Blue flags are often showed by the race marshals to a driver who is about to be lapped. Once it's waved, the slow drivers are obliged to let the leading racers pass them, or else risk a drivethrough penalty in the race.
“It would be a lot more fun if they didn't have blue flags. I am sure some of the more established teams would not like it, but it is a racing track and they should not have to be told to pull over,” said Branson, after Fernandes had told the media back in May that “drivers are paid to overtake, whether they are back markers or at the front,” as reported by Autosport.
While lapping a guy who has already been lapped three of four times – like in the cases of Lotus, Virgin or HRT F1 throughout 2010 – might not sound like a very big deal for a race driver, things aren't quite that simple. On circuits such as Monaco, Valencia, Singapore or Hungaroring, overtaking is always a problem no matter the speed difference between cars, which may cause some serious damage in the leading pack.
On the other hand, Virgin Racing's CEO Graeme Lowdon echoed Branson's comments, saying that back markers are currently losing additional time due to the blue flags, as they are forced to further slow down the car in order to let the leaders pass.
“We get a blue flag three seconds before someone approaches us, and at the moment three seconds is almost a lap and you have to let them by within four corners. So we have situations where our guys are pulling to one side and the car behind cannot catch up,” said Lowdon.
“The issue is that you get the flags so early - and three seconds is quite a long time. And you have to tell your driver to let the guy past but you cannot speed the car up behind. It has ruined a lot of racing for us,” added the Virgin Racing CEO.
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