The FIA has confirmed an additional rule change for the 2026 Formula One season, moving to eliminate ambiguity when red flags interrupt a session.
The decision follows chaotic scenes at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where confusion over whether a lap should count during a red-flag situation led to a prolonged delay in qualifying at Imola.
The flashpoint involved Haas rookie Oliver Bearman, who initially appeared to have progressed into Q2 before his lap time was later deleted.
Haas was subsequently informed that Bearman’s lap had been completed under red-flag conditions, triggering a 25-minute delay to the session and heated discussions between teams and race control.
Onboard footage suggested Bearman only became aware of the red flag after crossing the finish line, while the FIA later confirmed that the first red-flag signal had been shown three seconds before he completed the lap.
The incident exposed a clear grey area in the regulations and raised concerns about how timing decisions are made under intense pressure.
The FIA acknowledged that such ambiguity could no longer be left open to interpretation, particularly with sweeping technical regulation changes scheduled for 2026.
In response, the FIA has amended the International Sporting Code, adding a new clause designed to remove discretion from timing decisions.
Under the clarified rule, any lap completed after a red flag is first displayed will be automatically invalid, regardless of what the driver sees or what timing graphics show at the time.
“Where an automobile crosses the control line to complete a lap after the red flag has been displayed: (a) that lap time shall not be considered valid; (b) the moment of first display shall be determined by the official timekeeping system or, where this is not available or not synchronised, as jointly confirmed by the race director or clerk of the course and the chief timekeeper; (c) if a lap time is nevertheless recorded after the first display of the red flag, the stewards shall delete that lap time,” the FIA stated.
“This provision applies to all practice sessions, qualifying sessions and races.”
