really great read Motor. its funny when Seal posted that news of hamilton might be stripped. i automactialy knew who was whining. that is pretty sad when you know the only team that whines wiht out even reading the news till later.

I think this season will be my last . Been watching F1 since 1985 (10years of age) with my dad. ONly missed about 6 races during those 23years. but moving here to the states, all the live races are early in the mornning. and since i like to watch it live (not dvr it) i dotn mind waking up at 600 in the morning. but next season, ill enjoy the sleep in on sunday morning

for the past 23 years of watching f1, ferrari is the only team that pretty much gets it way, no matter what

 

Lewis Hamilton got cheated on this past race. Giving him a 25 second penalty for trying to avoid an accident with Raikkenen at the Bus Stop chicane is ridiculous. what do you guys think?

 

They gave him the penalty because of the way he let raikkonen pass him (not enough and gaining an advantage over him on the inside) not because he cut the bus stop

 

I thought that it was an interesting race, it's just sad that the politics overshadow what was some great RACING in the end.

 

now what if this was reversed? do you think Kimmi would of had his win stripped from him? i would say 99% the answer would be no , but then again taht IMO.

for years ppl have been saying how ferrari is favored by FIA. I mean they make it so obvious to. just like motormor article that he found.

of judgments favouring Ferrari are now too numerous to be dismissed. Most recently, why was a fine against the team the only punishment for Massa's dangerous exit from the pits during the grand prix in Valencia, allowing him to keep his victory, when Bruno Senna, doing exactly the same thing in the GP2 race at Spa, was given a drive-through penalty that cost him a win?

what else is funny is that, even Ralph Schumacher feels it was stupid of FIA doing this, and said that FIA favors Ferrari.. i wonder what Michael schumacher feels about it. we know he wont say anything, because he is part of Ferrari.

 

yep, i went from wanting ot head back to bed as soon as the race ended, to Jumping from the couch with excitement. oh well, i hope hamilton wins this year so that ferrari can cry some more (not the drivers, i like masa and kimi)

 

I felt exactly the same. I nearly wanted to run outside screaming and jumping with excitement! It was THAT impressive, and I have never felt that way watching F1 lol.

 

lmao. yah my other half said WTF its 8 in the morning, i am trying to sleep here lol.

 

I agree with you, i just stated that to clarify why he was given the penalty.
Maybe FIA favors ferrari, maybe not. All we can say is that lately f1 races have become pretty more interesting than in the last years thank to lewis and felipe.

 

oh sorry, my bad. some times i read post incorrectly. sorry about that /bow

amen on your last statement

 

FIA official: Italy loves me, the UK hates me
10 September 2008

FIA official Surinder Thathi, one of the three race stewards at the Belgian Grand Prix who was responsible for Hamilton's penalty, has told local press in his home country Kenya the Italians love him, but people from the United Kingdom really hate him. "The British Press hates me but I can walk into any Italian restaurant - Italians love me," Kenyan motorsports official Surinder Thathi told the media.

Thathi said in Nairobi that there was no conspiracy against the McLaren team. "There was no conspiracy against anybody, McLaren included. We acted professionally and within the FIA rules. Hamilton took a short cut inside of the corner while off the track," he told Reuters.

He furthermore explained that Hamilton had to receive some kind of penalty for cutting the chicane. He explained: "We called Hamilton and Raikkonen, looked at the footage and agreed that the offence was punishable. The regulations say that there has to be a drive-through penalty.

"We had a choice to mete out a time penalty or 10 grid places in the next Grand Prix race. We opted for the former and handed a time penalty of 25 seconds. I know I am a very unpopular person in the United Kingdom now, but then I was doing my job and I know I acted professionally."

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/...e-uk-hates-me/

 

great find. i guess ill just have to set aside my opinion, since hamilton agreed to waht ever FIA conjured up. like hamilton i would take the 3rd place and not get the 10 grid start. any how, off to the next race we watch

 

Can I just say that Hamilton AND Raikkonnen should both get bonus points for avoiding Rossberg and each other at Stavelot...sheesh that was close.

The FIA really need to think about how vague regulations and bad officiating affects the show and for that matter saftey. To me the stewards are basically saying it's prefferable for the drivers to make contact while defending a postion as oppsed to using an area desinged for safe run-off <?>.

IMO decisions like these may result in fresh debate for the racing bulletin board faithful, but how many new or marginal fans will tire of F1's BS and tune into MotoGP, IRL or Cup for closer racing at a much more reasonable hour.

 

This isn't NASCAR. The rules are clear. It is the responsibility of the overtaking driver to make a clean and safe pass. The rules also prohibit cutting a chicane. Hamilton violated both. Raikkonnen held his line through the corner. Hamilton attempted a pass at a point, where it wasn't possible, and had to bail out to avoid contact. Next he shortcutted the chicane and came out ahead of Raikkonnen on the track. If he had not passed Raikkonnen then he most likely have avoided the penalty. As we saw, he was clearly faster and had opportunity later to make a clean pass.
Everybody is saying the Ferrari went crying to the officials and got the penelty. I don't think it was the case. It was the last 2 laps of the race and the TV cameras were focused on the leaders. It was easy for the officials to see what happened and they had instant replay to watch it in slow motion if they wished.

 

Its a border line, granted, but Raikkonen did pass Hamilton after the chikane again only to loose first place due to sucky braking. Lets face it, the McLaren was way better in the wets on dry tires and thats why Hamilton passed Raikkonen again with such ease at the end of the straight. Not because he gained an advantage through the chikane.

Even race control verified twice that they figured the pass was OK.
See the appeal:
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...09171019.shtml

 

After seeing this, Rolex series and ALMS are getting top priority on my DVR. I am so tired of stupid ruling and lack of rulings that just serve to muddy the waters on what is allowed and not allowed. That whole fuel thing from Brazil last year, this penalty..I wish they would just let them race, but as we have recently seen in Valencia, even them just racing can be processional to the extreme.

 

A few relevant news articles, I found, on the subject at hand:

Symonds: Spa ruling bad for racing
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.a...43899&PO=43899

Italian GP: Thursday Press Conference (the press is asking other drivers about the penalty)
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=35922

Penalty shows new FIA system works - Alonso
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...11103321.shtml

 

The rule in question says that drivers must remain on the racing circuit at all all times. How many times did Kimi go off trying to get back around Lewis? How many others in that midpack fracas used the run-offs as well? How many penalties were issued?

I don't recall seeing anyting mentioned about Lewis making an unsafe pass per the regs. Both passes were the result of Kimi braking too early. Lewis was ahead at the 1st apex of the bus stop. Ive seen comments suggesting that Lewis should have braked right at the 2nd apex to let Kimi back by. Rubbish, why would he jump on the brakes IN THE WET there offline and risk a certian spin when there's an escape area right there to coast the car across.

If outbraking someone into a corner is now considered an unsafe move in F1 then MotoGP is looking even better to me.

 

actually hamilton period is a better driver in wets, compare to Massa (massa is bad during wets), and Kimi. watching him in GP2 driving on wet conditions
was awesome times. hehe but yep i agree with you 100%.

 

How about qualifying today! Now that was exciting!! I predict that, barring any accidents, neither Raikonnen nor Hamilton will make the top 6.

 

Quali was pretty awesome, I was really happy to see Rosberg back up where Williams should be.

 

Hopefully Vettel's "promotion" to Red Bull Renault doesn't put him in a slower car next season.

 

This SHOULD be an easy win for Heikki, but we'll see. We know the STRs are running light and that Rosberg's set up is compromised for rain (although Williams seems to have a good low downforce package anyway). The weather will certainly make this an interesting race tomorrow.

 

I agree, I hope that the race is semi-wet, that way we might actually see some racing.

 

I expect Kimmi and Lewis to do some interesting things at the beginning of the race. This will be good. Their fate in regards the championship may be set in the outcome of this race (DNF, terribly low placement or amazing podium comeback). The race will be awesome.

Seal.