What does the chequered flag mean in F1?
The black-and-white checked flag waved at the finish line to signal the end of the session or race.
The chequered flag, in its familiar black-and-white check, is waved at the start-finish line to mark the end of a session or race. In a race it is shown to the leader as they complete the final lap, and then to every car as it crosses the line. A race result is taken from the moment the flag falls; if it is shown early or late by mistake, the classification is taken from the correct lap. It is one of motorsport's most recognisable symbols.
See also: F1 flags explained.
Related race procedure & flags terms
- Formation lap — The single lap the field completes behind no one to reach the grid, warming tyres and brakes before the start.
- Parc fermé — The "closed park" rules that lock a car's set-up from the start of qualifying, banning most changes before the race.
- Safety Car — A road car sent onto the track to lead and slow the field when there is a hazard, bunching the pack.
- Virtual Safety Car (VSC) — An electronic slow-down that holds every car to a set delta time without deploying the physical Safety Car.
- Yellow flag — Warns of a hazard ahead: slow down, no overtaking. Double waved yellows mean a serious hazard and be ready to stop.
- Red flag — Stops the session immediately; cars return to the pits or grid because conditions are unsafe to continue.
- Blue flag — Shown to a driver about to be lapped, telling them to let the faster leading car through.
- Black flag — Shown with a driver's number, it orders that driver to return to the pits — they are disqualified or excluded.
- Black-and-white flag — A sporting-conduct warning shown with a driver's number — effectively a yellow card for unsporting driving.
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Definition written in plain language from the current F1 sporting rules and common usage, current as of 14 August 2026. Unofficial; not affiliated with Formula 1.