The FIA has confirmed a clampdown on defensive moves in the braking area, following the controversies involving Max Verstappen in Hungary and Japan.
In a note sent to teams on Saturday, FIA race director Charlie Whiting said such moves should be considered “abnormal” and would be reported to the stewards.
The note read: “Article 27.5 of the Sporting Regulations states that “...no car may be driven...in a manner which could be potentially dangerous to other drivers.” Furthermore, Article 27.8 prohibits any maneuver “...liable to hinder other drivers, such as... any abnormal change of direction. With this in mind, and with the exception of any move permitted by Article 27.6, any change of direction under braking which results in another driver having to take evasive action will be considered abnormal and hence potentially dangerous to other drivers. Any such move will be reported to the stewards.”
In addition The FIA has tweaked the blue flag procedures following complaints from drivers in recent races.
A “pre-warning” has been introduced when a car behind is within three seconds, and teams are obliged to warn their drivers that they are about to be lapped – and that letting the car through is a priority.
Blue flags, blue cockpit lights and messages on the screen will follow when the faster car is within a second, and the driver ahead must let it through at the first opportunity.
Whiting explained the new procedures as follows: “Article 27.9 of the Sporting Regulations requires drivers who are caught by another car about to lap him to allow the faster driver past at the first available opportunity. The F1 Marshalling System has been developed in order to ensure that the point at which a driver is shown blue flags is consistent, rather than trusting the ability of marshals to identify situations that require blue flags. Whilst this has been largely successful the way in which teams and drivers use the system seems to have become inconsistent.
“From now onwards the system will be set to give a pre-warning when the faster car is within 3.0s of the car about to be lapped, this should be used by the team of the slower car to warn their driver he is soon going to be lapped and that allowing the faster car through should be considered a priority. When the faster car is within 1.0s of the car about to be lapped blue flags will be shown to the slower car (in addition to blue cockpit lights and a message on the timing monitors) and the driver must allow the following driver to overtake at the first available opportunity.
“It should be noted that the aim of using F1MS is ensure consistent application of the rules, additional instructions may also be given by race control when necessary.”
