Wolff wants more clarity from F1 on use of red flags

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says F1's race control needs to better define when to use red flags in a race rather than a safety car or VSC.

Last Sunday's Australian Grand Prix saw three red flags deployed across the 58-lap race as a result of multiple incidents that occurred over the course of the afternoon.

Alex Albon's crash on lap 7 triggered the first stoppage while debris scattered across the damaged Haas of Kevin Magnussen led to a second red flag period.

The merits of stopping the race were debated after both incidents, with Mercedes' George Russell judging the first red flag as "totally unnecessary", while Max Verstappen and Lando Norris called into question the race's second halt.

Wolff contends that there isn't enough clarity on the part of race control regarding the circumstances that justify relying on either a red flag, a safety car or a VSC to manage events, which in turn muddles a team's strategy efforts.

"Both red flags we didn't see coming," Wolff said. "I think [standing] restarts are a great entertainment factor.

"We just need to understand going forward when are red flags being put out, and what is a safety car or VSC? I think in those incidents you could have applied either.

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"I'm fine whether you call a VSC or safety car, or you red flag it, as long as we understand in terms of us being able to plan a little bit.

"Let's define all together what is a VSC, what is a safety car and what is a red flag."

Although an engine issue put paid to Russell's efforts, the call to pit the Mercedes driver from the lead of the race immediately after Albon's crash had been the right one.

But the deployment of the red flag mitigated the decision as the stoppage gave the rest of the field a free tyre change, which benefitted Lewis Hamilton who had been left out after Albon's crash as Mercedes split its strategies.

"The strategy call with George was absolutely the right one, splitting the cars," said Wolff. "I think he would have had a real go at being very much at the front, so that's a shame.

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