OFFICIALS WARN FANS AFTER FLARES
Dutch Grand Prix officials had to plead with fans not to take orange flares into the Zandvoort track ahead of the race last weekend as two incidents caused qualifying to be halted.
Thousands of home supporters had packed the venue and took the smokeemitting devices with them on the qualifying day. Two found their way onto the track during the timed session on Saturday and the action had to be halted as a result.
On Saturday night, the officials issued a statement that read: “All drivers, Formula One Management, the FIA and the organisation of the Dutch Grand Prix do not tolerate flares, as Max Verstappen himself mentioned in a post-qualification interview. Their use is not allowed and creates very unsafe situations on the track for drivers and other fans.
“The organisation once again appeals to the common sense of all our fans and warns that the use of flares will not be tolerated.”
While flares appeared at the circuit on Sunday, they were not deployed until after the event.