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F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: John S on May 12, 2012, 09:17:56 AM

Title: So Lewis was outside track limits in Bahrain Rosberg overtake
Post by: John S on May 12, 2012, 09:17:56 AM

But does it require new rule, weren't regs tightened this year?         

The stewards failure to punish somebody over the Bahrain incident seems to have focused drivers minds on off track overtaking, is Lewis really the guilty one - and if so why no penalty from stewards?  :confused: 

The article, below, from Thef1times.com shows drivers are keen to sort out just what is allowed and what punishments should apply to off track manouvres following the ambivalent ruling by the Bahrain stewards.    

A new rule could be enforced from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards following a heated debate in the driver briefing concerning Lewis Hamilton's off-track overtake.
 
The drivers met on Friday to discuss any matters on their mind, as they do every Friday before a race, but sources suggest this particular meeting was more animated than usual.

A couple of drivers raised the point that Hamilton gained an unfair advantage by going off the track, when he overtook Nico Rosberg who aggressively defended his position in Bahrain last time out.
 
Whilst the FIA's Charlie Whiting cleared Rosberg of any wrongdoing, he was pressured into making a ruling on whether or not drivers should be punished for gaining an advantage if they leave the tracks boundaries.
 
According to the BBC, Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa in particular, backed a zero-tolerance approach to any gains made off-track, but other drivers raised concerns that that would result in the smallest of gains being punished in the same manner.
 
Sebastian Vettel made the point that a 0.1 second advantage shouldn't carry the same penalty as gaining a place off-track, therefore the stewards should be able to use their knowledge and discression to make an informed decision.
 
Whiting is set to discuss the matter with the stewards on Saturday morning, before making a final decision at the end of the day - whatever he decides will then be in place for the remainder of the season.

by Ryan Wood, thef1times.com, Today.

 

Title: Re: So Lewis was outside track limits in Bahrain Rosberg overtake
Post by: Alianora La Canta on May 13, 2012, 01:08:42 AM

The Article quoted by the FIA does not correspond to the effect indicated.

Article 6.6.2 of the Technical Regulations says precisely nothing about fair means of ensuring there is enough fuel. What it does say is that there must be a litre of fuel in the car at all times for sampling and that if a test is requested in practise, the car must be driven back.

But the FIA had not asked for a sample at the time. They never do, until the car is returned to the pits. So Article 6.2.2 cannot apply.

The sooner someone retrieves that rulebook from Shanghai and returns it to Paris, the better it will be for everyone who wants F1 to be a sport and not merely a governing body's toy.

Title: Re: So Lewis was outside track limits in Bahrain Rosberg overtake
Post by: Monty on May 14, 2012, 11:40:58 AM

There has to be something wrong when rules and the interpretation of them actually confuse the situation and spoil the racing.

When I raced the rules were basically the same. The meaning of 'an advantage by going off the designated track' was obvious....don't cut the corner. Hamilton did not gain an advantage by going off the track, the route he took was no shorter or quicker. He was clearly faster and would have overtaken easily. He went off track because Rosberg pushed him there.
'A driver must not crowd another driver' also obvious, if the guy behind is much faster than you, don't try pushing him off the track to stop him passing. It is all common sense.
This weekend's fuel rule is more difficult to attack because I guess it is intended to stop loads of cars doing a quick quali lap and then stopping on the track, but I still thought the punishment was too harsh for the crime.
Hamilton was fastest all weekend. Surely it would have been more reasonable to push him back to 10th?

Title: Re: So Lewis was outside track limits in Bahrain Rosberg overtake
Post by: John S on May 14, 2012, 04:05:46 PM

Quote from: monty on May 14, 2012, 11:40:58 AM

This weekend's fuel rule is more difficult to attack because I guess it is intended to stop loads of cars doing a quick quali lap and then stopping on the track, but I still thought the punishment was too harsh for the crime.
Hamilton was fastest all weekend. Surely it would have been more reasonable to push him back to 10th?

Or just declare that timed run void, in which case he would have taken up 7th from his previous timed lap in Q3.  ::) :crazy: