Charles Leclerc was shown the diagonal black and white driving standards flag in route to victory in the Italian Grand Prix Sunday for two incidents while moving under braking as the Monza stewards opted to take no further action. The first when he forced Hamilton to take to the run-off at the Roggia chicane and second when he moved left to block the championship leader through Curva Grande.
Formula 1 race director Michael Masi says that fans can expect to see more black and white warning flags being used as the sport seeks to encourage drivers to race hard.
Charles Leclerc was shown the diagonal black and white driving standards flag in route to victory in the Italian Grand Prix Sunday for two incidents while moving under braking as the Monza stewards opted to take no further action. The first when he forced Hamilton to take to the run-off at the Roggia chicane and second when he moved left to block the championship leader through Curva Grande.
Race director Masi compared the flag to a yellow card in soccer giving the driver a warning to check his behavior before issuing a potentially race affecting penalty.
Speaking to Sky Sports while explaining the incident involving Leclerc squeezing Lewis Hamilton, Masi explained, “If there was a resultant contact, we would have looked at it in a bit more detail, but effectively, under the ‘let them race’ philosophy that the teams, the F1 Group, drivers and the FIA have worked on throughout the year, and giving the teams the advise at the last event in Spa that we will be using the black and white flag more often, at their request I must say, that was a prime incident where everyone continued, black and white flag. Motorsport’s version of the yellow card.”
Further explaining how the flag will be used in the upcoming races, Masi added, “For smaller infringements that are, let’s call it, a professional foul, but don’t go beyond the line, absolutely we’ll be using the black and white flag more and more. It’s a sign to everyone that the drivers will notice, because you only get one for the race.
“If you do it again, the drivers have all been advised that any other infraction will be referred to the stewards.”
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