Should racing get rid of the blue flag?

[LaSarthe+Back]

Watching the DTM at the moment, and Tomczyck who was in the literal lead was given the blue flag to let Di Resta through.

For me, this spoils a part of the racing i.e. should driver in 2nd go for the pass, not knowing when the leader would pit, or hang behind and risk 3rd catching up.

I remember F1 when there were no blue flags, and it was far more exciting. Sometimes your favourite driver would benefit from the traffic and other times not.

So, should they be banished??

[mattley]

Not quite sure about the situation you describe but they're a good idea even if it just gives back markers a heads up that there's a significantly quicker car behind them. Having races decided by the random actions of back markers wouldn't be good.

[sa_20v]

LaSarthe+Back said:

I remember F1 when there were no blue flags, and it was far more exciting. Sometimes your favourite driver would benefit from the traffic and other times not.

If all tracks were like Monza/Spa/Silverstone I wouldn't mind seeing them go - but with Tilke designed tracks, along with Hungary (a race there actually saw a change to the blue flag rules), they are still very necessary.

[marshalla]

Not get rid of them - but change the rule away from the "3 flags" to something like 2 laps maybe ?

[LaSarthe+Back]

mattley said:

Not quite sure about the situation you describe but they're a good idea even if it just gives back markers a heads up that there's a significantly quicker car behind them. Having races decided by the random actions of back markers wouldn't be good.

I agree, for a rookie to compromise a championship decider wouldn't be good, but at the same, the slower cars are having battles of their own, and for some teams a single point is a really big deal for them. Lining up their opponents is, most of the time, compromised by having to let the leader through. It's got to be gutting to have spent 10 laps consistently taking time out of the driver in front, only to lose it having to let someone by.

Just idle Sunday thoughts, but I think there's some sense in at least reconsidering the rules.

[mat205125]

A blue flag shouldn't be shown when drivers are competing for position, however is very valuable for informing back markers when faster drivers are coming up behind to lap them. Back markers will be in their own little race with their competitors and concentrating primarily on their immediate surroundings. The blue flag is there to make them aware that there are faster cars coming through, and they should avoid hampering their progress, and give them space to pass cleanly

[LaSarthe+Back]

mat205125 said:

A blue flag shouldn't be shown when drivers are competing for position, however is very valuable for informing back markers when faster drivers are coming up behind to lap them. Back markers will be in their own little race with their competitors and concentrating primarily on their immediate surroundings. The blue flag is there to make them aware that there are faster cars coming through, and they should avoid hampering their progress, and give them space to pass cleanly

Thanks for clearing that up. I hope my initial post doesn't make you think that I haven't a clue what the blue flag is there for???

I'm just asking what the opinions are on it, and if it's meaning should be changed

Edited by LaSarthe+Back on Sunday 21st September 15:11

Also if two drivers are fighting and a significantly quicker car, say a demoted McLaren, is coming through the pack, the blue flag is not shown. In most instances I have witness through coverage, when the leader is coming through, the blue flag is shown regardless of the backmarker's battling.

Is part of it that the marshalls, along with the great job they do, are showing it at inappropriate times/circumstances?

Edited by LaSarthe+Back on Sunday 21st September 15:19

[mat205125]

LaSarthe+Back said:

mat205125 said:

A blue flag shouldn't be shown when drivers are competing for position, however is very valuable for informing back markers when faster drivers are coming up behind to lap them. Back markers will be in their own little race with their competitors and concentrating primarily on their immediate surroundings. The blue flag is there to make them aware that there are faster cars coming through, and they should avoid hampering their progress, and give them space to pass cleanly

Thanks for clearing that up. I hope my initial post doesn't make you think that I haven't a clue what the blue flag is there for???

I'm just asking what the opinions are on it, and if it's meaning should be changed

Appologies if my post appeared to be patronising, however I was just clarifying because I interpretted the thread title and your first line of your post to conflict a little

LaSarthe+Back said:

Watching the DTM at the moment, and Tomczyck who was in the literal lead was given the blue flag to let Di Resta through.

The title appeared to question whether the flags should be "got rid of" completely, where as your DTM scenario appeared to suggest that you didn't want to get rid of them, rather that they should only be used where appropriate.

F1 doesn't need blue flags if the ship to shore radio is working and the guys on the pit wall are doing their jobs right.

[Piglet]

LaSarthe+Back said:

Is part of it that the marshalls, along with the great job they do, are showing it at inappropriate times/circumstances?

During the DTM race blue flags are only given under instruction from Race Control

[LaSarthe+Back]

mat205125 said:

LaSarthe+Back said:

mat205125 said:

A blue flag shouldn't be shown when drivers are competing for position, however is very valuable for informing back markers when faster drivers are coming up behind to lap them. Back markers will be in their own little race with their competitors and concentrating primarily on their immediate surroundings. The blue flag is there to make them aware that there are faster cars coming through, and they should avoid hampering their progress, and give them space to pass cleanly

Thanks for clearing that up. I hope my initial post doesn't make you think that I haven't a clue what the blue flag is there for???

I'm just asking what the opinions are on it, and if it's meaning should be changed

Appologies if my post appeared to be patronising, however I was just clarifying because I interpretted the thread title and your first line of your post to conflict a little

LaSarthe+Back said:

Watching the DTM at the moment, and Tomczyck who was in the literal lead was given the blue flag to let Di Resta through.

The title appeared to question whether the flags should be "got rid of" completely, where as your DTM scenario appeared to suggest that you didn't want to get rid of them, rather that they should only be used where appropriate.

F1 doesn't need blue flags if the ship to shore radio is working and the guys on the pit wall are doing their jobs right.

I expected the poll to go the way it has, because for the slight inconvenience they make (possible neutralisation of some excitement that traffic provides), the benefits of having them there and the possibilities for catastrophe to be avoided are great.

The DTM incident was what made me think, can they be better (whether there or not)?

No need to apologise, I wouldn't be so daft as to start a thread on PH without knowing at least something about it!!