An engine failure of Aston Martins Sebastian Vettel resulted in his car stopping on the track during the first practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix and triggering a red flag.
A lengthy recovery process followed as the marshals made sure the car was safe and not electrified.
In contrast to qualifying, the clock does not stand still during practice when a red flag is displayed, which means that the teams in FP1 only had 25 minutes on the track. More time was lost in FP2 on Friday afternoon as Lewis Hamilton and Nikita Mazepin both caused red flags.
That lost time proved more expensive in 2021 after training sessions were cut from 90 minutes each to 60 minutes on Friday.
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After the FP1, Mercedes F1 boss Wolff said that a review of the Red Flag rules was necessary in practice, similar to the changes to the protocols on race day after the two-lap event in Spa.
“I think this is another point we made in the [F1] Commission, ”said Wolff.
“That, like in Spa, we have to find a way because the sessions are so short now, 60 minutes, that we have more action on the track, the clock stops so the guys out there can see cars.
“As far as we are concerned, it affects everyone equally. You have a lot less time to run, the end was certainly compromised for all cars.
“But there is also a valuable lesson to learn that the traffic will be difficult in qualifying. This is something we need to address. “
Marshals wave a red flag in FP1
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
F1 bosses will discuss the red flag rules in the race at the next F1 commission meeting in early October, with a change to the minimum two-lap rule for a classification expected.
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Wolff said there was “a lot to learn” from the events in Spa and that F1 “had to adapt the rules for the awarding of points”.
“We have to talk about the rules that points are awarded for a race,” said Wolff.
“I think we are all racing drivers at heart and want points to be given for racing, and I think that in the future we will only have to discuss in the F1 Commission whether a few laps behind the safety car are enough for points or whether we really want the cars.
“It’s the same for all teams and I’m not thinking of Spa, but probably making sure that we give points for a real race.”
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