White Flag

[anonymous-user]

Last weekend at Sepang during qualifying, I came around turn 14 at Sepang, onto the long back straight, slower car in front so I pull to left, overtake and the marshal post half way up the straight is waving a white flag (slow vehicle) I can now see a friend's car well to the right, going slowly with mechanical problem, he is on the racing line which is also the line for the pit entry. I stayed left and pass him at racing speed, completed the overtake well before the braking line for the left hand hair pin at the end of the straight, when past I stayed left rather than pull right onto the racing line in front of him..
No yellows where being shown and there was no green at the next marshal post.
I had no problem with the steward and if it had been an ambulance or doctor's car i would not have overtaken, but I cant find any guild lines on overtaking under a white Flag, are there any rules or is it just a matter of discretion
FIA sanctioned event Wikipedia simple says 'slow vehicle on track'.

[Drumroll]

It concerns me that a driver doesn't know what flag signals mean. Read the actual regulations not just Wikipedia. I could tell you what it means but you really should read what the regulations state, as you may find out what all the flags mean.

[Kraken]

Why do you think that you can't overtake the slower vehicle if it's not another competitors car?

[anonymous-user]

I think I know what the flag means and I think I acted correctly I was asking for conformation, but thanks for the sarcastic reply that adds nothing.

[Thurbs]

For UK competitors:

MSA Blue Book said:

(d) White flag: A service car or slow moving car is on the circuit. The white flag will be waved to indicate the sector of the track that the slow moving vehicle is in, and held stationary whilst the vehicle is in the next sector.

On one lap this year I came over the top of Raidillon to be confronted with a slow vehicle on the right with the competitors arm in the air and a waved white flag. Next to it is also another slow car with no problems but not overtaking. Complete bonkers and nearly caused a big accident.

All competitors should know what all flags mean but I bet a frightening proportion only know what yellow, red, black & white, chequers and black represents. And yes I a missing green from this list!

[Drumroll]

Berw said:

I think I know what the flag means and I think I acted correctly I was asking for conformation, but thanks for the sarcastic reply that adds nothing.

It is not a sarcastic reply, as you clearly do not know what the flag actually means. If you race a car at least know what you are supposed to do is something happens on the track. Act wrongly to a flag it is not only your life you could put in danger.

Sarcastic is the last thing I am, miffed off that someone who races doesn't know basic flag signals. Unfortunately you are not the only one.

[Dave Brand]

Maybe knowledge of flag signals should be part of the ARDS test? What, you're telling me it is?

There was an infamous incident during a Monoposto race on the old Anglesey circuit some years ago. A car was travelling slowly so it was white flagged. The first car to see the white flag slowed down & tucked in behind the slow moving car, as did several others behind it. The slow moving car pulled into the pit lane, followed by a train of half a dozen or so cars, to the advantage of a number of drivers who suddenly gained a number of places!

[mcdjl]

Thurbs said:

All competitors should know what all flags mean but I bet a frightening proportion only know what yellow, red, black & white, chequers and black represents. And yes I a missing green from this list!

Yellow flag: think of excuses as to why I overtook.
Double yellow: find excuses for not slowing down

[CharlesElliott]

Well, it does depend what regulations you were racing under, I can't speak for every motorsports organisation globally. For me, a white flag is slow moving vehicle on circuit but there are no restrictions on overtaking.

[covboy]

I attended an incident a few years back (in the UK) where the competitor had a colour copy of the flag signals and their meanings taped to his dashboard. (Didnt go unoticed by the Clerk of the Course )

[RobM77]

covboy said:

I attended an incident a few years back (in the UK) where the competitor had a colour copy of the flag signals and their meanings taped to his dashboard. (Didnt go unoticed by the Clerk of the Course )

Was that seen as a good thing or a bad thing?