The peculiarity of the free tyre change that’s allowed underneath Formulation 1’s crimson flag guidelines has lengthy been a supply of frustration to drivers.
When the scenario crops up, prefer it did in Brazil final weekend and on the Monaco GP in Might, those that are caught on the incorrect facet of issues bemoan the sheer randomness of it.
In Monaco, it was all about how the exhausting compound starters had been compromised by the first-lap crimson flag that allowed all of the medium runners a free swap to the exhausting.
At Interlagos, George Russell, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc had been all left ruing what that they had misplaced by switching to contemporary inters as worsening rain arrived, whereas those who carried on in tough situations acquired a free tyre change after Franco Colapinto’s large crash.
The obvious luck of the draw is one thing that repeatedly will get criticised, and but nobody has give you the fairer resolution.
Again on the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Norris was working sixth early on when he made a cease underneath security automobile situations for Mick Schumacher’s accident – which dropped him to 14th.
In concept, it was about enjoying the lengthy recreation as these forward of him that didn’t cease would wish to take action underneath full race situations in a while – so lose extra time.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, makes a pit cease
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
Nevertheless, his plan fell flat when a crimson flag was introduced out, which handed everybody forward of him a free cease and left the Briton caught down the order.
Talking afterwards, his criticisms of issues had been much like what he stated on Sunday night time after Brazil.
“In fact, I am at all times on the dangerous finish of it, so it in all probability sucks extra for me than anybody, however I believe it is only a very unfair rule that ought to be taken away,” he stated.
“I believe they need to change it to at least one necessary pit cease with two totally different tyre units wanted for use, after which I believe that is acceptable.
“However this simply ruins every part, to be trustworthy. You set a lot effort in for it to be taken away for some silly rule.”
However whereas the unfairness facet is the factor that annoys drivers probably the most, final weekend’s race at Interlagos has put into focus one other issue that’s barely extra worrying.
It’s that in a moist race like Interlagos the place situations are worsening and there’s the potential for a crimson flag, drivers are nearly inspired to remain out on far-from-perfect rubber for much longer than they ideally would.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who stopped underneath the VSC situations triggered by Nico Hulkenberg’s off, stated that the rain that was coming down had left the observe treacherous – however the lead automobiles clearly felt it definitely worth the threat of staying out.
“I don’t suppose we anticipated it to rain as a lot because it did after which actually, the hardest a part of the race was behind the security automobile, attempting to remain on the observe,” stated the Australian.
“I believe it form of uncovered a little bit of the difficulty we have now with the moist tyre – when everyone seems to be begging for a crimson flag however refusing to go onto the moist tyre as a result of it’s so dangerous.
“A reasonably harmful scenario to have automobiles actually struggling to remain on the observe behind the security automobile. Nevertheless it’s probably not something new. Hopefully, we will attempt to a minimum of change it now.”
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, on the restart
Picture by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Pictures
Race winner Max Verstappen, whose victory was made simpler by the crimson flag scenario, admitted that issues had been proper on the knife edge as he stayed out – however there was no means he was going to cease.
“When some pitted, the rain was coming, we stayed out, which was very sketchy,” defined the Dutchman.
“After which I noticed Esteban [Ocon] in entrance of me flying, like 4 seconds a lap sooner and I used to be like, ‘I am simply completely happy to maintain the automobile on the observe’.
“At one level it was simply, we want a crimson flag. It was simply undriveable, even on excessive tyres.”
Ferrari workforce principal Fred Vasseur, who had pitted Leclerc early however had dropped him into visitors, conceded that the difficulty groups face is playing on staying out and never crashing.
“For certain you may say on the finish of the day, in case you keep on observe, ready for the crimson flag, it is the suitable name,” he stated. “However in case you crash, you look silly…”
McLaren workforce boss Andrea Stella stated that, with situations worsening, there was a security facet to the scenario – and that whereas there have been aggressive beneficial properties available by staying out and hoping for a crimson flag, in his thoughts there was just one plan of action he most well-liked.
Talking in regards to the Brazil podium finishers who all stayed out, Stella stated: “I’m right here congratulating them on their selections.
“However personally, I’m not very comfy to depart a automobile on the market that has tyres which are fairly worn with that quantity of water. With out the crimson flag we might be commenting on a distinct race.”
The way in which to cease drivers from taking the gamble and pushing on with unsuitable tyres would theoretically be solved by not permitting the free tyre change that’s allowed within the rules.
If drivers knew {that a} crimson flag wouldn’t permit them a free swap, then selections on which tyre to decide to could be based mostly purely on which is most fitted to the situations – and never a lot about playing in sticking it out when situations are too dire within the hope of being saved by a stoppage.
However the crimson flag guidelines are in place for security causes and never aggressive ones. It has lengthy been accepted that altering tyres needs to be allowed underneath crimson flag situations due to the danger of particles from accidents inflicting punctures or different points.
Forcing drivers to stay to their present tyres when there’s a likelihood they might have run over damaged carbon fibre of different elements on the observe, or been concerned in an accident themselves, could be an unbelievable security threat and lunacy to have within the guidelines.
There have, nonetheless, been quite a few recommendations up to now of how to doubtlessly enhance issues and make them fairer.
One concept, that may greatest work for dry races to keep away from the potential for a free cease, could be to permit groups to vary tyres within the stops – but when they wished to it must be for a similar compound.
This state of affairs would stop what occurred in Monaco, and likewise be certain that drivers who had stopped to modify compounds underneath full race situations weren’t unfairly punished.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Crew VCARB 01, makes a pit cease
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
Nevertheless, it will not have averted penalising drivers in Brazil as a result of the inter is in the end the very best tyre for the rain – as a result of by the point the total moist is introduced into motion, usually visibility is so dangerous that racing doesn’t happen.
One other concept may very well be to permit the groups the choice to vary tyres if they’re broken, but when they accomplish that they’ve to drag themselves out of the race order and drop to the again.
That means, there wouldn’t be an incentive to remain out longer than mandatory in tough situations – as a result of in the end if there’s a crimson flag the drawback may very well be better if you should change rubber. And in case you really feel you’re nonetheless on the suitable tyres, you may maintain them on and take your cease later.
Or what about Norris’s suggestion after Saudi 2021, of tweaking the sporting guidelines to demand that every driver makes a compulsory cease underneath regular race situations, no matter a crimson flag?
All these concepts are issues which have been mentioned, and drivers have their very own opinions about what may be carried out to make it higher – however sadly, F1 has by no means moved issues ahead a lot.
Requested after Monaco whether or not he had some hope of the crimson flag tyre rule being revisited by groups and the FIA, he stated: “I do not know. There are a lot of issues that they haven’t modified, in all probability as a result of they do not hearken to the drivers.”
5 months his phrases nonetheless seem to ring true.