FIA race director Michael Masi doesn’t believe Formula 1 drivers will exploit a new warning system for on-track incidents.
In Belgium, the governing body and teams agreed to reintroduce the black and white flag which has been branded as a ‘yellow card’ for drivers for discretions which stewards without giving a penalty.
Just a race later at Monza, the new system was under fire as Charles Leclerc was shown the flag after easing Lewis Hamilton off the track as they went wheel-to-wheel into the second chicane, the kind of offence that has previously been punished with a five-second penalty.
“I knew it was on the limit, but at the end, I wanted to give absolutely everything to have this win,” the Monegasque commented.
“I tried to be at the limit of what’s acceptable and that’s what I have done, so very happy to take the win home.”
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Leclerc then credited his loss earlier this year in Austria which triggered him to become “more aggressive” in his driving having lost the win to a bold pass by Max Verstappen at Spielberg.
“I believe that Austria helped me to change this approach and today it’s also thanks to this that I’ve managed to win. It was obviously very on-the-limit but yeah, I’m happy to race like this,” he added.
Having heard Charles’ comments though, the FIA race director doesn’t think this signals drivers will start racing erratically.
“I don’t think aggression is probably the right word, that might be his words but I think is it hard racing? Yes,” he said.
“I don’t think drivers will act more dangerously, they may be slightly bolder but they are on a border, and you can step over that border relatively easily.
“I think it’s been the way the black and white flag has worked and the two manners it’s been introduced in and used so far, for me, I think it’s serving its purpose, but you’ve got to look at each incident on its own merit.
“It’s ultimately the stewards’ decision if somebody gets penalised or the bad sportsmanship flag, but if the stewards feel there was more to it then we absolutely have the capability of issuing a penalty and that’s exactly where it sits.”