F1 Fanatic

Flags are the most direct way for the marshalls, the ones who decide the situation, to communicate their judgement. Lights, and more so the dashboard notice, are always complimentary to the flags, they do not have equal status, and in case of a contradiction, flags overrule everything.

If you think the dashboard has any precedence over flags, than it also works the other way around. Then if there is a technical malfunction on the dashboard or the lights, a driver could overtake under yellow and simply say “hey, my dashboard didn’t show anything”.

I think the reason why dashboard had yellow lights was that it’s connected to the lights. But as you can see from the video and FIA’s map, the marshall’s post is after that digital board.

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2012/brazil/Pages/circuit.aspx

Before this I thought green and yellow flags were rather simple to follow. My head is spinning now with these Floppy Markers.
Ignoring the validity of the pass, is it too difficult to align up flags and lights? That way we can go back to something easier for the fans to see and understand. Ambiguity can cause incorrect decisions to be made.

your comment @tommyb89 made me recall the Trulli overtake under yellow flag (well, SC)->liegate affair actually.

There it was eventually quite clear, that Hamilton’s initial overtake of Trulli (yes, off track) was quite legal (if they hadn’t just goofed up at McLaren and then lied about it, of course). It does seem to indicate that driving past a slowing car under such circumstances might be quite okay.

@bascb I fully agree with your great post there, it is not surprising that people can argue about this, but really, it is unlikely to change what is now the past.

@mclarenbantam

it is now seen as normal because he FIA let him do it

Loads of other drivers do it to, I’ve no idea why you’re singling out Vettel.

It’s an inevitable consequence of gravel and grass run-offs being replaced with tarmac. I don’t particularly like it but blaming Vettel for it is a bit of a joke.

And they are also accusing Vergne of trying to extablish a gap greater than 20s between him and Vettel in case there is a 20 s sanction

I’m not here to state whether the overtake is legal or not. I hate penalties in F1. I just want to know more about these floppy markers, does anyone have a link to a section of FIA regulations stating anything about these cause I can’t find anything. Unless it is an unwritten rule. Cause all I can find is this:

b) 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, do not overtake and be prepared to change direction or stop. There is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track.

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

In some cases however the Clerk of the Course may order them to be shown at more than one marshals’ post preceding an incident.

Overtaking is not permitted between the first yellow flag and the green flag displayed after the incident.

Yellow flags should not be shown in the pit lane unless there is an incident of which the driver should be made aware.

which isn’t even official FIA but from a marshall who claims it’s FIA offical. Once again not here to argue over the overtake, just want to know about floppy markers.