Blue flag trigger point changed for Baku

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F1 race director Charlie Whiting has taken the decision to tweak the rules governing blue flags which are displayed to a driver to indicate that a faster car is behind and trying to overtake.

A rule change for 2017 reduced the gap between two drivers which triggers the brandishing of a blue flag from 1.5 to 1.0 seconds.

But turbulent air produced in the wake of the new-spec cars this year has hampered overtaking and led to complaints from drivers about overtaking back-markers and lapped traffic.

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Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charlie Whiting has therefore increased the trigger point gap from 1.0 to 1.2 seconds.

"When the faster car is within 1.2s of the car about to be lapped blue flags will be shown to the slower car (in addition to blue light panels, blue cockpit lights and a message on the timing monitors) and the driver must allow the following driver to overtake at the first available opportunity," Whiting wrote in a note to teams on Thursday.

If a driver fails to allow a leading car to overtake him within three warnings of a blue flag, the driver will be handed a penalty.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.