Formula 1 2020 (Will Contain Race Day Spoilers)

[Nat]

Reference a couple of replies above. I don't think LH could have won yesterday in absence of the 10 second penalty as the disadvantage came on Q2 when he done his time with softs. 2nd would have been an even better result but wasn't to be. When the stewards rescinded the penalty were they saying they made a mistake or by fining the team, saying we made a mistake with the driver but not on the team as either way those 10 seconds were never going to come back to him. You've either broke the rules or you haven't. It seems so wishy washy in an attempt to make the races more spectator appealing that they've tripped over their own feet. After all, you can never be half pregnant.

I'm quite impressed how Max has matured this year with his interviews. Could do with some better point scoring positions for Norris.

 

[Stratman]

The stewards didn't accept Wolff's interpretation of the rules, in which the only reference to practice starts are:-

19) Practice starts
19.1 Practice starts may only be carried out on the right-hand side after the pit exit lights and, for the avoidance of doubt, this includes any time the pit exit is open for the race. Drivers must leave adequate room on their left for another driver to pass.
19.2 For reasons of safety and sporting equity, cars may not stop in the fast lane at any time the pit exit is open without a justifiable reason (a practice start is not considered a justifiable reason).

Wolff maintained Hamilton did his starts 'on the right-hand side after the pit exit lights' in accordance with the rules, as the same rules don't specify a zone where they may be carried out. The way the rule is written, anywhere on the track could be interpreted as 'after the pit exit lights'. The stewards disagreed.

 

[190]

Who would be a steward. Hamilton won't get his race back but I'd like to see this go to appeal and if successful have the stewards reprimanded for making a bad judgement. Where there is reason to doubt a rule has been transgressed then they should give the benefit of the doubt instead of spoiling the race or if it wasn't wilful, god forbid they think they were artificially adding interest to the race.

Truth is I find it impossible to believe that there aren't a least some individuals in the F1 that resent some of Hamiltons BLM protests. Frankly I don't like some of them myself. I think he would be well advised to take his protests away from a race weekend, otherwise every time there is a decision in the balance there is an increased risk it will go against him. He clearly thinks this is the case himself, even if he later retracted his comments.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

the way the penalty was applied does have a whiff of fixing the result...

I don’t understand why it wasn’t either a stop / go (separate from a pit stop) or just time added

 

[bob6600]

I don't think they can just add time. The only cases where this can happen is if the driver does not stop again. If the stewards gave the penalty after Lewis' pit stop, then it would have been added.

Being an infringement before the race started, a grid place penalty would have been more appropriate

 

[GeeJayW]

I don't think they can just add time. The only cases where this can happen is if the driver does not stop again. If the stewards gave the penalty after Lewis' pit stop, then it would have been added.

Being an infringement before the race started, a grid place penalty would have been more appropriate

I said exactly that to the missus as we were watching it. We were expecting a five place penalty per infringement. Seemed to take them ages to decide anything over the weekend. P!ss poor from the stewards IMHO.

 

[Larkone]

I said exactly that to the missus as we were watching it. We were expecting a five place penalty per infringement.

They will probably do that next time as they seem to make up the interpretations of the rules as they go. What happened to letting racing drivers race?

 

[GeeJayW]

They will probably do that next time as they seem to make up the interpretations of the rules as they go. What happened to letting racing drivers race?

What they should do is actually think about where the best place to do practice starts is and then specify the location clearly in the Race Directors notes.

Where Hamilton did his practice starts was a safer and better location than the one implied in the notes

 

[bob6600]

The rule for practice starts is designed to keep drivers safe. I agree. It is designed with two scenarios in mind.

1. Cars leaving the pit lane who do not wish to do a practice start are not impeded.
2. Cars who are on a lap are not impeded. This is also why cars leaving the pit lane must keep inside the white line when joining the track.

Scenario 2 doesn't exist at the start of a race because cars are either in the pits or on the grid. They cannot drive down towards the pit exit.
Scenario 1 clearly had enough space to pass Hamilton as he was overtaken whilst waiting for a gap to practice his start.

So, apart from enforcing 'director's notes' which were unclear, what was dangerous? What about when Max undertook a car to avoid (well get ahead) of the car who pulled out dangerously infront of him in the pitlane?

 

[tbourner]

Who would be a steward. Hamilton won't get his race back but I'd like to see this go to appeal and if successful have the stewards reprimanded for making a bad judgement. Where there is reason to doubt a rule has been transgressed then they should give the benefit of the doubt instead of spoiling the race or if it wasn't wilful, god forbid they think they were artificially adding interest to the race.

Truth is I find it impossible to believe that there aren't a least some individuals in the F1 that resent some of Hamiltons BLM protests. Frankly I don't like some of them myself. I think he would be well advised to take his protests away from a race weekend, otherwise every time there is a decision in the balance there is an increased risk it will go against him. He clearly thinks this is the case himself, even if he later retracted his comments.

Isn't that exactly what he's protesting about though? Regardless whether it's because if his colour, his talent, his obnoxiousness, or anything else, they are discriminating against him in dishing out penalties. There is no way they acted intentionally to gain an advantage, that was clear throughout, and even if they did they can't possibly gain a 10 second benefit at the start by doing practice starts. If it was considered dangerous then they need to look at the numerous other incidents over the weekend which were way worse.
Whatever we all think of him personally, he is being discriminated against.

 

[GeeJayW]

Isn't that exactly what he's protesting about though? Regardless whether it's because if his colour, his talent, his obnoxiousness, or anything else, they are discriminating against him in dishing out penalties. There is no way they acted intentionally to gain an advantage, that was clear throughout, and even if they did they can't possibly gain a 10 second benefit at the start by doing practice starts. If it was considered dangerous then they need to look at the numerous other incidents over the weekend which were way worse.
Whatever we all think of him personally, he is being discriminated against.

It's like the stewards are making it up as they go along...

 

[Mactech]

It's like the stewards are making it up as they go along...

Maybe it's just a way of trying to make it a more level playing field, like....for instance.....removing Marc Marquez from the Moto Gp grid....
What is it now? Six different winners in the last seven races?

 

[GeeJayW]

Maybe it's just a way of trying to make it a more level playing field, like....for instance.....removing Marc Marquez from the Moto Gp grid....

Thought he was injured?

 

[Mactech]

Thought he was injured?

Indeed he is, which is why he is 'removed' Mind you that doesn't stop men like Cal Crutchlow!

 

[Chrishazle]

Initially it did not stop Mark Marquez, he tried to come back in the next race and ended up back in surgery for another serious operation as the meccano fix failed! MotoGP is not the same without him, especially when a pratt takes Dovi out! Equally Cal is not the competitor he normally is, obviously still impeded by his wrist/arm pump injury.

 

[AMGeed]

^ Cal was riding with a sprained ankle as well on Sunday. Turned it in the morning.
He is a tough lad and finishing 10 was remarkable.

I'm enjoying the season without MM despite his obvious superiority.
Nobody has a clue who will win when he is missing. The top 5 have never been closer.

 

[Mactech]

MotoGP is not the same without him, especially when a pratt takes Dovi out! Equally Cal is not the competitor he normally is, obviously still impeded by his wrist/arm pump injury.

I think you'll find that there are very few 'Pratts' in MotoGP!
The root cause of Dovi being taken out was his team mate clipping the back of another rider in front, then Zarco having to touch the front brake to try and avoid, and scooping up Dovi as he went down. Dovi should not have been way back in the mid pack on the first LH turn on the first lap. How many others were caught out by the cold LH side of the front tyre in turn 2? It included a bloke called Rossi, whilst 2nd in the race. Not normally regarded as a 'Pratt'.
The stewards agreed it was a racing incident.

 

[Nat]

Mick Schumacher one of three Ferrari academy drivers to make F1 race weekend debuts

Mick Schumacher is one of three Ferrari academy drivers who will be given Formula 1 race weekend debuts in forthcoming races.

www.bbc.co.uk

Mick Schumacher will drive an Alfa at the Eifel GP. He was originally going to drive a Ferrari but they wanted to see how he would do in something quicker than his current F2 car.

Meanwhile, I don't think LH and Mika Salo will be going for a beer anytime soon.

Mika Salo says Lewis Hamilton is 'full of s**t' | PlanetF1

Mika Salo says Lewis Hamilton's claims that the stewards are out to "stop" him are "full of s**t".

www.planetf1.com

 

[190]

For a steward to use that language then I think it confirms there is a degree of prejudice. If the stewards are all as professional and impartial as they are claimed to be then they wouldn't use a phrase like "full of S**t" in a public communication.

There is a big difference between what a driver might say in the heat of the moment and what a steward should say after considered refection.

 

[Nat]

I did read somewhere on Sunday that Salo had published to the Finnish press what the outcome of the LH investigation on his smart phone was before the F1 lot were told. Either way if if he did or didn't. It's not very professional and he should be locked out of any further roles of this nature purely for his comments alone.