg arrived at the scene, Alonso had gone and there appeared to be no marshals trackside. But equally I didn't spot a green flag at the next post down which is standard protocol to indicate the end of the fellow flag section.
Medics around the circuit on their own network, safety car on another network....
in terms of how the Flagging radios works in the UK:
the blue flag network is for listening too - the Chief Flag Marshal in race control will advise during the course of the GP race when one car is catching another.
so typical message: "Yellow Manor being caught by Black Mercedes...approaching Stowe, now approaching Vale" But the actual decision to put the blue flag out is up to the marshals on track, as these messages can start when the cars are 3 or 4 secs back.
Yellow Flag: used to advise Race Control when the warning flags have been displayed (Yellow, White, Change of Surface) Race Control can ask for flags to be upgraded or downgraded between double waved and single waved yellow from their view on the cameras.
FIA lights automatically talk to Race control when the panels are activated. The green automatically comes on at the next post when a yellow is shown, and goes off after a pre-set time delay after the yellow is withdrawn. Race Control can override the panel at any time as they see fit (and only they can set the SC, VSC and Red flags on the panels.)
As a motorsports marshal (haven't worked on F1 as yet) and also a horrendous gambler, there is absolutely no way.
Not even the slightest thought of influencing an outcome by doing anything other than instructed to the best of your abilities.
The fear of being shamed on places like PH is enough.
Not even the slightest thought of influencing an outcome by doing anything other than instructed to the best of your abilities.
The fear of being shamed on places like PH is enough.
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