CUTTING EDGE
RACE
TALK
POINTS
The top three drivers get to stand on the podium but points are handed out to the top 10 drivers and the top ten teams , counting down 25 – 18 – 15 – 12 – 10 – 8 – 6 – 4 – 2 – 1 . An additional point is awarded for fastest lap , but only if the driver concerned finishes in the top 10 . For the six events in 2024 where there is a sprint on Saturday , points are awarded to the top eight on the basis 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 .
QUALIFYING
The starting grid is decided by a one-hour qualifying session on a Saturday , which consists of Q1 and Q2 knock-out sessions where the slowest five cars are removed from running , and a Q3 ‘ shootout ’ where the fastest 10 cars challenge for pole . To qualify , all drivers must be within 107 % of the pole time , but if they have an issue such an accident they can be granted formal permission by the stewards to start the race .
After qualifying , all the cars are put into ‘ parc ferme ’ conditions in the team garages . Teams cannot change any parts ahead of the race unless they can prove to the FIA that they are broken or damaged , and they cannot change any settings , apart from the front wing angle .
PENALTIE S
The FIA ’ s race stewards are the sport ’ s ‘ referees ’ and make calls based on information provided by the FIA race director and the TV pictures that they can review . Sometimes penalties are regarded as clear cut and are handed out during the race , while on other occasions – typically in the case of controversial collisions – they are investigated after the race , and the stewards talk to the drivers concerned .
The stewards work with a menu of penalties , with the most common being time added to the driver ’ s next pit stop or to his final race result . Others include a drive through which obliges them to pit and run straight through the pit lane , a stop and go where the driver pits and wait for 10 seconds but his team cannot do any other work such as a tyre change , or a grid penalty for the next event .
After each race the cars are checked carefully for technical conformity by FIA officials . Penalties can result if a car is under the weight limit or if any parts are outside the prescribed specifications .
FLAGS
Different flags are waved for different scenarios , the most regularly used being the waved blue , to warn slower cars the leaders want to lap them ; the yellow , warning of danger on track ; and the red , which stops the race .
WAVED WHITE Very slow vehicle on track
YELLOW WITH RED STRIPES Danger , slippery surface
WAVED BLUE A car is approaching closely and is about to lap you
BLACK With car number : stop on the next lap
WAVED YELLOW Single : overtaking prohibited , danger , slow down
WAVED YELLOW Double : great danger and be prepared to stop
BLACK WITH ORANGE DISC Your car has a problem ; pit on next lap
WAVED RED Marshals & clerk of the course to stop the race / practice
BLACK AND WHITE Non-sporting behaviour , warning
WAVED GREEN End of danger , the track is clear
CHEQUERED End of the race or practice
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