Formula 1 2020 (Will Contain Race Day Spoilers)

[GeeJayW]

Am I alone in thinking the fault lies with the driver? Isn't it his (ludicrously well paid) job to know the rules?

I think the drivers are paid to drive the car. Yes they should know the rules, but they can't know all of them. To be honest, I don't think anyone knows all of the rules.

I agree with @grober on this; the stewards were at fault for allowing something they consider dangerous enough to penalise the driver with a race time penalty and points on his license, to happen a second time. Plus, why did it take them so long to make the decision? The stewards also seemed to take ages to decide on the safety car deployment. It was a no brainer once Stroll went off. Poor from them this weekend. It's a poor match when everyone is talking about the referee!

Overall a scruffy weekend from Hamilton. Bottas was steady and got a well deserved race win. Max held onto an inevitable third. Sergio again drove under the radar to deliver a strong result, while his team-mate got himself into the wrong position ending in contact from Le Clerc.

The ridiculous polystyrene bollards on Turn 2... WTF? Max baled early on Lap 1 and straight lined them. Carlos ran wide, tried to make the bollard and there was no way that could end any different from hitting the wall.

Will be interesting to see what happens in Nurbrgring.

 

[Nat]

There is no consistency with the rules and hasn't been for some time. One driver will get penalised while another won't. I'm sure I saw Grosjean go through and not around the polystyrene arrows board today. Unsure if he got a penalty?

Here's the Race Directors note :-

https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/doc_6_-_2020_russian_grand_prix_-_race_directors_event_notes_version_2_1.pdf

I think it's badly explained and could at least be written by a grown up.

 

[GeeJayW]

There is no consistency with the rules and hasn't been for some time. One driver will get penalised while another won't. I'm sure I saw Grosjean go through and not around the polystyrene arrows board today. Unsure if he got a penalty?

Here's the Race Directors note :-

https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/doc_6_-_2020_russian_grand_prix_-_race_directors_event_notes_version_2_1.pdf

I think it's badly explained and could at least be written by a grown up.

I think they decided Grosjean was OK as he at least tried to make the bollard. I still think that Sainz demonstrated how nonsensical the bollard layout was if you missed the apex, there wasn't much chance of making the polystyrene chicane.

 

[bob6600]

The 'chicane' should have been designed so that cars HAVE to go around it like in Monza and there should not be a chance the drive can straight line it like Max did.

 

[GeeJayW]

The 'chicane' should have been designed so that cars HAVE to go around it like in Monza and there should not be a chance the drive can straight line it like Max did.

It should also be designed such that its possible for someone making the error Sainz made, can still get through. Thing is, if the cars don't have the grip to turn on the track, what chance do they have on the run off area? It all very Michael Mouse if ya ask me.

 

[Neiltodd]

I think the drivers are paid to drive the car. Yes they should know the rules, but they can't know all of them. To be honest, I don't think anyone knows all of the rules.

I agree with @grober on this; the stewards were at fault for allowing something they consider dangerous enough to penalise the driver with a race time penalty and points on his license, to happen a second time. Plus, why did it take them so long to make the decision? The stewards also seemed to take ages to decide on the safety car deployment. It was a no brainer once Stroll went off. Poor from them this weekend. It's a poor match when everyone is talking about the referee!

Overall a scruffy weekend from Hamilton. Bottas was steady and got a well deserved race win. Max held onto an inevitable third. Sergio again drove under the radar to deliver a strong result, while his team-mate got himself into the wrong position ending in contact from Le Clerc.

The ridiculous polystyrene bollards on Turn 2... WTF? Max baled early on Lap 1 and straight lined them. Carlos ran wide, tried to make the bollard and there was no way that could end any different from hitting the wall.

Will be interesting to see what happens in Nurbrgring.

Max got 2nd not 3rd

 

[Deleted member 113659]

It should also be designed such that its possible for someone making the error Sainz made, can still get through. Thing is, if the cars don't have the grip to turn on the track, what chance do they have on the run off area? It all very Michael Mouse if ya ask me.

I get your point but CS crashed because he didn’t want to ease off and lose time. Cost him dearly.

 

[Nat]

I heard that they have rescinded the penalty points but on another note. Has any driver been given an in-race penalty for an infraction before the start of a race before?

 

[bob6600]

Yes the points have been removed. I was surprised the stewards allowed Lewis to take both penalties together as they are normally allowed to only serve one penalty at a time.

 

[GeeJayW]

I get your point but CS crashed because he didn’t want to ease off and lose time. Cost him dearly.

Not sure I agree. It looked to me like the car did not have enough lock to negotiate the chicane given the angle from the point it crossed the sausage kerb. Would like to see an aerial view if possible.

 

[190]

Yet another race spoilt by the stewards - in my opinion. When the rules are not clear as in exactly where they are allowed to do a practice start, then they should have the common sense not to spoil the race. No wonder Hamilton was pi$$ed.

 

[Mactech]

I have mentioned before the increasing height of the F1 rule book. With every new situation there seems to be another regulation that we all should be familiar with. The drivers really do not stand a chance of keeping up with the regulations, but race engineers really should.
Bono confirmed to Lewis that it was ok, when it was actually a very unique pit lane exit and the regulations were slightly ambiguous in that context.
I was happy during the Gp C era to that control of races with the back up of the team manager on the more political regulations, but I really do not envy the role of the current F1 Race Engineer who has to make an instant call prior to consultation with strategists, performance engineers, team managers and team principles.....

 

[Deleted member 149005]

As Hamilton asked and was given the ok by his team, should only the team be penalised?

 

[190]

What should have happened is that race control should have realised the rule was going to be difficult to interpret for that particular track because of the way the exit from the pit lane curved and issued a clarification to the teams and drivers or painted a line after which practice starts were not permitted. It seems to often that the F1 establishment are permitted to be less than perfect but the teams and drivers are not. Do they really think the public want to see race outcomes decided by the application of petty rules where the transgression harmed or endangered no one. I want to watch a race not a lottery. The fact that post race discussions are to often focused on the rule book, just demonstrates that a race in the true sense didn't take place.

The F1 establishment should be forced to watch other racing formulas who still have a grip on the concept that the definition of a sporting race is when the faster driver wins.

 

[Chrishazle]

IMHO the race result was decided by the stewards, as without the 10 second penalty I suspect LH would have won. The 2 penalty points were rescinded and the team fined as it was thier mistake, so why was the 10 second penalty not rescinded - but that decision would have had to be made well before LH pitted for his tyre change for it to be fair.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Not sure I agree. It looked to me like the car did not have enough lock to negotiate the chicane given the angle from the point it crossed the sausage kerb. Would like to see an aerial view if possible.

Did Max not take the same route (Successfully) on lap 1?

 

[Deleted member 149005]

It makes the season a bit more exciting...

just saying....

 

[GeeJayW]

Did Max not take the same route (Successfully) on lap 1?

Max baled much earlier, almost on the entry to the corner and could straight line it. Carlos went off at the apex and effectively had to turn left and then right to make the bollard. Couldn't get the speed off or get the the right angle.

 

[GeeJayW]

As Hamilton asked and was given the ok by his team, should only the team be penalised?

I think the team should have lost constructor's points, which they kind of did anyway.

 

[GeeJayW]

What should have happened is that race control should have realised the rule was going to be difficult to interpret for that particular track because of the way the exit from the pit lane curved and issued a clarification to the teams and drivers or painted a line after which practice starts were not permitted. It seems to often that the F1 establishment are permitted to be less than perfect but the teams and drivers are not. Do they really think the public want to see race outcomes decided by the application of petty rules where the transgression harmed or endangered no one. I want to watch a race not a lottery. The fact that post race discussions are to often focused on the rule book, just demonstrates that a race in the true sense didn't take place.

The F1 establishment should be forced to watch other racing formulas who still have a grip on the concept that the definition of a sporting race is when the faster driver wins.

Looking at the track layout, where Hamilton did the practice starts was IMHO actually a safer location than the 'official' location just after the last pit garage. Much more room and not launching a car towards a wall.