Rear Red lights

[stump_1100]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered...

I noticed that in car shots from the Australian GP showed the leading car had the rear red lights blinking 2-3 times (only) and was wondering what that meant.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by stump_1100

Apologies if this has been asked and answered...

I noticed that in car shots from the Australian GP showed the leading car had the rear red lights blinking 2-3 times (only) and was wondering what that meant.

On the TV broadcast they said it indicated the KERS system was not charging under brakes.
I don't know if it was true or not but that's what I thought we were told.

[stump_1100]

I missed that in the broadcast - doesn't make a lot of sense if true...

I had hoped it was something like an indicator that the guy in front had pressed a "push to not be passed" button and it told the guy behind to get a wriggle on.

[Nicholosophy]

From http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/25936067

BBC F1 commentary box producer Tony Dodgins: "Here in testing, the cars have various warning lights on them. All have a flashing red light on the back of the car. This is a torque-reduction warning light. Basically, in the past, before a driver lifted off, he'd check his mirrors (well, usually) but with the torque distributor deciding where it is going to get the power from (engine, Ers, etc) various fuel-saving strategies could mean a car slowing down, say on the straight, other than simply via a throttle/torque map.

"Therefore, they are experimenting with warning lights to warn following cars whenever there is a torque reduction. The flashing green light on the back of Marcus Ericsson's Caterham, meanwhile, signifies a rookie driver not yet in possession of a superlicence (although it is a formality). Not to be confused with the green light on top of the roll hoop, which signifies to pit crew/marshals that a car is Ers-safe at that time and they can touch it."

[stump_1100]

Thanks Mate.

[aki13]

I might be remembering wrong, but didn't in the early 2000s traction control first get noticed via some flashing red lights?

That then lead to TC being legalised. Hope its nothing like that again.

[jross427]

i noticed on bottas' onboard following one of the toro rosso's the light would flash 4 times before a heavy braking zone. i noticed it into t1, 3, 6, 9, 11, and 13, but didnt see it in 15. it would flash 4 tuimes, after the fourth was usually the braking zone, same sequence of flashes, same time interval's between flashes.

[mjkh]

On Finnish TV they said that the red light flashes when driver lifts off earlier to save fuel.
Possibly it's to avoid what happened with Kovalainen/Webber a few years ago.