F1 Race

[neilb]

I'm amazed by the minority of people that believe that Hamilton achieved any sort of advantage by cutting the chicane   He was up alongside the Ferrari on the way in and eventually fully behind the Fezza on the exit, doing 6km/h less.  Unless the laws of physics have mysteriously changed, he couldn't possibly have gained an advantage.

the advantage came at the end of the race when he extended his lead on the drivers championship to 8 points        

[Buzz Billsberry]

I'm amazed by the minority of people that believe that Hamilton achieved any sort of advantage by cutting the chicane   He was up alongside the Ferrari on the way in and eventually fully behind the Fezza on the exit, doing 6km/h less.  Unless the laws of physics have mysteriously changed, he couldn't possibly have gained an advantage.

the advantage came at the end of the race when he extended his lead on the drivers championship to 8 points        

   

Buzz

[pistonbroke]

Pretty obvious to me Ron dennis for some reason neglected to pay this months mafFIA subscription  

[thos]

The Weekend Racing Died ...

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080908114903.shtml

Lauda called it ""This is the worst judgment in the history of F1," he slammed. "The most perverted judgment I have ever seen.

"It's absolutely unacceptable when three functionaries (the stewards) influence the championship like this," Lauda added.

[FW500]

Nevermind, now there's just 2 points in it - so all the Damon Hill / Coulthard and McLaren fans that winged like mad during the Schumacher years get what they asked for - a season that'll come down to the last race... You chaps made this monster now you've got to live with it.

[Buzz Billsberry]

The Weekend Racing Died ...

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080908114903.shtml

Lauda called it ""This is the worst judgment in the history of F1," he slammed. "The most perverted judgment I have ever seen.

"It's absolutely unacceptable when three functionaries (the stewards) influence the championship like this," Lauda added.

or here

Buzz

[Jumpy07]

From Planet F1 http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4116127,00.html

The stewards who imposed a retrospective 25-second penalty against Lewis Hamilton two hours after he finished the Belgian GP in first place have been identified as Nicholas Deschaux, Surinder Thatthi and Yves Bacquelaine.

Of the three, Deschaux is arguably the most well known figure, albeit despite apparently having no experience of being a racing driver. The 37-year-old has spent his professional career in administration, and was appointed the President of the French Motorsport Federation last year after previously holding the position of legal director, executive vice president, and then general secretary within the body. It was Deschaux who announced earlier this year that the French GP had been given a reprieve and would remain at Magny-Cours for at least another year.

Thatthi is the chairman of the Confederation of African Countries in Motorsports who has only previously leapt to prominence when it was revealed that he had expressed formal concern about the long hair and scruffy look of four-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb in May.

In an email to Morrie Chandler, the president of the World Rally Championship, that was leaked to Reuters, Thatthi complained: "I watched the WRC Mexico highlights last night and I have to voice my opinion on the poor appearance of Sebastien Loeb on WRC-TV".

"He was unshaven, scruffy looking and with unkempt hair! It is wrong....when the FIA gives him global TV coverage to millions of viewers and to many children worldwide he is a hero and role model.

"I know there is a level of personal freedom one is allowed but I feel he is taking this too far and someone should talk to him or his team about this."

Bacquelaine, meanwhile, is the chairman of 'Societe de Promotion du circuit de Spa-Francorchamps' - a position that apparently confers on him the position of race steward.

[Buzz Billsberry]

Well that seems to clear this mess up then! Sounds like we have wealth of race experience in the  FIA.

Buzz

[Carl]

QUOTE

I'm amazed by the minority of people that believe that Hamilton achieved any sort of advantage by cutting the chicane    He was up alongside the Ferrari on the way in and eventually fully behind the Fezza on the exit, doing 6km/h less.  Unless the laws of physics have mysteriously changed, he couldn't possibly have gained an advantage.

He gained an advantage as if he'd have backed off half way throught the move (instead of cutting the 2nd part) and had to tuck in behind Kimi he'd have likely been 100yrds behind Kimi over the Start/finsh and not able to challenge for the overtake at the 1st corner.

[FW500]

The Weekend Racing Died ...

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080908114903.shtml

IMO 'F1 proper' died when Senna died.

Too much health & safety, too much interferance from 3rd Parties.

They ruined qualifying - watching a 12 lap fight for pole was like watching a mini race. Who cares if they all came out in the last 15 minutes - that made it MORE exciting IMO.

They ruined the development - all this making engines last 2 races etc is just b*****ks. An engine should blow up 1 metre after the finish line every race. If a team can't afford new engines every race then they should find another formula they can afford to compete within.

They ruined the points system - As already said it's barely worth the extra risk in going for the win sometimes - how is that helping to promote overtaking?

They ruined bad weather races - It used to be a highlight watching drivers race in bad weather, now as soon as it starts to drizzle the safety car comes out - it's not surprising modern F1 drivers have lost the art of driving in the rain when they're never allowed to.

They ruined passing backmarkers - I used to love a front-runner trying to pass Uko Katayama or Idiot Irvine in the old days. It was an extra challenge, a mobile chicane, now they just abandon their own race for 17th to let the front runner through.

They ruined racing - the death of Senna scared the s**t out the FIA and since then all these regulations to prevent swerving (only 2 defensive swerves allowed), contact, etc have just taken the edge off of the sport.

If they had just left everything alone, Schumacher would have probably won another couple of championships, there would have been a few seasons that weren't quite so close, but afterwards everything would have gone back to how it was during the Mansell, Prost and Senna years.

It's frustrating because it's a fairly unique concept to motorsport. Football fans don't have to worry about the FA introducing a third goalmouth or something stupid like that just because Manchester United are  dominating football and the PGA won't suddenly decide to make Tiger Woods use the same golfball for 2 consecutive tournaments to liven things up a bit.

Whatever, this is how the sport is now and it's not going to change back.

[cast iron]

Well as an Observer we have to stick to facts, ultimately at the end of the chicane no advantage was gained, and that would be how I would have reported it.

FIA want stringing up

The best way to oust them at the top would be if the marshals boycotted an event, but there are too many glory hunters who will always shoew up unfortunately

[combatsapph]

QUOTE

if he'd have backed off half way throught the move

Why the hell should he back off?  This is F1, not some baby sitting exercise for stockbrokers to have a track day in their Elise's!

[Carl]

QUOTE

Why the hell should he back off?  This is F1, not some baby sitting exercise for stockbrokers to have a track day in their Elise's!

Because he was behind and it was Kimi's corner.

[flyingjohn]

Should Lewis don a uniform and tie himself up instead of driving poss the race of his life so far he may get the blessing of the FIA            

[iiyama]

Been watching this with interest as its always interesting to get other peoples views! Also want to add that Ive never done any racing and I have not studied the rule book, however........

My understanding of the rules is that if you cut a corner and gain an advantage, ie overtake another car or cars, then you have to give the place or places back.

There is no mistaking that Hamilton was showed the outside of the track by Raikannen. Its racing at what is supposed to be the highest level aand I think the move by the Fezza was hard but fair. Due to this Hamilton took to the escape road and rejoined the track in front of Raikannen by about 1/2 a car length and then due to his infringement of the rules dropped back behind the Ferrari. The onboard footage clearly shows that he was staring up the Ferrari's chuff. He wasnt looking at the rear 3/4, or the side of it or indeed looking back at it using mirrors. He was behind it.

In my view therfore he had abided by the rules and done everything asked of him by the team and the rule book.

I know a big Tiffossi fan and even he reckons that Mclaren have been hard done by, even to the extent of swearing! I have never heard this man swear in my life!!!!!