Flag system

All forms of motorsport use a system of flags or signal lights to inform drivers of hazards during a session. While technological advances has meant that, in Formula One, many flags have been replaced by signal lights, the system of coloured flags has remained constant since the early years of racing.
==Flags currently in use in F1==
Flag 	Meaning
Yellow 	The meaning can vary depending on the way it is waved and how many are waved.
* Single waved yellow flag means overtaking prohibited due to danger off the track. A speed reduction is required.
* Double waved yellow flag means overtaking prohibited due to danger on the track. A specific speed reduction is added in order to increase drivers’ lap time to around 35% less than a normal dry lap time.
SC board 	Safety Car is put out on track when an incident blocks the track or leaves a lot of debris. Drivers stay behind the SC until the marshals have cleared up. VSC (Virtual Safety Car) is for more minor incidents, where no safety car is on track, but drivers must slow down to a required Delta. This board is always accompanied by a single waving yellow flag.
Yellow and Red Striped 	Slippery track, due to oil, water or loose debris. Can be seen 'rocked' from side-to-side (not waved) to indicate a small animal on track.
Green 	Normal racing conditions apply. This is always shown following a yellow flag to indicate that the hazard has been passed. A green flag is also shown at the start of the first session of the day.
Blue 	A blue flag indicates that the driver in front who is one or more laps down must let faster cars behind pass. If the driver ignores 3 consecutive blue flags, a penalty is issued to the driver. In practice and qualifying, this is shown when a car is being hindered by a slower car.
White 	Slow moving vehicle ahead - often waved on the last corner during free practice when drivers do practice starts. Also used when a miscellanious vehicle, such as the medical car or an ambulance, is on track.
Red 	Session suspended or stopped due to imminent danger to competitors or spectators, or due to bad weather. All cars proceed to pits.
Black 	Driver is disqualified and must return to pits immediately. This flag is accompanied by the driver's race number.
Black with orange circle	Car is damaged or driver has a mechanical problem and must return to pits as soon as possible. This flag is accompanied by the driver's race number.
Half black/Half white 	Warns a driver for unsportsmanlike behaviour. May be followed by a black flag upon further infringement. Accompanied by the driver's race number.
Chequered flag 	Session is completed. In practice and qualifying, this means drivers are not allowed to start laps, but they are allowed to complete laps.
es:Banderas de la Fórmula 1
Category:Racing terms
Category:Flag System
Category:Terminology