Drivers search penalty for Monaco qualifying crimson flags

Within the wake of plenty of incidents, drivers are calling for individuals who trigger a crimson flag stoppage throughout qualifying to have their greatest time deleted.

The obvious examples of the apply that spring to thoughts are 2006, when Michael Schumacher basically parked his automobile at Rascasse and introduced qualifying to an finish thereby stopping Fernando Alonso from bettering his time.

In 2014, Nico Rosberg triggered a doubtful stoppage when he went off at Mirabeau, bringing out the yellow flags that thwarted teammate Lewis Hamilton’s bid for pole.

And Max Verstappen clearly nonetheless bears a grudge from 2022 when teammate Sergio Perez went into the barrier at Portier, stopping the Dutchman from claiming the important entrance row spot.

Requested if at tracks like Monaco, the place overtaking is nigh unimaginable, therefore the significance of a superb grid place, whether or not drivers who trigger stoppages ought to have their greatest occasions deleted, thereby eradicating the temptation to forestall rivals from beating them, Esteban Ocon stated: “If I am right, that is being checked out by the FIA.

“I believe lately we have mentioned that in some drivers’ conferences, {that a} scenario the place a driver would trigger a crimson flag could be monitored,” he added. “So I believe that needs to be one thing smart to be doing as a result of we have seen previously drivers inflicting points and the others not having the ability to do a lap. Yeah, that needs to be one thing that the FA screens, I believe.”

“I agree,” added GPDA director, George Russell. “We clearly have laps deleted on a regular basis in qualifying for monitor limits. I believe for those who have been to trigger a yellow flag or crimson flag, it is best to most likely have your greatest lap deleted. Yeah, nothing extra to say about that.”

“I believe it is a good suggestion,” agreed Verstappen.

“There have been very clear instances in road circuits the place, between us drivers, we have noticed folks on goal producing crimson flags,” stated Carlos Sainz. “The FIA hasn’t been possibly as satisfied about them being on goal, as a result of as drivers we all know what’s on goal and what’s not.

“So, will probably be fascinating to see what method they take into this weekend.

“It is at all times a subject round Monaco. I simply hope that for the advantage of the present and the honest play and honest racing, all of us go on the market in Q1 and Q3, giving all of it with out taking pointless dangers.”