F1 GP Spa: Your predictions

[MWISimmer]

I've finally lost patience with the FIA over this one.. and F1 is no longer a sport to me. Lewis let Kimi re-take the lead after the chicane incident and clearly did not gain an advantage.

I'm off down the bookies to have a few quid on Ferrari winning both titles this year.

Up yours Mosley and Ecclestone, you've sullied the "sport" I love and I REALLY hope McLaren appeal the decision and are successful.

What a load of bollocks.

Signed,
Angry from South London  >:(  >:(  >:(

[C]

lewis given 25 second penalty 3rd in race

P.S. Should Charlie be allowed to keep his 30? I think he did a good job to get it bang on. Ferrari fan or not even I think its a BS penalty.

Thanks. My inspired edit to Heidfeld from Alonso at 1158 BST yesterday!

As for the penalty, as David Croft said, the Belgian stewards have been a complete joke. Just watched the replay, and no way did that need any penalty.

A) he was forced to take the line by Kimi

B) as protocol dictates, he surrendered the place back.

C) it's then made utterly irrelevant by Kimi sticking it in the wall.

If the stewards hadn't made so many other daft decisions, I'd almost think they were favouring someone. I think that's fairer than to suggest they may have been discriminating against someone in particular, for any potential reason.

[C]

PS, lets hope they appeal.

[Craig.]

While risking my neck I shall try to explain how the FIA have seen it.

Firstly there is history with this sort of incident. Alonso at Suzuka a few years back took a place at the chicane, gave the position back and immediatly passed the guy on the track, a few laps later he was forced to back off a fair amount to give the position back again because it was deemed he had not allowed the other driver to firmly set himself back in the position.
Now this situation (remember I think this is a BS call and yes Mclaren have appealed, not that they have much luck in the courts, but this could be a few weeks till we know)
In Kimi's case, he had every right to use all the track he needed, on slicks in rapidly worsing conditions that was bound to be more than normal. Lewis was not ahead as he claims, he was alongside therefore he was in a position where he should have backed off to make the corner, hardheadedness in both cases, but Kimi had the racing line and thus it was Lewis' position to yield.
Next, Lewis took a straight line shortcut down the straight with much better traction, Kimi had to go the long way round and was unable to get the power down at all and Lewis gave him the postion back at this point, so Lewis with better traction did not lose out at all and infact gained regardless of him being behind Kimi, he gained track position regardless and an advantage by going off the track. I think once proper onboards are released for it, it'll be shown.
That is most likely how the FIA will have seen it, along with the telemetry they have access to that we dont.
Again, in the long run it's BS and I hope in the end it doesn't go down as a title decider. Much like Lewis didn't want the title last year on an erronious fuel temp, I'm sure Massa doesn't want to win the title on what was a hard but in general fair racing incident?

[cspyro21]

I missed the race but saw what happened; yes, Hamilton did cut the corner, but he slowed down to let Raikonnen through again, and once Raikonnen had gone through Hamilton started racing again, and, perfectly legitimately, overtook Raikonnen! He did as racing drivers SHOULD when they over-run the track and pass somebody; he let the driver he passed overtake, then perfectly legally overtook Raikonnen.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari were bribing the FIA in this instance -  Ferarri winning this "spying allegation" business last year and now the FIA picking up on EVERY little chance they can get to shoot McLaren down...almost like Ferarri have been slipping the FIA something to make themselves look almighty and powerful.

Very angry as well, it's a SPORT, not the be-all and end-all is it? The politics in it really need revising, or the FIA needs to sack everyone and start again. Ruddy awful, truly is >:(

[MWISimmer]

That's a fair point Craig, and you're right in what you summise.. BUT if the positions were reversed (Kimi short cutting the chicane) I honestly couldn't envisage the same result.. call me a cynic, but I really now believe there's a witch-hunt/vendetta against McLaren/Lewis.

Nothing to do with skin colour of course...  ::)  :-X

[Craig.]

You know what,
While I wont argue that the fia are picking on Mclaren
Ferrari had bugger all to do with this. I'm getting sick of the team getting blamed and especially getting accused of bribery, you dont like the result fine, no one does. But make no mistake the FIA wanna favour ferrari thats their choice, the team have no one in it now who are considered close with anyone in the FIA, let alone in a position to bribe.  


[quote]I missed the race but saw what happened; yes, Hamilton did cut the corner, but he slowed down to let Raikonnen through again, and once Raikonnen had gone through Hamilton started racing again, and, perfectly legitimately, overtook Raikonnen! He did as racing drivers SHOULD when they over-run the track and pass somebody; he let the driver he passed overtake, then perfectly legally overtook Raikonnen.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari were bribing the FIA in this instance -

[eno]

Craig ...... I don't think we need to get into the whole spy BS again. However even you have to admit that it looks like there's some sort of favouritism toward Ferrari and that given all the circumstances of the last couple of races it is becoming more and move evident.
I'm not saying that it's Ferrari's fault but I would go so far as to speculate about certain peoples motives and alleged "Nazi" leanings.

[Craig.]

Craig ...... I don't think we need to get into the whole spy BS again. However even you have to admit that it looks like there's some sort of favouritism toward Ferrari and that given all the circumstances of the last couple of races it is becoming more and move evident.
I'm not saying that it's Ferrari's fault but I would go so far as to speculate about certain peoples motives and alleged "Nazi" leanings.

Like I said, I wont argue they are picking on Mclaren.
But I am just getting tired of people suggesting such as Spyro (not a personal attack) and various others that Ferrari are the ones going to the FIA and complaining. Today for instance Ferrari didn't even speak to FIA till they were summoned. They wern't going to complain and were quite happy to come out of the race with 8 points.
I dont like the FIA or their dictator leader and I certainly dont want his grubby dealings to be involved should Massa win the title.

The other problem here is the fact the FIA appoints an independant team of officials to each race. These ones seem to be 25 second penalty happy, look at the GP2 races as well, several exclusions and penalties.
Charlie Whiting was removed from his position as the lone guy handing down penalties because people cried that he wasn't being fair to teams.
End of the day without a major shake up in the FIA it'll always be the same.

As a side note, Mclaren have lodged their appeal, but there may not be an option to appeal depending on the rulebook.

[TigerAl]

Sorry ... putting my 2 cents worth in again ... I think some people are getting on very dangerous ground here.

[MWISimmer]

[quote]Sorry ... putting my 2 cents worth in again ... I think some people are getting on very dangerous ground here.

[TigerAl]

Agreed! ...... something funny is definitely going on

[C]

[quote][quote]Sorry ... putting my 2 cents worth in again ... I think some people are getting on very dangerous ground here.

[Craig.]

just like to say if you want good racing tune into the IRL race.
Thats providing some seriously exciting stuff. 3 wide for 5 laps.
And the one Brit I do support in Wheldon, is doing well.

[The Ruptured Duck]

Craig ...... I don't think we need to get into the whole spy BS again. However even you have to admit that it looks like there's some sort of favouritism toward Ferrari and that given all the circumstances of the last couple of races it is becoming more and move evident.
I'm not saying that it's Ferrari's fault but I would go so far as to speculate about certain peoples motives and alleged "Nazi" leanings.

Like I said, I wont argue they are picking on Mclaren.
But I am just getting tired of people suggesting such as Spyro (not a personal attack) and various others that Ferrari are the ones going to the FIA and complaining. Today for instance Ferrari didn't even speak to FIA till they were summoned. They wern't going to complain and were quite happy to come out of the race with 8 points.
I dont like the FIA or their dictator leader and I certainly dont want his grubby dealings to be involved should Massa win the title.

The other problem here is the fact the FIA appoints an independant team of officials to each race. These ones seem to be 25 second penalty happy, look at the GP2 races as well, several exclusions and penalties.
Charlie Whiting was removed from his position as the lone guy handing down penalties because people cried that he wasn't being fair to teams.
End of the day without a major shake up in the FIA it'll always be the same.

As a side note, Mclaren have lodged their appeal, but there may not be an option to appeal depending on the rulebook.

Boo hoo?