Sainz urges F1 leaders to show patience with backmarkers under blue flags

Carlos Sainz has urged Formula 1's leading drivers to be patient with backmarkers negotiating blue flags. Letting a faster car through, he says, is less straightforward from the slower car than it looks from the lead.

A car being lapped is shown a blue flag by marshals and must get out of the way within three marshal posts or risk a penalty for ignoring it. Leading drivers often complain that backmarkers take too long to clear a path. Kimi Antonelli voiced his displeasure during his lights-to-flag win at the United States Grand Prix.

Sainz has experienced both sides: he lapped many cars during his Ferrari years, from 2021 to 2024, and now receives blue flags at Williams. He put the speed difference between the top cars and his group at up to three or four seconds. As a backmarker judges when to yield, he said, a faster car may arrive sooner than expected—or later.

His request to the leaders: “bear with us.”