F1 pilots face new speed limits in double yellow flag zones to improve safety

The FIA governing body said on Wednesday that Formula 1 drivers will be bound by stricter speed limits when following safety cars in double yellow flag areas to increase safety.

The new measures apply to driving behind both safety cars and deployed virtual safety cars, and will come into effect at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. The decision was made after studying and analyzing previous incidents, as well as after consultation with teams and drivers, the FIA said in a statement.

Previously, drivers were only required to significantly slow down and not overtake in areas where, for example, debris blocked the track or where marshals stood nearby.

“This requirement will become more precise and strictly applicable as drivers are now required to comply with the established maximum speed limit in areas where double yellow flags are posted,” the FIA said in a statement.

FIA Technical Director Tim Goss said that the track will be easier for both riders and track workers.

“What we want to do is provide drivers with a tool to help them during incidents and make racing even safer,” said Goss.

Drivers will not be caught off guard as they will receive both visual and audible warnings when approaching an area with a double yellow flag. Delta requirements will be reset at the start of the double yellow flag zone, making it easier to enforce the new speed limit.

The FIA hasn’t said what the new speed limit will be, but electronics chief Olivier Hulot is confident the new measures will work without a hitch.

“We have already implemented a yellow and double yellow warning system. The driver gets a warning in the sorting sector before the yellow or double yellow, Hulot said. “For the FIA, safety is of paramount importance, and when danger arises on the track, we must minimize the risks, no matter what. “