Racing flag

Yellow flag – A single yellow flag warns the pilot of danger ahead, such as debris from a crash. Pilots must slow down when they pass the danger area, and overtaking is prohibited on this section of the track. Two yellow flags (which are waved from the same judging station) mean that the pilots must brake, drive very slowly, and be ready to stop at any moment. Even then, overtaking is prohibited.

green flag – means that the previous danger is over and pilots can resume overtaking and go full speed. It is also used if the session was just terminated and is now being resumed. A green flag at the start of the pit lane means that the pit lane is open and you can drive into it.

Red flag – means that the session has been stopped prematurely due to unsuitable conditions for driving, for example after a very serious accident or in poor visibility conditions. It is rarely used in racing as the safety car is also available there. Races stopped in this way may or may not be restarted. If the race is stopped before two complete laps have been completed and is not restarted, no points are awarded at all (the race is considered a failure). If the stoppage occurred before 75% of the race has been completed, half of the points that would normally be awarded are awarded for each place. If at least 75% of the full distance of the race is covered, then full points are awarded. Given that an incident that caused a race to end prematurely often affects the results, the official results are those that were two laps before the race was red-flagged.

Blue Flag – can have multiple meanings. At any time, a blue flag being waved at the pit exit means that another driver is approaching the pit exit on the track and the driver standing at the pit exit must let him go. During practice runs, a blue flag means that a driver is about to be overtaken by a faster driver and must be let go. During a race, a blue flag means that a driver is about to be overtaken by a lap, and the driver in front (by number of laps) must be let go. If the pilot ignores three blue flags in a row, he faces a penalty.

White flag – means that there is a slow vehicle on the track and pilots need to be careful. It is sometimes used to warn off a slow-moving competitor.

Black flag – means that a driver has to pit and retire from the race, usually because he has been disqualified for some reason. The referee also holds the pilot’s number when waving the flag, so no one makes a mistake. If a driver ignores the black flag and does not pit during the lap, further sanctions follow, such as a multi-race disqualification.

Checkered flag – means this session or race is over. During races it is waved first to the winner and then to the other drivers, but during sessions it is waved at a predetermined time.

Black and white flag – means that the pilot is behaving unsportsmanlike at the moment, and if he does not immediately start following the rules as a sportsman should, then a black flag will follow. Waved together with a badge bearing the number of the pilot to whom it applies.

Black-orange flag – informs the pilot that a technical fault has been found in the telemetry and the pilot must pit to his team’s mechanics. Like the black and black and white flag, it is flown with a sign printed with the number of the pilot to whom it refers. It is used very rarely, as information can be transmitted to the pilot by radio.

Yellow-red flag – means something slippery like oil has spilled on the track and the pilot needs to be careful. It can also mean that there is debris left on the track after an accident. In rare cases, it is used when there is a sprinkling of rain on a certain section of the track.