What do all of the different couloured F1 flags mean?

Have you ever watched a Formula 1 session, seen a flag being waved and not know what it meant? We have a solution. Here are all of the coloured flags in F1 so you will no longer be confused, although some of them are quite a rare sight now.

Green Flag

Waving a green flag means that normal racing is happening. This is the most commonly waved flag as it is waved at the start of every race, qualifying and free practice session, to indicate that it has started in normal racing conditions. A green flag will also be shown after a yellow flag period has ended, resuming the racing.

Yellow flag

There are two types of yellow flag - a single waved yellow and a double waved yellow. Both indicate a hazard on the track and when they are shown, overtaking is prohibited and drivers must slow down. Waving a single yellow flag means that there is danger on the track - most likely debris from another car or another car waiting to re-join after going off. Waving a double yellow flag means that something is blocking the track - most likely another car which has gone off and hit the barriers and, therefore, cannot re-join so is stuck on the track. Often, a safety car or virtual safety car is deployed after this.

Red Flag

Waving a red flag means that the current session is immediately suspended due to something on the track (most likely when someone has had a big crash and is stuck in the barriers) which poses danger for the other drivers, marshals and spectators. When a red flag is waved, drivers must immediately slow down and drive into the pit lane. During the red flag period, teams can repair any damages to cars and can change the tyres. There is a ten minute warning before the racing resumes to prepare drivers and teams. If the red flag is due to unsafe weather conditions, the red flag will last for as long as it takes for the track to be safe again. After a red flag there is usually a standing start but there can be a safety car start as well.

Yellow and Red striped flag

Waving a yellow and red striped flag means that the track is slippery - most likely caused by water or oil. This can be shown along the whole track or just a few particular posts if it is only that section of the track. A yellow and red striped flag can also mean there are animals on track - we have seen a dog and a pair of seagulls on track before in F1. If this is the case, the flag will be rocked instead of waved. In some cases, the session may be red flagged instead for the animal's safety.

Black and white flag

Waving a black and white flag means that a driver is showing unsportsmanlike behaviour - most likely track limits in F1. Black and white flags warn drivers that they have done something against the rules but it is not yet bad enough to be punished (usually with a time penalty). During a race, a driver will be shown a black and white flag on the foruth violation of track limits. If they exceed track limits again, they will receive a time penalty.

Black Flag

Waving a black flag means instant disqualification and the driver involved must immediately return back to the pits. They are infrequently shown in Formula 1 and are usually waved for extremely unsafe behaviour. The most infamous moments (according to F1's youtube channel) are: Juan Pablo Montoya in The United States in 2004, Gilles Villeneuve in Caesar's Palace in 1981, Alain Prost in Italy in 1986, Ayrton Senna in Brazil in 1988, Elio de Angelis in Great Britain in 1981, Michael Schumacher in Great Britain in 1994, Hans Heyer in Germany in 1977, Al Pease in Canada in 1969, Nigel Mansell in Portugal in 1989 and Filipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella in Canada in 2007, which was an extremely rare double-disqalification and is the last time a black flag was shown in F1.

Black Flag with Orange circle

Waving a black flag with an orange circle means that a driver has a mechanical issue with their car. When shown, it includes the driver's number to indicate that their car has an issue. The driver must return to the pit lane as soon as possible to get the issue fixed. Kevin Mangussen has seen this flag 3 times this season.

Blue Flag

Waving a blue flag means that the driver is being approached by a faster car. This is shown during a race when a driver is being lapped and in qualifying when a driver is on a slow lap but another driver behind is on a flying lap and sometimes when a driver leaves the pit lane. During a race, if a driver ignores blue flags they will be shown an official warning; if they ignore the flags three times, they will receive penalties.

White flag

Waving a white flag means that there are slow moving vehicles ahead. This is most commonly shown on the final corner at the end of free practice sessions when drivers do practice starts. This is also waved when there is another vehicle on track such as the medical car.

Chequered Flag

Waving the chequered flag means that the race, qualifying or free practice session is completed. In qualifying and free practice, drivers cannot start a new timed lap after the chequered flag has been shown but can finish their lap if it began before the chequered flag was waved.