I learnt something in Portimao which really surprised me. When enquiring about track limits and how many violations it would take to result in the black and white flag being shown and then a penalty to be awarded, the topic of black flags and disqualification came up.

Pop quiz... how many situations do you think exist, under which the black flag would or could be shown to an F1 driver under the rules as they exist today?

The answer is none.

Zero.

There isn't a single thing a driver can do to be shown a black flag and disqualified, on the spot, from a Grand Prix.

It falls down to the fact that, in this day and age, an F1 driver has to be given an opportunity to present their side of the story and to defend themselves. This can only happen after the fact. They'd have to conclude the race, be called to the stewards, and THEN disqualified.

So the black flag, while it exists as a physical entity, according to the rules no longer exists.

It's been that way for a few years.

Yep. Surprised me, too.