The peculiarity of the free tyre change that’s allowed beneath Method 1’s pink 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 Could, those that are caught on the incorrect aspect of issues bemoan the sheer randomness of it.
In Monaco, it was all about how the onerous compound starters had been compromised by the primary lap pink flag that allowed all of the medium runners a free swap to the onerous.
At Interlagos, George Russell, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc had been all left ruing what they’d misplaced by switching to recent inters as worsening rain arrived, whereas people who carried on in tough circumstances received a free tyre change after Franco Colapinto’s big crash.
The obvious luck of the draw is one thing that repeatedly will get criticised, and but nobody has give you the fairer answer.
Again on the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Norris was working sixth early on when he made a cease beneath security automobile circumstances for Mick Schumacher’s accident – which dropped him to 14th.
In principle, it was about enjoying the lengthy sport as these forward of him that didn’t cease would wish to take action beneath full race circumstances in a while – so lose extra time.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, makes a pit cease
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
Nevertheless, his plan fell flat when a pink 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 evening 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 thing, to be sincere. 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 essentially the most, final weekend’s race at Interlagos has put in focus one other issue that’s barely extra worrying.
It’s that, in a moist race like Interlagos the place circumstances are worsening and there’s the potential for a pink flag, drivers are virtually inspired to remain out on far-from-perfect rubber for much longer than they ideally would.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB20, on the restart
Picture by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Photos
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who stopped beneath the VSC circumstances 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 truthfully, the hardest a part of the race was behind the security automobile, making an attempt to remain on the observe,” stated the Australian.
“I believe it sort of uncovered a little bit of the problem we’ve with the moist tyre – when everyone seems to be begging for a pink 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 not likely something new. Hopefully, we will attempt to no less than change it now.”
Race-winner Max Verstappen, whose victory was made simpler by the pink flag scenario, admitted that issues had been proper on the knife edge as he stayed out – however there was no manner 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 glad to maintain the automobile on the observe’.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB20
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
“At one level it was simply, we’d like a pink flag. It was simply undriveable, even on excessive tyres.”
Ferrari group principal Fred Vasseur, who had pitted Leclerc early however had dropped him into visitors, conceded that the problem groups face is playing on staying out and never crashing.
“For certain you may say on the finish of the day, when you keep on observe, ready for the pink flag, it is the correct name,” he stated. “However when you crash, you look silly…”
McLaren group boss Andrea Stella stated that, with circumstances worsening, there was a security facet to the scenario – and that whereas there have been aggressive positive aspects available by staying out and hoping for a pink flag, in his thoughts there was just one plan of action he most popular.
Talking concerning the Brazil podium finishers who all stayed out, Stella stated: “I’m right here congratulating them on their choices.
“However personally, I’m not very snug to depart a automobile on the market that has tyres which can be fairly worn with that quantity of water. With out the pink flag we’d be commenting on a unique race.”
Andrea Stella, Staff Principal, McLaren F1 Staff
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
The way in which to cease drivers 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 laws.
If drivers knew {that a} pink flag wouldn’t enable them a free swap, then choices on which tyre to decide to can be primarily based purely on which is most fitted to the circumstances – and never a lot about playing in sticking it out when circumstances are too dire within the hope of being saved by a stoppage.
However the pink flag guidelines are in place for security causes and never aggressive ones. It has lengthy been accepted that altering tyres must be allowed beneath pink flag circumstances 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 may have run over damaged carbon fibre of different components on the observe, or been concerned in an accident themselves, can be an unimaginable security threat and lunacy to have within the guidelines.
There have, nevertheless, been quite a few ideas previously of the way to doubtlessly enhance issues and make it fairer.
One concept, that might finest work for dry races to keep away from the potential for a free cease, can 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 forestall what occurred in Monaco, and likewise make sure that drivers which had stopped to change compounds beneath full race circumstances weren’t unfairly punished.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Staff VCARB 01, makes a pit cease
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
Nevertheless, it will not have prevented 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 in to motion, usually visibility is so dangerous that racing doesn’t happen.
One other concept could possibly 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 manner, there wouldn’t be an incentive to remain out longer than vital in tough circumstances – as a result of in the end if there’s a pink flag the drawback could possibly be larger if it is advisable to change rubber. And when you really feel you’re nonetheless on the correct 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 beneath regular race circumstances, regardless of a pink flag.
All these concepts are issues which were mentioned, and drivers have their very own opinions about what may be performed 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 pink flag tyre rule being revisited by groups and the FIA, he stated: “I do not know. There are lots of issues that they haven’t modified, in all probability as a result of they do not take heed to the drivers.”
5 months his phrases nonetheless seem to ring true.