Re: The issue with Vettel and Hamilton in the pitlane: 1) The pit release: If you take into account what the lollypop guy has to take into consideration in a split second, namely, checking that all of the pit crew have finished their jobs and are clear of the car followed by checking if it is safe to release the car, then I don't think there is a case to answer. The moment he looks at the Red Bull, Vettel is only just being released and is not yet in the pitlane road. So he then releases Hamilton at almost the same time as Vettel, but Hamilton gets too much wheelspin whilst trying to get away, slowing himself down. Meanwhile, Vettel has had a good getaway and is already alongside Hamilton. Had Hamilton got away cleaner, then the incident would not have occured. IMO: Dangerous release?: Not in My book, Racing incident. 2) The pitlane exit: As already mentioned, Hamilton has got too much wheelspin in his getaway and Vettel is now along side him in the pitlane road. At this point Hamilton decides to continue driving down "no mans land" along side Vettel, who is now the best part of half car length ahead, determined to make up for his tardy getaway and not lose out. Vettel then decides to give Hamilton a hint that the position is lost by squeezing towards hamiltons car. Hamilton eventually runs out of space and has to tuck in behind Vettel. IMO: Once Vettel was so far ahead, Hamilton should have pulled in behind him and followed him out instead of driving down "no mans land". There was no way Hamilton could have come out ahead by that stage with both on the limiters. As for Vettel, he should have just continued straight down the pitlane road instead of squeezing Hamilton and risking a collision. Morally, he was already in the right as far as I see it. Conclussion IMO: Vettel: An official reprimand for the squeeze. Hamilton: A 5 place grid penalty at his next event. The reason for the discrepancy in punishments is because Hamilton's "offence" IMO, was far more dangerous due to the length of time he drove down "no mans land" instead of giving way to a vehicle already in the Pitlane exit road. ( I'm sure the usual suspects will be a long shortly to accuse Me of being biased against Hamilton though, as per..., but I'd have the same conclussion regardless of driver).
stewards just being "nice" for this time even alot of questionable driving in this race from a few drivers once is lucky second time not be so
So is that the end of it or is there more to come from the officials? Personally, if this is the end of it, then that's a good thing for the sport - and a job well done by the stewards. The drivers will sort this out amongst themselves and it won't happen again (just as they did in the aftermath of Lewis' weaving in Malaysia).
Sorry stewards but you can't have it both ways. Either it was an infraction (and being in the pits a very dangerous one) and needs to be punished or there was no infraction. Next time someone pulls this stunt and injures (or worse) someone working the pits the Chinese stewards will have it on their heads.
This was the second time for Hamilton, he already got a warning for the Petrov incident. I still think he deserves a penalty for the pit lane exit, maybe also for the pit lane entry (then Alonso as well).
Clear rules would help. I think the judgement is fair, and resolved quickly and thats better than what we had under Mosley. 100 mil fine and stripped of all points would have been the norm... A good race IMO and most of the drivers pushing it to the limits and that is great to see in book, interference from the board room table kept to a minimum please.
Hamilton should have been black flagged on the spot. Had they touched tires in the pit late, Hami would have made salami out of the distal half of the pitlane crews. The pitlane is no place for a game of chicken. The Stewards screwed this one badly.
And so then should Vettel he was easing Ham nearer to them, give it up mate, its called racing if it's to dangerous for you don't watch it.
Fine if that's your position. Just curious, should pitlane speed limits be done away with? You are correct that it takes two to play chicken, But Hami was in the yield position.
this isn't called racing anymore, it's constantly testing the boundaries of what is allowed and what isn't. Alonso, Hamilton, always the same culprits. They never learn because they think they can get away with it. sometimes it works when the stewards are cowards like today.
No pits limits are there for safety. As I said its racing and they are still racing in the pit lane. Yes and no, enough interference in the Mosley years, Todt knows this, seems to me some folk want it all, overtaking is difficult and one of the main problems in the sport, yes your probably right LH FA and Vettel, all aggressive drivers and most talked about thats why they are a cut above the rest. The stewards are not cowards and they are not Mosley puppets either like we have had, you want show fixing keep calling for penalties, IMO let them race, when its a black and white infraction by all means penalize em.
Ferrari must not allow the same set of decisions for both drivers during chaotic situations like today. Both drivers came in at the same time during 2 pit stops. Can't they just leave one driver out there for another few laps to decide later whether the pit was a right call. This is where Mclaren made the right decision in leaving Button racing while LH came in for the first pits. They made the same decision in Australia and Button won there as well. Ferrari must learn to hedge their decisions by allowing 2 different decisions for both drivers during chaotic and unpredictable situation/ weather. Look at the qualifying mistake they made during the Malaysian GP. They should have at least let our one Ferrari drivers for the qualifying during Q3. Apart from the first race, they have been making silly decisions and they better buck up otherwise it will get more difficult to catch up during the later stages...
Its the new approach, I'm sure if it goes on the hammer will come down, could it be Todt is leaving the decision making to folk that know what there doing maybe..
I will be consistant with my views Dave honest.. I'm a fair man. I also like all the drivers, its blinkered fans I have a problem with..
Sorry if it's already been mentioned, but MS's car looked totally crap, didn't it? or is he getting desperate and over-driving? either way, not good.....but I'm curious to find out why.
agreed and the deal with button was plainly overlooked too - perhaps it's time for the driver's to speak up - forget the former F1 stewards they seem to be a bunch of pansies - they just seem to say won't do it again then they find something different to do - interesting reading all the different website forums and the comments on this
Understood. I just object to the stewards having it both ways. No doubt that Lewis has the passion I love in a driver but sometimes the red mist takes over and unchecked it may become dangerous. Day 5 sent
I think Alonso and Button also fall in the category of making dangerous moves. The stewards probably realized that had they penalized Vettel and Hamilton, then they also needed to get Button and Alonso. That would have COMPLETELY destroyed this race's results.
