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F1 Flags Explained: What Every Flag Means

Single waved yellow: a hazard at the side of the track. Drivers must slow down and be prepared to change direction. No overtaking.
Double waved yellow: a hazard blocking the track, or marshals working on the circuit. Drivers must reduce speed significantly, be ready to stop, and again there is no overtaking .

F1 flags explained, every flag in Formula 1 and what it means, from yellow and double yellow to blue, red, black, black-and-orange and the chequered flag.

Bhavin Lathia· Aug 5, 2026· 4 min read

Title card reading F1 Flags, what every flag means, a marshal in orange waving the chequered flag at sunset with the row of racing flags displayed on the marshal post.

Flags are how marshals talk to drivers at 300 km/h. Long before a driver hears anything on the radio, a flag at the side of the track (and a matching light panel) tells them whether it is safe to race, whether to slow down, or whether their day is over. Here is every F1 flag and exactly what it means.

Green flag

The track is clear and racing conditions are on. You see the green flag at the start of a session and at the end of a hazard zone, signalling that whatever caused a yellow has been cleared and drivers can race and overtake normally again.