Hamilton investigated for tyre rule breach By Jonathan Noble Friday, October 19th 2007, 15:56 GMT World championship leader Lewis Hamilton is one of three drivers under investigation by the race stewards at the Brazilian Grand Prix for breaching the wet weather tyre rules. McLaren's Hamilton, Honda's Jenson Button, and Super Aguri's Takuma Sato were deemed to have used two sets of wet weather tyres during the first free practice session at Interlagos, in breach of the Sporting Regulations. Article 25.3 of the F1 Sporting Regulations states: "No driver may use more than one set of wet and one set of extreme weather tyres during P1 and P2." The matter was brought to the race stewards' attention by FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer, and it is not clear at this stage whether or not the drivers involved will face any sanction. The stewards will likely look into the matter after the conclusion of today's second free practice session.
What a stupid rule. The only logical explanation I can see for this is that the wet weather tires are in short supply. Otherwise the rule makes no sense. But like you say ... let the games begin
Who knows? The FIA does not have a prescribed punishment for this infraction. Unbelievable! What's the point?
Maybe it's a stupid rule but the fact is that these three drivers gained more knowledge about the different kind of tires than the rest so they have an unfair advantage. If they indeed did breach the rules they should be punished for the starting grid and not just fined.
no, no.....the tires go on the car, but just beacause the car had an unfair advantage doesn't mean the driver did.....plus its a team mistake, no need to punish the drive. Isn't that how it works?
I thought the driver was part of the team?? And if the car had an unfair advantage, the driver did also!!
INTERLAGOS, Brazil -- Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest time of the day in practice for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix -- but his McLaren team were fined $15,000 by race stewards after using two sets of wet-weather tyres, which is in breach of F1 regulations that state only one is permitted. Hamilton and a McLaren representative discussed the matter with stewards, and the penalty was applied after the team admitted the tyres error. Honda's Jenson Button and Super Aguri's Takuma Sato were also in the dock with the stewards for the same infringement. Meanwhile, Hamilton, who will win the title on Sunday if he finishes at least second, can take heart from his first outing on this circuit. Leaden skies and light rain had dominated the first session, but on a drying track in the afternoon, he was quickest with a lap of one minute 12.76 seconds. Team-mate and title rival Fernando Alonso, who completed only an installation lap in the morning run, was second fastest, just 0.12 seconds behind the Briton he trails by four points in the standings. Then came the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, who had been quickest in the wet in the initial 90-minute period. Both drivers were just over 0.3 seconds behind Hamilton, followed by Giancarlo Fisichella in his Renault, the BMW Sauber of Robert Kubica and the Williams duo of Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima. It was a fine performance from the 22-year-old Japanese driver on his race debut following the retirement of Alex Wurz after the race in China.
So let me ask: Does this mean McLaren has two sets of scrubbed wet tires? That sounds like an advantage to me.
...well, they confiscated the tyres...so...lets race and cut through all this BS... KIMMI is the WDC 2007 no matter what happens sunday...
What's the use of such stupid fines? 15k? I'm sure McLaren got a laugh from this... Why make rules when the enforcement is a joke? I'm sure they'd get the message better if LH was dropped even 1place on the grid for sunday.
They should have to start from the back of the grid. This is worse than Ferrari's socalled infingement 2 races back when they were not told in time that they could not go out on intermediates. The rule broken today is very clear and is a writen rule with no flexibility. Ferrari had to come in and change tires which put them at the back. Why is this infringement any different? This is only more proof that this is Hamilton's race to win. The WWF1 continues...
Woah there. That was in the race. This was just a practice session. Back of the grid would be too harsh. I'd say 5places max and confiscate the second rubbed in set. Then again the consequences for Ferrari were far too severe IMO.
