The Game! April 2014 | Page 30

BAHRAINSPORTS APRIL 2014 GUIDE TO F1 FLAGS 3. Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit Sakhir — 6 April 4. Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International Circuit Shanghai — 20 April 5. Spain Grand Prix Circuit de Barcelona Barcelona — 11 May 6. Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco Monte Carlo — 25 May 7. Canada Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Montreal — 8 June 8. Austria Grand Prix Red Bull Ring Spielberg — 22 June 9. Great Britain Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit Silverstone — 6 July 10. Germany Grand Prix Hockenheimring Hockenhein — 20 July 11. Hungary Grand Prix Hungaroring Circuit Budapest — 27 July 12. Belgium Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Francorchamps — 24 August 13. Italy Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale Monza Monza — 7 September 14. Singapore Grand Prix Marina Bay Street Circuit Marina Bay — 21 September 15. Japan Grand Prix Suzuka Circuit Suzuka — 5 October Sochi International Street Circuit Saochi — 12 October Circuit of the Americas Austin, Texas — 2 November Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace Sao Paolo — 9 November 19. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix S C H E D U L E Sepang International Circuit Kuala Lumpur — 30 March 18. Brazil Grand Prix O N E 2. Malaysian Grand Prix 17. US Grand Prix F O R M U L A Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit Melbourne — 16 March 16. Russia Grand Prix 2014 1. Australian Grand Prix Yas Marina Circuit Abu Dhabi — 23 November T he 2014 Formula One season will be the 65th season of the Formula One World Championship, a motor racing championship for Formula One cars which is recognised by the sport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. The season will start in Australia on 16 March and conclude in Abu Dhabi on 23 November. Eleven teams and twenty-two drivers will compete in 19 Grands Prix for the World Drivers’ and World Constructors’ Championships. 28 t h e g a m e sports magazine Chequered: The black and white checked flag means that the race has ended and the winner has crossed the finish line. It’s shown to every car to cross the line behind the winner, even though some of them may be a lap down and won’t have technically completed all the laps – the race is still over. Red: If the red flag has been waved, it means there are dangerous conditions on the track and the race is stopped. It could be that there has been an accident and a car is in a precarious position, or it could be that the weather is too hazardous. Yellow: A single waved yellow flag means that there is danger ahead on this section of track. It is usually when a car has spun off and there are marshals on the track. Cars must slow down and overtaking is prohibited. Double waved yellow flags mean the driver needs to be prepared to stop if necessary. Green: The green flag means that whatever danger was there has now been removed and cars can proceed at their previous pace. This usually occurs on the corner after the previous yellow flags. Blue: The one that causes most consternation during a race, a blue flag is waved to warn a driver that he is about to be lapped and he must move out of the way. Officially the flag is to say a faster car is behind and trying to overtake, so it could be shown to the leaders at the front, but this seldom happens. Usually it is to the back markers, who have to steer clear of the race leaders without losing positions to their rivals. Black: A car must return to the pits and that driver’s race is over. This is usually for dangerous driving, as we saw this year in Canada, when both Massa and Fisichella were black flagged for exiting the pit lane through a red light. Red and Yellow Stripes: This means the track surface is slippery (usually oil) and caution is needed. Black with Orange Circle: With a car number attached, this flag is displayed to a driver when his car has mechanical troubles and should return to the pits. With the pit to car radio, this flag is rarely seen. White and Black Diagonal: With a car number this is like a yellow card is in football. It tells the driver that he is warned for his behaviour and a black flag could follow. White: A white flag warns that there is a slow-moving vehicle on the track, such as a tow-truck, but the cars are usually behind a safety car when this is occurring.