Sky F1's Martin Brundle: 'It was tough to call, and I'm very supportive of this 'let them race' philosophy so long as it's consistent and the drivers don't take liberties and spoil it all.' So you are allowed to run wide even if someone is there and you only get a warning flag, and you only need that once to potentially keep the guy behind you.' As long as we know that you are allowed to not leave a car width for example, as long as you are not contradicting us and there is a clear message. Lewis Hamilton: 'If that's how we are allowed to race then I will race like that. It was obviously very on-the-limit but… yeah, I'm happy to race like this.' I believe that Austria helped me to change this approach. 'Under the 'let them race' philosophy that the teams, the F1 Group, the drivers and the FIA have worked together on throughout the year, and giving the teams the advice at the last event in Spa, we will be using the black and white flag more often,' said Masi.Ĭharles Leclerc: 'I think since Austria it's clear that we can go a bit further in the way that we defend and overtake.

It was issued again a week later in front-running circumstances at Monza in the fight for victory after Leclerc squeezed Hamilton's Mercedes wide under braking for the second chicane.Įxplaining the flag's return to prominence in his post-race appearance at the SkyPad in Sky F1's coverage at Monza, FIA race director Michael Masi said the change had come at the 'request' from teams and drivers. Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly was given the warning at Spa for moving under braking in battle with Kevin Magnussen.

Although the flag has always been available in Formula 1, the recent Belgian GP was the first time it had been used in a Grand Prix since 2010.

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