This is one of the rules that is causing debate in the Grand Prix paddock. And which did not, it must be said, favor the popularity of the race management, which was already seriously damaged. This is the rule of yellow flags which, when waved in a sector, cancel the current timed lap of the driver surveying it. A provision made to protect the work of commissioners, which is legitimate. But the sporting note can be steep for the driver when faced with the clock. Jack Miller paid the bill to Aragon-2, which didn't make him laugh. Placing himself above the fray, his future ex-colleague Ducati tries to provide a more balanced summary of the situation…
The fact that lap times are canceled as soon as drivers pass a place where a yellow flag is waved is sometimes a source of confusion. And anger. Jack Miller thus had a stroke of blood when he saw his performance allowing him to enter directly into Q2 crossed out during a Teruel Grand Prix that he therefore had to live with Q1.
Since the Andalusian Grand Prix in Jerez, the rules regarding yellow flags have been tightened. If a driver enters a sector in which even a single yellow flag is waved, his lap time is voided. A provision in force during practice sessions and during qualifying.
In the case of Jack Miller at Aragon-2, the Australian saw his best lap in Q3 canceled. But the Pramac pilot does not only criticize the rule. He also regrets that the decisions of the commissioners take a certain time before being made. When they are not incomprehensible... Thus, during qualifying for the eleventh round of the championship, the personal bests of Crutchlow, Oliveira, Alex Marquez et Mir were removed due to a "yellow flag violation", but were reinstated a little later in the rankings.
« This just shows that the system is broken. I also said this to the race management. Your system just isn't working ", said Miller clearly. “ I thought it was a stupid rule when it was invented and enforced, and I still think it's a stupid rule ».
Stupid or legitimate rule? It's a question of priority
The 25-year-old Australian justified his point of view as follows: “ finally, we race motorcycles. It's a dangerous sport. Of course, when you see a yellow flag, you relax a little. But if you think that's the case in a relatively defensible position, where you don't really run the risk of moving towards someone, then you push ».
“JackAss”’s suggestion is: “ there should be a rule that says you will be penalized if you fall in the same corner where someone fell before and the bike slides towards that direction. Because then you obviously pushed too hard. ».
Usually, however, it's the other way around: " on many laps the crash didn't really happen in a dangerous place, then you decelerate, you don't take the risk like in the other corners, but the lap is always faster. Sadly, then it was cancelled. I think it's pretty stupid. But I don't make the rules, » sighs Miller who forgets that he was one of the actors who motivated this rule, when, in Jerez, in the gravel trap, he was brushed by the Suzuki of Kidneys in distress. We were in Jerez…
The feeling of Jack Miller is it shared by all drivers? Andrea Dovizioso gives his point of view: we also spoke about it to the safety commission. The fact is that they wanted to put more emphasis on safety. In this case, this means that the timer will be canceled if a yellow flag is outside, whether you see it or not “, said the 34-year-old veteran.
This has an advantage and a disadvantage: “ safety is more at the forefront because all drivers know the lap will be canceled and they drive slower and run less risk at the point where marshals are standing or drivers lying on the ground “, explained “Dovi”. “ But it also affects many rounds. You can make a schedule for your session and push it to a specific time, but if they cancel your turn, you're ruined. It takes a lot of luck ».
Its conclusion is intended to be a careful summary: “ It's a bit complicated to manage this. To be honest, I don't know what the best rule would be. It depends on which aspect you want to give more importance to. And it’s that of security that they decided this year ».
