What Do the Formula 1 Flags Mean? A Complete Guide

Are you becoming a diehard motorsports fan, learning the ins and outs of Formula 1? That means you won’t just need to know about the drivers competing; you’ll need to know about the flags being waved around during each race, too. After all, the flags signal what’s happening on the track—and you want to stay in the loop, right? In this article, we’ll introduce you to all the different flags used in Formula 1 racing, what they look like, and of course, what they mean. Let’s take a look!

F1 Flags

Green flag: Indicates a clear track.
Yellow flag: Signals caution on the track (due to a hazard).
Red flag: Signals all drivers to stop.
Blue flag: Tells a slow driver to make way for a faster car.
Black flag: Signals a disqualification.
Black and white flag: Indicates unsportsmanlike behavior.
Chequered flag: Signals victory (and the end of the race).

1

Green F1 Flag

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The green flag indicates a clear track. That means the racing track is totally cleared of hazards, and drivers can start racing again if they were slowed or stopped. When they see the green flag, drivers can freely race at full speed! You might see the green flag waved in a certain section of the track where there was a hazard, or to indicate a circuit-wide “all-clear.”^{[1]
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- The green flag will always be waved after a yellow flag to tell drivers that there aren’t any more hazards on the track.

2

Yellow F1 Flag

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The yellow flag signals caution due to a hazard on the track. If there’s any kind of hazard on or close to the track, the yellow flag will be used to signal drivers and let them know to exercise caution. A “hazard” could include debris, an accident, or a car that’s stopped for some reason. When a yellow flag is waved, overtaking under those conditions is strictly prohibited as a safety measure. There are two types of yellow flags:^{[2]
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- Single-waved yellow flag: When the flag is waved in one hand, that means drivers need to slow down or even change course to steer clear of a hazard.
- Double-waved yellow flag: When two flags are waved (one in each hand), there’s a major hazard ahead, and drivers need to be ready to stop if necessary.

3

Blue F1 Flag

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The blue flag tells slower drivers to make way for a faster car. Basically, drivers are shown the blue flag when they’re driving slower than an approaching car and need to let that car pass as soon as they safely can. This is usually only used when the faster car is a full lap ahead (or more) of the slow driver. If the faster car is still on the same lap, those two cars have to duke it out!^{[3]
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- Blue flags can also be used during a Free Practice or Qualifying sessions.
- Some racing series actually have different rules for blue flags, but these are the rules for the F1 series.

4

Red F1 Flag

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The red flag signals all drivers to stop. If the red flag gets waved, drivers have to stop immediately—there’s no completing the race. This flag is typically used in very extreme circumstances, including a particularly major accident or dangerous weather. Basically, anything that makes the track too unsafe for racing is worthy of a red flag.^{[4]
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- After a red flag is waved, the drivers must slow down, stop, and then go back to the pit lane at the end of their lap.
- If conditions are too severe, the race may not resume at all; when that happens, drivers just get partial points based on the number of laps completed.

5

Yellow and Red-Striped F1 Flag

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The yellow and red-striped flag warns about changes in track conditions. This change could be caused by water, debris, or even an oil spill—regardless, it’s a change making the track ahead hazardous for drivers. Thus, the yellow and red-striped flag is also a warning that the conditions ahead will reduce on-circuit grip levels. Since F1 tyres are slick for dry-weather racing, lowered grip levels can really affect performance.^{[5]
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- However, the yellow and red-striped flag doesn’t necessarily require drivers to slow down; it’s just a heads-up to prepare them for altered surface conditions.

6

White F1 Flag

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The white flag indicates a slower driver ahead on the track. When drivers see the white flag, it’s a sign for them to be cautious and ready to slow down (or change direction) due to the slower driver ahead. If a car is driving slowly on the track, it might be a service vehicle or medical car—or it could be a driver getting ready for a practice start.^{[6]
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- The white flag is a lot like yellow in that drivers must be cautious and prepared to slow down—the only difference is the reason for slowing down.

7

Black F1 Flag

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This flag is always shown alongside the race number of the disqualified driver, indicating that the driver must return to the pit lane as soon as possible and withdraw from the race. The black flag is reserved for the most severe rule breaches, such as technical non-compliance with the rules (or especially dangerous driving).^{[7]
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8

Black F1 Flag with an Orange Circle

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The black and orange flag indicates a mechanical car problem. This flag—called the “meatball flag” by fans—has a black background with an orange circle in the center. When this flag is waved at a driver, it’s to tell that driver there’s a mechanical problem with their car (like a leak or loose component). After being signaled, the driver must go back to the pits so their team can commence repairs.^{[8]
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- Thankfully, this flag isn’t used as often as others—but it’s still an essential one.

9

Black and White F1 Flag

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The black and white flag is a sign of unsportsmanlike behavior. This flag—which is half-black, half-white, split diagonally across—signals when a minor infringement occurs during a race, like a yellow card in soccer (football). It doesn’t disqualify the driver in question, just lets them know that their behavior has been noted and that further unsportsmanlike behavior could lead to a penalty.^{[9]
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- This flag is always shown with the driver’s race number.
- Possible minor infringements include: dangerous driving, exceeding the track’s speed limits, impeding other drivers, or other actions that could compromise other drivers’ safety.
- Punishments for repeated infringements can include a time penalty, a drive-through penalty, or a stop-and-go penalty.

10

Chequered F1 Flag

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The chequered flag signals the end of a race—and victory. When this flag is waved, it means the race is over; a driver has crossed the finish line on the final lap and won! The chequered flag, which is waved from above the pit wall, is then continually waved until all cars competing have crossed the finish line as well!^{[10]
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- Chequered flags aren’t just used during the last lap of a race; they can be used at the end of Free Practices and Qualifying sessions, too.

11

Code 60 F1 Flag

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A Code 60 flag imposes a speed limit over the entire track. Sometimes, the Race Director or Clerk of the Course will enforce a speed limit for drivers.^{[11]
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Research source} If the speed limit applies to the entire track, they’ll use a yellow flag and board with the acronym “FCY” (Full Course Yellow), or a fuchsia flag with a white circle and the number 60 inside (called “Code 60”), setting the speed limit to 60 km/h (37.2 mph).
- If the speed limit is variable, it’ll be signaled with a yellow flag and board with the acronym “VSC” (Virtual Safety Car).
- If the speed limit only applies to a section of the track, the start and end of that section will be marked with a double yellow flag and a board marked “SLOW.”

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Want to find awesome F1 flags for sale and collect your own flag-related memorabilia? You can check out sites like F1 Authentics and CMC Motorsports, both of which are licensed partners.

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