F1 - Virgin & Lotus call for no BLUE FLAGS
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F1 - Virgin & Lotus call for no BLUE FLAGS
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87186
- What do you guys think?
- Does getting rid of Blue Flags improve racing?
- Will getting rid of them cause too many accidents as a backmarker will try and holdup or race someone that has outlapped him?
Richard Branson has backed the call from Lotus boss Tony Fernandes to get rid of blue flags in grand prix racing.
Fernandes, whose team has made its Formula 1 debut this year, said earlier this season that he believed the sport would benefit from not having blue flags.
"Drivers are paid to overtake, whether they are back markers or at the front," said Fernandes back in May. "I think it would be good for the sport to get rid of blue flags. In the days of Ken Tyrrell, he would never let any car pass.
"If it's really hard for a world champion to get past a backmarker then I think it's a sad day for racing. I think racing is all about getting past people and overtaking and adding a little bit of 'je ne sais quoi'.
"You've got a driver saying it's ridiculous that he's lapping someone four times, so why should he be complaining about overtaking a guy that he's lapping four times?"
Branson, the main backer of newcomer Virgin Racing, agreed with Fernandes, as he reckons the sport would be more entertaining without them.
"It would be a lot more fun if they didn't have blue flags," said Branson. "I am sure some of the more established teams would not like it, but it is a racing track and they should not have to be told to pull over.
"If that is what Tony is saying, I definitely agree with him. It doesn't sound like racing - and it makes a bit of a mockery of the sport."
Virgin Racing's CEO Graeme Lowdon reckons blue flags hurt smaller teams too much, as they lose big amounts of time letting the leading drivers through.
"We get a blue flag three seconds before someone approaches us, and at the moment three seconds is almost a lap and you have to let them by within four corners," he said. "So we have situations where our guys are pulling to one side and the car behind cannot catch up.
"It's a massive compromise over the whole of a race. We do this graph of time against distance, and you look at the graph and you immediately see where the blue flags start because up to a point of the race we are there or thereabouts in terms of pace, but then it drops away.
"The issue is that you get the flags so early - and three seconds is quite a long time. And you have to tell your driver to let the guy past but you cannot speed the car up behind. It has ruined a lot of racing for us."
Fernandes, whose team has made its Formula 1 debut this year, said earlier this season that he believed the sport would benefit from not having blue flags.
"Drivers are paid to overtake, whether they are back markers or at the front," said Fernandes back in May. "I think it would be good for the sport to get rid of blue flags. In the days of Ken Tyrrell, he would never let any car pass.
"If it's really hard for a world champion to get past a backmarker then I think it's a sad day for racing. I think racing is all about getting past people and overtaking and adding a little bit of 'je ne sais quoi'.
"You've got a driver saying it's ridiculous that he's lapping someone four times, so why should he be complaining about overtaking a guy that he's lapping four times?"
Branson, the main backer of newcomer Virgin Racing, agreed with Fernandes, as he reckons the sport would be more entertaining without them.
"It would be a lot more fun if they didn't have blue flags," said Branson. "I am sure some of the more established teams would not like it, but it is a racing track and they should not have to be told to pull over.
"If that is what Tony is saying, I definitely agree with him. It doesn't sound like racing - and it makes a bit of a mockery of the sport."
Virgin Racing's CEO Graeme Lowdon reckons blue flags hurt smaller teams too much, as they lose big amounts of time letting the leading drivers through.
"We get a blue flag three seconds before someone approaches us, and at the moment three seconds is almost a lap and you have to let them by within four corners," he said. "So we have situations where our guys are pulling to one side and the car behind cannot catch up.
"It's a massive compromise over the whole of a race. We do this graph of time against distance, and you look at the graph and you immediately see where the blue flags start because up to a point of the race we are there or thereabouts in terms of pace, but then it drops away.
"The issue is that you get the flags so early - and three seconds is quite a long time. And you have to tell your driver to let the guy past but you cannot speed the car up behind. It has ruined a lot of racing for us."
- Does getting rid of Blue Flags improve racing?
- Will getting rid of them cause too many accidents as a backmarker will try and holdup or race someone that has outlapped him?
Thread Starter
Former Moderator
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As I see it, Blue Flags are to inform you that faster cars are behind or that you may be holding up someone. It is information so you will let someone by at the first opportunity.
In their absence, I fear it may turn into a free for all, and may have sad consequences. With the lead car not only losing time advantage to the runner up but also being open to the potential for a mishap.
Also what if the lead car was on a flyer and about to set the fastest lap only to have a back marker try to block it two corners before start/stop
In their absence, I fear it may turn into a free for all, and may have sad consequences. With the lead car not only losing time advantage to the runner up but also being open to the potential for a mishap.
Also what if the lead car was on a flyer and about to set the fastest lap only to have a back marker try to block it two corners before start/stop
Thread Starter
Former Moderator
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Thought I'd post this in here. LOTUS is going to use RedBull supplied transmission and hydraulics. Knowing that they are moving to Renault as engine supplier, it will in all likelihood be a customer RedBull car. 
The only differentiation will then be aero
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87198
The only differentiation will then be aero
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87198
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From: Franklin TN
The added power of the engine and the reliability benefits of the trans/hydro units will be HUGE though. From what I've read, the packaging benefits are going to be substantial as well. Using a set of mature hydraulics and transmission/diff will give the Lotus engineers a lot more flexibility to properly design the rear of the car.
All in all, it's a huge step forward, but aero is what separates a mid-rear pack car from a top-10 contender.
All in all, it's a huge step forward, but aero is what separates a mid-rear pack car from a top-10 contender.
