There are FAR too many people thinking that Webber got a grid penalty because he got a lift. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Webber got a reprimand (official warning) for (allegedly*) ignoring the stewards request not to rejoin the track on foot. It's his 3rd reprimand of the season which automatically leads to a 10p grid penalty. Alonso also got reprimanded for parking like an idiot. The FIA has even said they had no problem with it if he parked off the racing line and if Webber got permission to reaccess the track. *Webber has said on his twitter that there was no interaction with the marshals after the fire had been put out. If that's the case, IMO his reprimand should be revoked.
Not being funny Bas, but the amount of fuss and threads this has caused, has made me think that F1 and the racing must be in a pretty sorry state.
I enjoyed this race, there where slumps (before the SC really, only after that it got really enjoyable). There have been so many people getting it completely wrong, not just on here, but even F1 media. I made this thread so that at least people on here finally get why the reprimands where given and not whinge about Webber getting a penalty for a lift (both statements wrong...lol). I'm sure there'll be a video lurking about somewhere.
If you want to skin a cat, there will be a way to do it. The question is whether the cat should be skinned. I think this is a disgrace. FA's actions are a show of camaraderie and are good for the sport. The rest of this isn't. CW
No one is arguing the camaraderie, even the FIA didn't (although they did now say it's a little dangerous, but Webber and Alonso weren't officially warned about it). Alonso parked like a bellend, on the racing line. All drivers always get told during the drivers briefing to exactly not do that. His reprimand is fair, and no issue if he doesn't get to 3.
Much ado about nothing. We expect these guys to dodge another car on the start when they accelerate to 160+mph. But let a guy stop after the race, while cars are leisurely going 50 MPH and we make a big deal out of it. F-1 is ceasing to be fun anymore.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBByzQBCSXE[/ame] Take a carbon fibre front wing to the shin at 50 MPH unnecessarily because you were too impatient to wait for a track bike to take you back to the pits then you'll understand why it's a big deal. Webber almost did. He was lucky. I have no problem with "the lift", I just think in this case it was unnecessary and done at a stupid place, at the wrong time.
You want to argue the technicality, which is what the FIA is enforcing. My point is, rather, that even though it may be technically a violation, is this really something worth enforcing at all? This is making a mountain out of a molehill, and leaves everyone walking away shaking their heads. Where has the SPORT gone? Athletes are competitors. Often vicious competitors. It's reassuring when they show something other than aggression towards their competition. I'm not saying to make a practice of it. I am just saying that it seems inappropriate and unnecessary to penalize people for kind gestures. And, this was on the COOL DOWN lap. Are we to believe that a couple of F1 drivers couldn't find their way around a parked car at cool down speeds? Come on... MW may feel it's not a no-issue violation. CW
Anyone who has raced, or knows more than a little about racing, knows that stopping in the middle of the track, and walking onto the track, even on the cool-down lap, is something that is simply not done. Rules are rules, and all the hand-wringing by those who see this as "OMG what has F1 come to with this penalty" is very much misplaced.
At first, i thought it was a silly move to punish webber. But then i saw the video and changed my mind. Alonso was silly to park in a blind spot as well.
Things like this should be allowed if it's safe but that's me. But what can we say, even defending position on track is subjected to rules show how stupid things are. Safety is important but too much is silly.
Revoked? He's the oldest driver on the grid. He should know better. You just CANNOT walk on the freaking track just because the marshals didn't warn him against that. I'm always for a bit of leeway with some rules, but in that instance, Webber was utterly stupid. And anyone denying that after watching the video is on the same boat . And Alonso too. We all wished Webber didn't have 2 reprimands already, so no grid penalty for anybody. But that's nobody's fault but Webber's. Sometimes you have to save people from themselves .
Happens in motorcycle racing all the time. But most motorcycle racers are not arrogant, holier than thou self important pricks like F1 pilots.
Here you go. Happened on the same weekend. I say again, drivers let their guard down and aren't paying much attention on the road after the race is finished. They're waving to the fans etc [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGi7H9rSVHI]GP2 Singapore Race Two | Fabio Leimer and Alexander Rossi Weird crash - YouTube[/ame] Exactly. Completely different situation.
To me and any clear thinking human being the lift back to the pits by an opposing or same team mate has always been a sign of goodwill between the drivers and hopefully this stupid penalty is used for future reference to eradicate stupid FIA BS from the sport. I know all about technical penalties and this is just BS from the FIA and I wonder who they will have a go at when Webber is gone as it seems he is the bad guy in all this and all Alonso did was stop in a blind corner to pick up a mate when flagged down. I think this act by FA was great for the sport and all the penalty has done is highlight the FIA's ineptitude in levying out the rules. Here's a rule : NO hitching a ride on the track, before during or after the race Takes away a great promotion of the sport in my book and just shows MW should have taken the offer from Ferrari if he wanted a Ferrari
I'd say that letting your car roll towards an active track is just as dangerous as Webber/Alonso, even though the exact circumstances were different. Just wondering if he also got a reprimand for causing an unsafe situation, since both drivers left the track with flaming cars to start with.
well yes, but it was beyond his control. He parked the car, got out, and only later it started to roll down. He parked it very far in the grass. Alonso was in full control.
