In the high-stakes world of road racing, where every second counts, a yellow or red flag during qualifying can be a major disruption, particularly on the tight and treacherous circuits like Monaco. The most notorious example is Michael Schumacher’s intentional parking at Rascasse in 2006, denying Fernando Alonso a chance to secure pole position. Schumacher was subsequently relegated to the back of the grid for his unsporting behavior.
Fast forward to 2014, Nico Rosberg’s off at Mirabeau brought out yellow flags, preventing Lewis Hamilton from improving his lap time, while Sergio Perez’s Q3 crash at Portier in 2022 denied Max Verstappen the opportunity to overhaul him. These incidents highlight the need for a more robust system to prevent such incidents from affecting the outcome of qualifying.
A Robust System Needed
In IndyCar, there’s a mechanism in place where drivers who cause a yellow flag lose their best time in that segment, and those who trigger a red flag lose their best two laps. This system not only eliminates any deliberate wrongdoing but also prevents the suspicion of unsporting behavior from lingering over the result.
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz believes the FIA should revisit this idea, stating that drivers have intentionally generated red flags in the past, especially on street circuits. > “The FIA hasn’t been maybe as convinced about them being on purpose, because as drivers we know what’s on purpose and what’s not,” Sainz explained. “So, it will be interesting to see what approach they take into this weekend.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by GPDA director George Russell and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. Perez, whose 2022 accident sparked the initial debate, is also on board with the idea, stating that “it is how it should be. We’ve been trying to do that sort of push in the last few years, but it doesn’t seem to happen.”
Implementing a Fairer System
With the Monaco Grand Prix just around the corner, it’s likely that this topic will be discussed during the drivers’ briefing on Friday evening. Implementing a system like IndyCar’s could ensure a cleaner and more competitive qualifying session, free from the specter of unsporting behavior.
Source: Motorsport Images, Date: May 25, 2023
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