The consistency problem highlighted by F1’s Australia red flags debacle
A lack of transparency from officials is, says MATT KEW, just adding to fuel to the debate over whether F1 is sport or entertainment
Formula 1 officiating shouldn’t feel this ad hoc. But too often waiting too long for too debatable a decision gives the impression that there’s someone in FIA race control frantically flicking through a printout of the sporting regulations mid-race, trying to put their finger on what to do next.
Consider the Australian Grand Prix. A third red flag created a scenario where a processional finish behind the safety car was required (although the clear intention was to have one last go at a green-flag finish). The order for this one-lap act of ceremony, which therefore decided the race classification, was determined by the previous red-flag restart grid minus crashed cars. As such, the 56th lap, when said cars were wiped out, seemingly both did and didn’t count.
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