F1 pundit urges FIA to ban Sebastian Vettel’s most hated flag
Martin Brundle expressed dislike for the use of blue flags in F1, stating that drivers have lost the skill of working the traffic.
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Martin Brundle Sebastian Vettel (images via IMAGO)
In Formula 1, flags are crucial for maintaining safety and organization on the track. They provide drivers with important signals to prevent incidents. For example, yellow flags indicate danger, red flags stop the race, and blue flags signal slower cars to yield to faster ones.
While essential, blue flags can frustrate drivers; slower competitors often compromise their race pace, while leaders risk losing valuable time if others don’t comply quickly. Former driver Sebastian Vettel openly expressed his dislike for them. Even F1 pundit Martin Brundle suggested that the FIA should consider limiting their use.
Sky Sports commentator Brundle was engaged in a Reddit ‘Ask Me Anything’ interaction where he was asked for which rule he would like banned from F1. The 65-year-old said that he would like to ban the blue flags as he believes F1 drivers have lost the essential skill of managing traffic on their own.
I think drivers have lost the skills of working the traffic, managing the traffic as we used to have to do – I quite liked that. And now everybody has to jump out of the way like school kids when the big boys come through in the fast cars.
Martin Brundle said, as reported by SkySportsF1
Sebastian Vettel found himself in trouble during the 2022 Dutch GP for ignoring blue flags. This misstep resulted in a five-second penalty and highlighted his struggle with traffic management on the track.
In 2016 at Suzuka, Vettel expressed frustration on the team radio about slower drivers not moving aside for blue flags. His comments led to jokes, with fans humorously suggesting he was writing an audiobook on blue flag procedures.
Martin Brundle reveals he would prefer to shorten Singapore GP
Martin Brundle shared his thoughts on the lengths of Formula 1 tracks, whose lengths vary widely. The Monaco GP features the shortest circuit at just over three kilometers on the F1 calendar, while Belgium’s Spa circuit is one of the longest, stretching close to seven kilometers.
The Marina Bay circuit measures five kilometers per lap, featuring 61 laps for a total race distance of 308 kilometers. Brundle suggested he would prefer to shorten the race distance to around 280 kilometers. This would mean reducing the race to approximately 55 laps.
I think the races are a decent length. I’d probably shorten the Singapore Grand Prix a little bit like we do in Monaco. Monaco is 260km. I’d probably make Singapore 280km.
Martin Brundle stated
The Singapore GP is known as one of the toughest races of the F1 calendar, especially due to it taking place in highly humid conditions. While this challenging environment can significantly affect drivers’ health, it also affects their performance.
By shortening the length of the Marina Bay circuit, drivers could experience less physical strain. This would help them focus better on their performance without being overly affected by the heat inside the car.
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Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)