In the world of Formula 1, rules are indispensable. However, Martin Brundle, a Sky Sports commentator, has expressed doubts about a specific rule that he believes does more harm than good to the sport. In a recent Q&A on Reddit, he shared his perspective and advocated for the abolition of the blue flags.
More Rules, Less Skill
Over the past few years, the sport has seen a significant increase in rules that drivers and teams must adhere to. Some are necessary for the safety and integrity of the sport, but others raise questions. Brundle points out that the blue flags have a negative impact on the drivers’ skills. When a blue flag is shown, a driver must move aside because he is being lapped.
“I am in favor of abolishing the blue flags,” Brundle asserts. “Drivers these days no longer know how to navigate through traffic, as we had to do in the past. It was a fun challenge!” The former F1 driver refers to a time when drivers were responsible for overtaking backmarkers. Brundle is aware that modern aerodynamics make it difficult to overtake other drivers, but he stands by his point. “Technological advancements have made it harder to get past the backmarkers. This has taught us a lot and made us lose an important skill.”
Other Rules are Fine
Although Brundle has criticized the blue flags, he is generally satisfied with the other rules applied in Formula 1. “The rules are reasonably well-tuned. The cars are thoroughly checked for safety, integrity, and legality,” the Brit explains. He also believes the race distances are good, although he does have a suggestion for the Singapore Grand Prix. “Perhaps I would shorten it a bit, just like Monaco. But otherwise, I am satisfied. Formula 1 is more popular than ever, so if something works, why change it?”
