What Each Flag Means
🟡 Yellow Flag — Danger ahead. Drivers must slow down, no overtaking. Single yellow = hazard on the side of the track. Double yellow = extreme danger, be prepared to stop. Ignoring a yellow flag results in a penalty.
🔴 Red Flag — Session stopped immediately. All cars must slow down and return to the pit lane or form up on the grid. Red flags are shown for serious accidents, dangerous track conditions, or severe weather. The race may be restarted after a delay.
🏁 Chequered Flag — The race is over. Shown to each driver as they cross the finish line. The most iconic image in motorsport.
🔵 Blue Flag — A faster car (usually a lap down) is approaching behind you. You must let them past within 3 blue flags or receive a penalty. This is shown to drivers being lapped by the leaders.
⚪ White Flag — A slow-moving vehicle is on the track ahead. Usually a safety car, medical car, or a very slow damaged car. Be prepared.
⬛ Black Flag — Shown with a car number. That driver is disqualified and must return to the pits immediately. Extremely rare.
🏴 Black and White Flag — A warning for unsportsmanlike behaviour. One per driver per race — a second offence means a black flag.
⬛🟠 Black and Orange Flag (Meatball) — Shown with a car number. That car has mechanical damage and must pit to fix it for safety reasons.
🟢 Green Flag — Track is clear, racing resumes after a yellow flag or safety car period.
Virtual Safety Car (VSC): a digital system where all drivers must reduce speed by a set percentage, displayed on steering wheel screens. It replaced physical yellow flags in many situations and is now used frequently.
Voiture de sécurité virtuelle (VSC) : un système numérique où tous les pilotes doivent réduire leur vitesse d'un pourcentage défini, affiché sur les écrans du volant. Il a remplacé les drapeaux jaunes physiques dans de nombreuses situations.
The blue flag rule frustrates me. Being lapped is embarrassing enough. But the lapped car has to move over within 3 flags or get penalised. Sometimes they block for a lap first. I understand why — but it looks bad for the team.
La règle du drapeau bleu m'énerve. Se faire doubler c'est déjà assez embarrassant. Mais la voiture doublée doit laisser passer en 3 drapeaux ou être pénalisée. Parfois elle bloque pendant un tour. Je comprends pourquoi — mais ça fait mauvaise impression.