Formula 1 News

Brazilian GP: red flag procedure modified for Interlagos race 

Charlie Whiting, Formula One race director, has moved to minimize possible delays in Sunday’s title deciding Brazilian Grand Prix by changing the procedure in the event of a race being stopped. The difficulty teams face in getting personnel to and from the grid at the Interlagos circuit means there could be lengthy delays if the race has to be stopped and the cars form up on the grid as is usually required.

With the event taking place at prime time Sunday evening for the European audience, it is not in the interests of the sport for there to be such long periods with no action. So Whiting has told the teams that if the race is stopped, the cars will instead form up in the pitlane prior to any restart, allowing teams to work on the cars as quickly as possible.

A statement issued by the FIA said: “Due to the difficulty of clearing personnel and equipment from the grid in Brazil, in the event of the race being suspended all cars will be required to enter the pitlane and pull up in a line in the fast lane at the red flag line approximately ten metres before the pit exit lights. If the race is suspended whilst the cars are behind the safety car it will be directed into the pit lane where it will stop in the fast lane at the red flag line at the pit exit, all cars again being required to stop in a line behind it.”

Any cars between the leader and the red flag line, as well as lapped cars, will be told to leave the pits one minute before the resumption time of the race. Should any car be moved from the pitlane then that will be deemed the equivalent of pushing a car from the grid – and a drive-through penalty will be imposed. Furthermore, the FIA said that in the event of a wet race, if it does not deem it safe enough for lapped cars to overtake those on the lead lap when behind the safety car, then this will not be allowed.