Naaaah.

I know many people will disagree with me, but how many times must hamilton push cars, cut corners, go too fast in the pit lane...before he realises it's not his track?


Back on topic, i think that conspiracy is ludicrous.
McLaren had 2 awful moves at the old bus stop section, one involving Kovalainen spinning out Webber because the gap was not there. Webber had every right to turn in for the corner in which HE had the line for, only to end up losing a few points.

EDIT: Hamilton receives 25 second penalty. Win awarded to Massa with Heidfeld in 2nd, Hamilton dropped to third.



Edited at 11:53 Mon 8/09/08 (BST)

Typical reaction from you Dave. This is formula one, the greatest racing show on Earth where people are meant to fight! He didn't cut the corner on purpose, he done it cause he had no choice but to do so. Had the shoe been on the other foot you'd ber screaming like a Ferrari engine, and you know you would.

I don't know what races you watch, Dave. But Hamilton is no worse than any of the other top drivers. He pushes just as much as the rest. Get over your hate man!!!!

I'll petition F1 if they let this decision stand - dispicable.

Nah, believe it or not i'm not what you'd call a "hardcore" Ferrari fan.

And i haven't seen anyone else crash into another car in the pit lane.



But in all fairness, if Hamilton wasn't given a penalty, i reckon the season would have been over, as Hamilton has been a lot more consistant (yes, positive post!) this season.
In my opinion anyway.


EDIT: John, you'll like this. Its the new rule in F1.

If there is a red car on the track, it gets the right of way.

*jokes*
I wouldn't worry mate, Hamilton has it.

Edited at 20:30 Mon 8/09/08 (BST)

Any good racing driver will treat the track as his own turf.

And to the topic:

He cut no corner he wasn't forced to - AND he lifted to let Kimi past him on the next straight, as you are required to in that scenario. There are maybe as much as 10 such incidents in virtually every single race without drivers being penalized for it so if there were to be a conspiracy it most certainly would not be in hamilton or mclaren's favour.

NO CAR speeds in the pit lane without punishment - none. The speed traps there are permanent and absolute - one mph too fast there and you take a drive through, no other way around it. So if you don't see Hamilton (or any other driver) taking penalities for pitlane speeding, it is because they aren't.


What I could agree on Hamilton being punished for in this incident was the multiple lane choices on the straight after turn 3 on the last lap. That was a good bit over the line and would warrant a fine at least, but ironically enough that incident is not even under investigation. While the 100% clean one resulted in a harsh penalty... great.

If you care to view the scenario through unbiased eyes for once, you'd notice Kimi leaving him no room at all. It's debatable whether or not he had to in that scenario, but in either case it makes it perfectly ok for Hamilton to choose to go off rather than allowing the cars to hit - his only other option.

He is however required to not gain positions on such a cut corner - which is why he lifted and let kimi back. Kimi was doing 6 km/h more across the finish line as a result - there is plenty hard, technicaly proof of this.

Try to be a bit less biased for once and try to analyse incidents in terms of rules, not the drivers involved. I pity Kimi too, and I also agree that Hamilton can be extremely cocky and arrogant at times - but none of my feelings for the involved drivers has anything to do with the situation analysis. The same should go for you.

the rule isnt clear
normally in the situation the driver wouldnt re-pass on the next corner so the advantage gained is clearly lost
it seems if the stewards think he gained unfair advantage it stands much like in football if the ref gets a decision wrong it stands

Just the way it is sometimes.

Except that in F1, fortunately, and contrary to football, the rulings are subject to appeal and is quite often changed in retrospect.

Hamilton deserved a penalty, although possible of a different magnitude, but what bugs me about it is he got it for a completely clean incident while his real crime wasn't even under discussion at all. Technical incompetence to say the least.

Well............. you don't deserve to win Championships trying to pull silly stunts like that!

I thought the commentary team done a good job today of showing the injustice of last week, giving a varied opinion, Ultimately I think (believe it or not) a Scots man got it right! (And I don't mean the bias one posting on this forum)

Interesting qualifying session today to say the least!

Although todays results were greatly affected by weather, I can't help gaining respect for Vettel none the less. He has done steadily better and better for quite a few races now, despite driving a mediocre car at best.

SUPER MINARDIIIIIIIIIIIII.................

Who would of thought it!? Well done to Vettel, super drive.

Shame Hamilton didn't keep his speed, shame the rain didn't come, but ne mind, damage limitation sorted.


Roll on Singapore!!!!

So the weather wasn't to bad there today ?

race today was awesome wouldnt you agree =p
Kovalainen looks so sad at 2nd lol.
cant wait till singapore.

I missed it today i would of loved to see it.

Errr...there was a race today?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!

And again, i'm only expressing my opinion no need to take it to heart.

Edited at 17:05 Sun 14/09/08 (BST)

Echo that!

Great performance by Vettel - not all that surprising to be honest, but very very welcome!

And what a race by hamilton too, could have been another podium for sure if it didn't keep drying through the end of the race.

As for the weather... well, saturday qualification was very special in terms of a lot of top drivers not making it through Q2 because of heavy rain.

Today's race started behind safety car because of heavy rain and very limited visibility, but started drying up a good deal from about halfway through and all through to the end of the race. All cars started on heavy rain tires- compulsory - and most finished on intermediates.

Hamilton went for a one stop which would easily seen him on the podium, but the stop was a few laps too early for him to make the right call for tires, forcing him back in an extra time to get intermediates on.

Edited at 18:05 Sun 14/09/08 (BST)

Amazing for Vettel. It's very rare to see a car out of the top three (this season being Ferrari, McLaren and BMW) winning a GP.

Vettel looks like a driver for the future, but where do Toro Rosso go from here? Improved a lot recently, with Vettel and Bourdais driving very well at the moment. Very unlucky for Bourdais today, worst time in his career so far to stall at the start.

Anyway, well done Vettel and Toro Rosso. A well deserved win.

Great one by Vettel - he is definitely a good driver, no other way about it.

As for Toro Rosso - I don't know the line-up there for next year... Vettel is going to drive a Red-bull, probably with Webber as team mate (to the extent he can be called a team player at all lol)


A small update on the Hamilton case from Spa btw... FIA has posted a rule change regarding cutting corners like in that scenario, requiring drivers not only to let opponents back in front, but also to refrain from attacking until they are at least past the next turn.

This rule ammendment obviously does not have retroactive effect and as such has no relevance for the Hamilton appeal, but it does definitely show why they reacted and what the case is all about. I have no doubts what so ever that the appeal will be acknowledged tho - according to the current rules at the time of the race, Hamilton did every single bit required of him by the rules in that situation.

Makes sense to change that rule. In Spa, Hamilton didn't give Kimi much chance with the lead, which he was entitled to, but caused a lot of problems for the stewards. Makes it fairer now.

Great work by Toro Rosso and Sebastian Vettel.

Poor race from everyone else really. Ferrari weren't on it yet again.
At least Massa has closed the gap right into 1 point.

Last few weeks should be fun!