Sandy is a Formula 1 journalist at GPblog with growing expertise in the sport. Combining hands-on experience in interviews and paddock access with her studies in sports communication, she provides reliable coverage and fresh insights into the pinnacle of motorsport.
After a long red flag during the second free practice in Abu Dhabi, the debate erupts; should the time stop at a red flag during free practice, just like in qualifying? F1 drivers differ on this topic.
A crash by Carlos Sainz and then Niko Hulkenberg during FP2 in Abu Dhabi resulted in two red flags. This cost the drivers 37 minutes of track action. Track action is especially costly at this weekend, as many teams opted, by the rules, to have a rookie enter earlier in FP1.
Stop the time!
As a result, the drivers who missed FP1 did not have much track time on Friday. Daniel Ricciardo wants the clock to stop during a red flag in free practice sessions. The only tricky thing here is that many tracks have other series running alongside Formula 1. It is then sometimes not possible to extend the session. Nico Hulkenberg also advocates a time stop. Although he indicates to Motorsport.com that it is not as easy, as we think. Indeed, other series have to be taken into account, but also TV broadcast times.
Three practice sessions is already too much
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Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas disagrees. He believes there is already more than enough track time in Formula 1. With the new technology the teams have, he thinks three free practice sessions are too much. After all, there is so much information before the drivers even take the track.
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