Black Flag means disqualification. Black flag is displayed to drivers who have caused serious accidents or committed serious violations such as ignoring penalties or ignoring signals. Black flag is displayed with a car number board indicating the target car.
Regulations
Display of black flag
Black flag is displayed stationary with the car number board indicating the target car.
The location of display is not all observation posts. It displays only at a observation post near the control line.
The car displayed black flag must pit in as soon as possible and follow the race official’s instructions. However, black flag basically means disqualification. Therefore, it is inevitably impossible to continue the race.
In SUPER GT, It is stated that it notifies the driver of disqualification using black flag.
Reason why black flag is displayed
Black flag is displayed to the driver who committed a serious violation. It is a heavier punishment than a penalty.
There are various reasons for the black flag, but the most common cases of black flag is due to ignoring penalties or orange disc flag.
- Ignored penalty (more than 4 laps from the display)
- Did not pit in despite being displayed with orange disc flag
- Ignored the signal at the pit road exit
- Committed a serious violation in the starting procedure
- Caused malicious contact to other cars
In amateur races, black flag are often displayed due to ignoring penalty. The driver cannot talk to a team using a radio like Formula 1 or SUPER GT. Therefore, the driver continues to drive without noticing penalty board, and black flag may be displayed because of ignoring penalty.
In 2007 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault) ignored the red signal at the exit of the pit lane during the deployment of the safety car. Therefore, black flag was displayed to this two drivers and they was disqualified.
Similarly, in 2005 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams) ignored the red signal at the exit of the pit lane during the deployment of the safety car. And he was disqualified by black flag.
2006 SUPER GT Round 6 Suzuka Circuit
In 2006 SUPER GT round 6 held at the Suzuka Circuit, Yuji Ide, who participate from the No.23 Xanavi Nismo Z, was imposed a drive-through penalty by contact with another car. At the control line, a board with the car number “23” and “D” meaning drive-through penalty was displayed.
出典：youtube.com
However, Yuji Ide continued to drive without noticing the penalty board. At this time, it seems that the radio was not working, and it was not possible to give instructions from the pit using the radio. Yuji Ide ran three laps without accept the drive-through penalty. After that, the drive-through penalty was switched to the black flag at the control line.
出典：youtube.com
After that, Yuji Ide, who checked the team’s signboard, finally made a pit stop. However, he drove through the pit lane and returned to the race. And he made a pit stop again. However, Car No.23 was disqualified and fined 300,000 yen. Yuji Ide has been banned from participating in the 2006 SUPER GT and subsequent races.
2.5.5.1 d) Black flag
This flag should be used to inform the driver concerned that he must stop at his pit or at the place designated in the supplementary or championship regulations on the next approach to the pit entry. If a driver fails to comply for any reason, this flag should not be shown for more than four consecutive laps.