In light of recent complaints from the drivers when it comes to lapping traffic, changes to the blue flag rules have been made ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
There was a rule change to blue flags ahead of the 2017 season, the gap between the trigger points for the drivers to recieve a blue flag was reduced from 1.5 to 1.0 seconds.
Due to the nature of the 2017 regulations, more turbulent air is being produced, being closer to a slow running car is hampering the progress of the leaders during a race.
This change has led to many complaints from the frontrunning drivers as the gap is too short for the backmarkers to allow a leading car to pass cleanly.
Race director Charlie Whiting has taken the decison to change the timing of the trigger points from 1.0 to 1.2 seconds for this weekend, further changes will be looked at in the future if necessary.
In a note sent to the teams on Thursday, Whiting said: “When the faster car is within 1.2s of the car about to be lapped blue flags will be shown to the slower car (in addition to blue light panels, blue cockpit lights and a message on the timing monitors) and the driver must allow the following driver to overtake at the first available opportunity.”
There has been no other changes with regards to the blue flags, this will mean drivers do have to allow a leading car to pass within three warnings of the blue flag given, otherwise a penalty will be issued.
