F1 1999: Red flag for early green light

A little unusual story during the 1999 F1 season, until this date, to start the race, the system of 5 red lights lighting up one by one at a rate of 2 to 5 seconds is controlled by the track director who is responsible for turning off the lights (unlike now) in order to create a randomness on the time of the start launch and to avoid the drivers from guessing the sequence and starting before the complete extinction of the red lights and to take an undeniable advantage over the competitors. However, the radio waves of this signal can be deciphered by specific receivers which gives ideas to certain teams.

THE CONTEXT

For several Grand Prix now, rumours have been rising in the paddock. Rumours are about cheats. About teams capable of determining the moment when the red lights will go out and thus by anticipating the start to gain a slight advantage over the competitors. Some teams having understood that the signal was emitted by radio and that the transmitter was much further from the receiver, that the cars on the grid had the clever idea of ​​intercepting the radio signal to send a beep to the drivers in their helmets before the lights were actually extinguished. The rumour reached the ears of the FIA, the director at the time, Max Mosley.

THE FIA TRAP

During the European Grand Prix, the FIA ​​decided to check if the rumor was true by setting a trap. The FIA ​​technicians simply deactivated the red light receiver. This allowed the race director to press the button to activate the lights without causing them to go out. The drivers responded immediately, as 6 cars jumped the start line. These were the two McLarens and the two Jordans, but we noticed that the Williams and the Prost were also affected, without confirming that it was the same technical reason. The rumors were thus confirmed, but since the regulations did not prohibit the use of this trick, the teams and drivers were not sanctioned. The FIA ​​nevertheless subsequently decided to modify the starting system to automate the random extinction of red lights without a radio signal.