Rosberg under investigation for yellow flag rules breach

2016 Hungarian Grand Prix

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The FIA have confirmed that Nico Rosberg’s pole position lap is now under investigation by the stewards for potentially breaching yellow flag regulations.

Rosberg set the fastest lap in Q3 despite having improved his time in the second sector, in which he was shown double-waved yellow flags by marshalls. Rosberg insisted after qualifying that he had lifted in acknowledgement of the caution flags and that the improving track conditions allowed him to still improve his personal best time.

The stewards initially gave no indication of intending to investigate the incident, but have now decided to do so. The steward’s notice is as follows:

The driver and team representative are required to report to the Stewards at 19:45 in relation to the incident below.

No/Driver: 6 – Nico Rosberg

Reason:
Alleged breach of Appendix H. Article 2.4.5.1 b) of the FIA International Sporting Code – failure to slow for yellow flags at 15:54.

The regulation referred to by the stewards in the FIA’s International Sporting Code states the following:

Yellow flag

This is a signal of danger and should be shown to drivers in two ways with the following meanings:

– Single waved: Reduce your speed, do not overtake, and be prepared to change direction. There is a hazard beside or partly on the track.

– Double waved: Reduce your speed significantly, do not overtake, and be prepared to change direction or stop. There is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track and/or marshals working on or beside the track.

Yellow flags should normally be shown only at the marshal post immediately preceding the hazard.

2016 Hungarian Grand Prix

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    Will Wood
    Will has been a RaceFans contributor since 2012 during which time he has covered F1 test sessions, launch events and interviewed drivers. He mainly...

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    34 comments on “Rosberg under investigation for yellow flag rules breach”

    1. Here we go. Even after session ends, drama is still there. Reminds me of 2009 when after qualifying all used to wait for how many lap worth fuel is given back. FIA’s idea for more excitement after qualifying.

    2. Andre Furtado
      23rd July 2016, 18:51

      From what I watched it didn’t look like he slowed down much. In contrast to ricciardo and Hamilton among others whom decided safety of others was more.important and slowed down enough to mess up their lap c

    3. Don’t think his pole time will hold up. Hard to argue you slowed whilst setting a purple sector even if the telemetry *might* show a slight lift in the area of the waving double yellows.

    4. Good. Rosberg did not slow down sufficiently enough and set a purple time in the second sector where the yellow flags were, whereas the other drivers around him did slow down. He should get a three-place grid penalty IMO.

      1. Wow, Rosberg doesn’t even get a penalty. The stewards are always unusually lenient on him. He set that time under yellows. He should have had that time disallowed.

        1. @ultimateuzair I am really suprised once again his pole time stood, he did not slow enough, this is really a bad joke from the FIA, whay should the FIA put rules in there if they can be disabled from some selected drivers, I am really gutted.

    5. Once again, Nico Rosbergs on track performance is shrouded in controversy and investigation. This is getting to be all too common with him.

      Regardless of the outcome, it’s never a good sign.

    6. petebaldwin (@)
      23rd July 2016, 19:05

      I think we all know what the result will be here.

      1. I’d guess nothing but clarification on the rule. You?

        1. If they stick to the rules then he will lose pole. The data is pretty clear.

        2. petebaldwin (@)
          23rd July 2016, 21:20

          Exactly what we got. A decision which seems desperately at odds with their opinion on why Jules Bianchi crashed in Japan.

    7. I’m sorry, but if they will rob him this lap, it will be stupid. Alonso’s car was nowhere when Rosberg passed that point of track and there was no-one working at that place anymore. (just to comment on the 2 significant parts mentioned in that particular article of sporting regulations). I think the double-waved yellow flag was not necessary at that point anymore. My opinion.. Curious about the result of the investigation.

      1. While you could be right, it’s not up to the drivers to decide that, which yellows are safe to ignore.

      2. I don’t know how it would be robbed from him considering he was the only driver ignoring the flag and gunning for pole on that lap. Judging by the data he robbed Lewis of pole.

      3. Double Yellow is double Yellow. Everyone else slowed down accordingly.

        He should be stripped of his lap, given a grid penalty and points on his license.

        End of story.

      4. Are you allowed to drive through a pedestrian crossing on a red light because you don’t see anyone crossing?

    8. Just how much is significantly? That has been up for debate since October 2014.

      1. Exactly. I guess it varies depending on the circumstances. With this kind of rule I guess it’s very hard to give an exact number (because every case is different) and should therefore be at the discretion of the stewards. However, I do believe in this instance we can all (well, maybe all) agree that Rosberg did not “reduce his speed significantly” for double waved yellow flags.

      2. @craig-o @john-h According to Charlie:
        http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113153
        “They have been told by F1 race director Charlie Whiting that they must now slow down by 0.2 seconds compared to their best sector time for single yellow flags, and 0.5s for double waved yellows.”

        Although of course this was a clarification before Bianchi’s accident (when it was proved that 0.5s just wasn’t good enough) so maybe they’ve increased it even more now.

        1. @mantresx

          that’s not a rule, it’s a guideline… what if it’s the second lap, and they spun but finished the last lap, should they park the car in the event of yellow flags in that sector on the next lap

          it will still be a case by case ruling

    9. so it took them 4 hours after qualy ended to summon Nico to the stewards.

      Fastest sport in the world, you say?

      1. I think it took Red Bull needling the Stewards to get anything pushed. To be honest, if the Stewards want to keep Lewis honest, like last round, they should keep Nico honest, but to be honest, I have seen him skate on so many things, I doubt that trend will let up.

      2. 4 hours? Yes. That is time needed to make up new stupid rules that will not apply to Rosberg, but to other drivers if they follow his lead and cheat.

    10. And he has been cleared.
      FIA is a joke.

    11. 3 race weekends in a row rosberg breaks the rules. Gets off light, and then the FIA make rules clarifications the following week. Stating what he did was now illegal.

    12. tgu (@thegrapeunwashed)
      23rd July 2016, 19:36

      How does it take this long to decide to look into a clear rules breach? The moment he crossed the line with the fastest lap I thought: that’s strange, how did he improve after a slow first sector?

      Double-waved yellows means “slow significantly”, it doesn’t mean judge the situation for yourself. This should be a slam dunk infringement.

    13. So from now on… Being 0.1 of sec. from your best time in particular yellow section is slowing enought in double-waved yellows? Ok, pretty dangerous for marshalls/ other drivers, but the message has been sent…

      1. * …to other drivers, and make no mistake – they will use this “opportunity” to gain as much time as possible

    14. There we have it. The precedent has been set.
      – From Silverstone you can tell your driver how to correct a technical fault and only receive a 5s penalty
      – Double yellow flags means you just have to lift off but you can plough on with your hot lap

      1. petebaldwin (@)
        23rd July 2016, 21:22

        You are assuming that the FIA would be consistent with decision making. That would be a mistake.

    15. As expected Mr Teflon cheat has be given the all clear.

    16. Sorry to disappoint armchair stewards in this site. Ros has sqeaked through. Tough luck guys go grab your hankies.I think if HAM has a DNF and somehow crashes in a barrier it will be blamed to ROS. Grow up folks let the contest be decided on the race track.

      1. What does Hamilton have to do with it? You’re the one needing a hankie

    17. Poor Nico just can’t contain his weasely “ends justify the means” style of racing.

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