Dutch GP organizers to follow a zero-tolerance approach to flare disruptions
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Someone has thrown a flare onto the track in the Dutch GP qualifying session.
Yesterday, in qualifying for the Dutch GP, there were two separate occasions on which there were flares thrown onto the track. This is despite them being banned from the venue. So, not only have some people snuck them in, but they have also gone the extra mile by throwing them onto the track.
In the first incident, it was right in the middle of the track. Thankfully, Alex Albon had been the only car out on track, and not on a fast lap, so there weren’t many problems. The flare extinguished before he came around to that part of the track, but the session was red-flagged, and it ruined his used-tyre run plan. The second didn’t disrupt much but was still an annoyance.
The Dutch GP organizers condemn this behaviour, and in a statement, they said:
“All drivers, Formula One Management, the FIA and the organisation of the Dutch Grand Prix do not tolerate flares, as Max Verstappen himself mentioned in a post-qualification interview. Their use is not allowed and creates very unsafe situations on the track for drivers and other fans.”
“The organisation once again appeals to the common sense of all our fans and warns that the use of flares will not be tolerated. The offender who set off the torch on 3 September has been pointed out by bystanders and handed over to the authorities by event security.”
No flare celebrations this time at the Dutch GP?
This isn’t the first time that orange flares have somewhat disrupted the event, but this is certainly a new extreme. At the end of the sprint race in Austria, fans lit up flares, and the smoke drifted onto the track. They did so during the formation lap and the closing stages of the feature race as well, and the smoke limited visibility, even though it wasn’t extreme.
As reported by Autosport, Toto Wolff was excited by the atmosphere created by the Dutch fans, but was critical of the few ‘idiots’ that ruin it for the others: “The enthusiasm for Max has ignited the whole country and that’s perfect to see. My experiences are positive with the fans, and it’s a shame that there are a few total idiots out there who either drink or don’t consider what such a flare on track can do to a driver.”
He also cautioned that a can being thrown at the driver or the car can have dire consequences. There were also some theories regarding the second flare’s intent being to disrupt Lewis Hamilton’s run, but Toto Wolff ruled that out and said that it happened before Lewis Hamilton was at that point.
In any case, the hope for all spectators and drivers will be that there are no more flares disruptions, especially from them being on track. We are in for an exciting race today, and any pause to it will bring the ire of fans, and certainly bring down the hammer of the organizers.
Also Read: “Max nailed it,” Christian Horner praised Max Verstappen for a clutch pole at the Dutch GP
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)