F1 drivers will be left without cockpit warning lights for Bahrain GP

Formula 1 drivers will once again be left on their own without cockpit warning lights for the Bahrain Grand Prix, after issues with the FIA’s telemetry aspect of the electronic marshalling system which have not been sorted out yet. The FIA are reluctant to use it in an actual Grand Prix while it is not foolproof.

The main function of the telemetry system is to inform the drivers about warning flags, the use of a safety car, and also warn them when DRS has been enabled or disabled.

The issues came to the fore at the start of this season because the FIA had changed their supplier.

Although the FIA has said they are now happy with the marshalling lights and GPS aspects of the system, the telemetry issue remains big enough for the system to be turned off once again.

At the Chinese Grand Prix, a number of drivers had to visit the stewards to explain why they had used the DRS under a yellow flag.

In the end, the stewards, citing the telemetry issues, decided not to hand out any penalties because DRS could not be automatically disabled.

The FIA is working towards ensuring that the situation improves in time for the start of the European season in Barcelona, Spain in three weeks’ time.