Schumacher questions Vettel penalty

[John S]

If Schumi reckons Vettel is in the clear he must be, after all Schumi knows more than a thing or two about dodgy manoevers to prevent overtaking.  

Michael Schumacher in Australia questioned the stewards' decision to penalise his countryman Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel, driving for Red Bull, apologised to his team and BMW's Robert Kubica for the crash near the end of the 2009 season opener.

The 21-year-old was also quoted by media as calling himself "an idiot", and it is believed he was equally as frank during the stewards' inquiry.

However, not everyone agreed that Vettel was entirely to blame, as he tried to defend his second place to the charging Kubica.

"He (Vettel) was on the inside - he couldn't make his car dissolve into thin air," Ferrari advisor and seven time world champion Schumacher said at Albert Park, according to Germany's Bild newspaper. 
 
1982 world champion Keke Rosberg remarked that Vettel may have been penalised because he is an overly "honest chap".

Stewards ruled that he caused the crash and ordered Vettel to start ten places lower than his qualifying position in Malaysia this weekend.

"I think it's hard but we just have to accept it," Sebastian said.

Source GMM
© CAPSIS International

[Steven Roy]

I am not going to give Schumacher any credence since he has a whole litany of original interpretations of incidents.  However for me the incident was simply a racing incident and not worth a penalty.

[SennaMan]

I am not going to give Schumacher any credence since he has a whole litany of original interpretations of incidents.  However for me the incident was simply a racing incident and not worth a penalty.

hear, hear! SV had the inside line and RK crowded him - they will be more sensible next time

[johnbull]

I am not going to give Schumacher any credence since he has a whole litany of original interpretations of incidents.  However for me the incident was simply a racing incident and not worth a penalty.

I second all of that.

[lkjohnson1950]

Absolutely. Bernie says he wants to see the drivers race hard for the win, but as soon as someone actually puts it on the line they squash him.

Lonny

[SennaMan]

Absolutely. Bernie says he wants to see the drivers race hard for the win, but as soon as someone actually puts it on the line they squash him.

Lonny

exactly Lonny - both guys are talented "racers" which F1 really needs - they will have wiser heads next time.

[Ian]

None will be as great as Schumacher. M

[johnbull]

Doesn't the title of this thread remind you of pots and kettles !!!

[lkjohnson1950]

Indeed. I have little respect for MS. After all he won most of his races in the best car(just like Hill). James Dell Clark was the best.

Lonny

[johnbull]

Indeed. I have little respect for MS. After all he won most of his races in the best car(just like Hill). James Dell Clark was the best.

Lonny

I'm a great Jimmy fan too. Best there ever was.

Back to Shumi, I don't know what he's doing on the Ferrari pit wall, but I hope it's nothing to do with working out their strategies.

Ferrari's strategies went out with Ross Brawn.

[Scott]

Ferrari's strategies went out with Ross Brawn.

Hehe, that's been pretty obvious.  Another magical strategy pulled from his hat.  Way to go Ross, you make the rest of them look pretty stupid (although tomorrow the Swiss will be saying Sauber mastered the strategy in KL).  Although I felt sorry for Kimi, but it got a chuckle when he radio'd in and said his tires were destroyed a few laps after they put intermediates on him, when the rain actually started - Ferrari are just flailing around ever since Ross left.