FIA closes Red-Flag loophole with new 2026 regulation following Bearman Imola drama

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile has finally brought clarity to one of Formula 1's most contentious grey areas. Following the Imola qualifying controversy involving Oliver Bearman, the governing body has amended the International Sporting Code with a new regulation that eliminates discretion from red-flag decisions entirely.

The Imola incident that changed everything

The incident that prompted this regulatory intervention occurred during qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix when Bearman appeared to secure a Q2 progression, only to have his lap time mysteriously scrubbed moments later. The Haas driver had completed what seemed like a legitimate lap, but race control informed the team that the effort had occurred under red-flag conditions.

What followed was a 25-minute qualifying delay, heated discussions between teams and race control, and uncomfortable questions about the integrity of timing procedures under pressure. Onboard footage suggested Bearman only became aware of the red flags after crossing the line, yet the FIA later confirmed the first signal had been displayed three seconds earlier. The episode exposed a critical weakness in the rulebook—one that could no longer be left to interpretation, especially with Formula 1 heading into a major regulatory reset in 2026.

The new rule: no exceptions, no debates

The amended regulation removes all ambiguity by introducing a single, decisive trigger point: the official moment the red flag is first displayed by the FIA's timekeeping system.

Under the clarified language, any lap completed after a red flag has been displayed will automatically be invalid, regardless of what a driver sees, what the timing graphics suggest, or any other mitigating circumstances. The FIA's full statement is characteristically uncompromising:

"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."

Critically, the provision applies across all sessions—practice, qualifying, and races—leaving no room for creative interpretation.

What this means for teams, drivers, and Race Control

The implications of this regulatory shift are substantial. For drivers and teams, the new rule eliminates any hope of last-second reprieves based on what onboard cameras might show or human judgment calls. For race control, it removes the burden of prolonged deliberation during high-pressure moments. And for the FIA, it restores the sporting integrity that briefly came under uncomfortable scrutiny following the Imola affair.

By anchoring the decision to the official timekeeping system rather than driver perception, the regulation transforms a subjective matter into an objective one. The language is deliberately blunt, reflecting the sport's determination to prevent similar controversies in the 2026 season and beyond.