A more or less direct result of the incident between Álex Rins and Marc Márquez during the last Spanish Grand Prix, here is a new measure taken by the race management which will undoubtedly change the appearance of qualifying: from now on, a driver will not can no longer improve his time if there has been a yellow flag in one of the sectors, whatever it may be, and as soon as a driver enters a sector with a yellow flag, his time is canceled.
As Maverick Viñales said during the conference held today, drivers will no longer wait until the last minute to do their best timed lap...
Thursday 23 July 2020
Ahead of the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, the MotoGP™ race management and the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards Committee held an information meeting with the MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ categories to inform riders of a Important update made on how yellow flags should be handled.
The regulations have not changed, but the way the rules should be applied has been updated. This is to improve on-track safety for all riders and marshals involved in the three categories of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship.
For several years, any improvement in sector time obtained under a double yellow flag has resulted in the cancellation of a rider's passage time, which goes without saying. From now on, this will be extended to single yellow flags. A driver can no longer improve his time under a yellow flag, whatever it may be, and as soon as a driver enters a sector with a yellow flag, his time is canceled. This applies to all free practice and qualifying sessions.
Once a driver has passed the green flag indicating that the track is clear, he can return to full speed and continue working normally. The sector times will still be visible, but the total time will not be valid.
During races, there are no changes. No overtaking is permitted under any yellow flag.
Paddock-GP translation
Reminder of current regulations:
1.22.2 Flags that convey information and instructions:
– Yellow flag
Waving at each line of the starting grid, this flag indicates that the start of the race is delayed. Waving on one line (or more) of the starting grid, this flag indicates that a rider on this line is having difficulties.
A single yellow flag waved at the marshal's post indicates that there is danger ahead next to the track.
Two yellow flags waved together at the flag control station indicate that there is a hazard that completely or partially blocks the runway.
Waving a single or double yellow flag does not indicate a degree of danger, but only the location of the incident.
Runners must slow down and be prepared to stop. Overtaking is prohibited until the green flag is waved.
Any violation of this rule during a training session will result in the cancellation of the time during which the violation took place.
A violation of this rule during the race will result in a penalty.
Paddock-GP translation
