Should F1 punish drivers who cause flags in qualifying?

It has been a point of discussion in Formula 1 for some time now: the yellow and red flags during the qualifying sessions. The person who causes a yellow or red flag is currently not punished and the drivers who drive without problems are, because they have to slow down or can't finish their lap at all. Should Formula 1 start using the same rules as IndyCar?

Yellow and red flags

In Monaco, qualifying is usually the most important moment of the weekend. In fact, overtaking during the race on Sunday is almost impossible. Therefore, it will be extra sour for Max Verstappen that after the 2021 qualifying in Monaco, he also saw his fast lap during Q3 in 2022 ruined by a red flag.

Verstappen was basically punished for something he could do nothing about. This while Charles Leclerc was able to keep his pole in 2021 and Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz were still allowed to start ahead of Verstappen in 2022. Unfair, says the IndyCar. The American racing class has special regulations for causing a yellow or red flag during qualifying.

The rules of the IndyCar

Under the heading 8.3.4 of the IndyCar rulebook states the following about such situations: "If a car causes a red flag situation in a segment, the car's best two (2) timed laps in the segment will be disallowed, the car will not be allowed to continue in the segment and the car will not be allowed to proceed to the next segment."

So what did qualifying in Monaco look like?

If Formula 1 used the same rules it would mean that Yuki Tsunoda would not have been allowed to advance to Q2 last weekend in Monaco, because he caused a red flag in Q1. This spot would then have gone to Alexander Albon, who finished 16th in Q1.

In addition, this means that Perez, who crashed in Q3, would have lost his two fastest times. This would have put him in P10 instead of P3. A harsh penalty, especially at Monaco, but it might be fairer to the aggrieved drivers, like Verstappen in this case.

The opinion of the GPblog readers

What do GPblog readers think of the idea of having the same rules in Formula 1 as IndyCar? Fill out the poll and let us know in the comments what penalties seem appropriate to you after causing yellow and red flags during qualifying!