F1 Pundit demands FIA to put an end to ‘school kids’ rule
Martin Brundle has a bold idea to implement an outright ban in F1 in order to preserve a lost skill in modern-day drivers.
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Martin Brundle, image via Planet F1
Formula 1 has witnessed a fair bit of controversy in recent weeks. In the past few races, penalties have become a major talking point in the paddock. However, F1 presenter and former racing driver Martin Brundle has advocated for bringing a new rule to ban blue flags.
Blue flags are waved at backmarkers when a car is about to lap them. This forces the slower car to move out of the way. This rule was first introduced in 1995. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel would often find himself frustrated when slower cars in front ignored blue flags.
Martin Brundle emphasized that the sport should ban blue flags entirely. The former F1 driver highlighted that nowadays, drivers have lost the skill to properly manage traffic. Brundle claimed that things are like a school, where ‘big boys’ in faster cars can simply go past the slower ones without breaking a sweat.
I think we should ban blue flags. Drivers have lost the skills of working and managing the traffic as we used to do. I quite like that, and now everybody has to jump out the way, like school kids when the big boys come through in the faster cars.
Martin Brundle told Sky Sports F1
Martin Brundle pinpoints main issue preventing blue flag ban
The F1 presenter admitted that due to the aero on present-day cars, drivers might be stuck behind backmarkers as they struggle to overtake in the dirty air. This is arguably the biggest reason for retaining blue flags for the future. However, Martin Brundle asserted that F1 drivers today have lost the skill to optimally make their way through traffic.
The trouble is, with today’s aerodynamics, you might never pass the back marker. So things have changed a little bit like that. But I do think it’s a skill that’s been lost.
Martin Brundle explained
Certainly, blue flags have made life easier for drivers at the front of the grid. However, one must understand that the current state of cars essentially mandates such a rule to prevent any disruption in the battle at the front. Perhaps, in the future, Formula 1 can find a way to eliminate its age-old dirty air problem.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2310 Articles Published)