The FIA has tightened up the rules surrounding double-waved yellow flags and what drivers should do when they are shown, after some complained during the briefing on Friday that the current rule is too ambiguous.
Prior to Sepang, the rule stated that a driver must show a "significant" reduction in speed as they pass through the yellow zone, but the drivers have expressed concerns that it isn't clear exactly how much they must slow to avoid a penalty.
It comes after Nico Rosberg was allowed to keep his pole lap in Hungary, despite setting it under waved yellows, whilst Force India's Sergio Perez was penalised in Singapore for not having slowed enough.
In a ruling issued this morning by FIA race director Charlie Whiting, he confirmed a driver must now abandon their lap
"Any driver passing through a double waved yellow marshalling sector must reduce speed significantly and be prepared to change direction or stop," he said.
Before clarifying the matter further: "In order for the stewards to be satisfied that any such driver has complied with these requirements it must be clear that he has not attempted to set a meaningful lap time, for practical purposes this means the driver should abandon the lap (this does not necessarily mean he has to pit as the track could well be clear the following lap)."
Discussion about this post