Malaysian GP 2010 - Sepang

[andrew]

The rules state that a driver can make ONE change of position to defend their position. Hamilton made FIVE...

Geez, man. If you're going to exaggerate then have some balls about it. Go ahead and say he made FIFTEEN. You've really got your panties in a wad over something pretty minor.

There is no need to exagerate. It is a FACT that Hamilton changed line FIVE times which is illegal. And no one has their panties in a wad over anything apart from yourself it would seem.

It is not minor to change your line and weaved accross the track like a blitzed twit. Petrov would have had not idea where Hamilton was going and the safest thing to do was to follow the guy. Weaving is not good driving and is not the driving of a true Champion.

Interesting how Hamilton fans on this, and other sites, bend the truth and can't really take any critism of the guy but they would be baying for blood if Petrov and Hamilton were the other way round.

[manchild]

Wow, Alonso caught some of that Schuey's "stuck in 5th" fairytale virus.

"From the start things went wrong," Alonso told Spanish television. "On the formation lap my gearbox broke and I had no clutch during the race, so I had to brake in a weird way.

If he had no clutch prior to start, how did he start than? What about pitstops too?

I think this is exaggerated to justify bad performance.

BTW, it was nice to see Ferrari on smoke, almost as nice as seeing formerly retired driver retiring.

[andrew]

A red car with smoke out the back is never funny.

[autogyro]

A silly move by Hamilton, he is not driving at his usual level at the moment.

[ISLAMATRON]

Weaving is not good driving and is not the driving of a true Champion.

But yet we seen Prost, Senna, MS, Alonso, & Kimi(amongst others) do it... But it is a huge deal when LH does it(and didnt hit anyone)... hmmm what is so different about him I wonder.

[ernos5]

Weaving is not good driving and is not the driving of a true Champion.

But yet we seen Prost, Senna, MS, Alonso, & Kimi(amongst others) do it... But it is a huge deal when LH does it(and didnt hit anyone)... hmmm what is so different about him I wonder.

There is no difference really imo, whenever one of those drivers shows elaborate weaving on the track, there's always some talk about it, maybe its more pronounced when LH does it because he has a larger amount of anti-supporters.

[Poleman]

Petrov's lack of expierience caught him over there...The BOSS got him where he wanted.Petrov just bit the bait and followed Hamilton to the end.If he was smart enough he would have "outlawed" Hamilton by going straight or at least choosing a line.

[andrew]

Weaving is not good driving and is not the driving of a true Champion.

But yet we seen Prost, Senna, MS, Alonso, & Kimi(amongst others) do it... But it is a huge deal when LH does it(and didnt hit anyone)... hmmm what is so different about him I wonder.

Ye Gods, it's back again

You can't in all seriousness include Senna and Prost in a comparison of a modern driver as the rules have changed so much.

Mabye other drivers do change position but they do not drive like a drunken vicar all over the track. And when they have done, they have been penalised. Hamilton got a slap on the wrists. Hardly consistent governance.

This is not a pick on Hamilton session (even though he is a tool) but rather highlighting the inconsistency of the rules. Webber got away with something similar on Brazil but got penalised in Germany? How's that work?!

Bottom line, no one should be changing their line more than once to block another driver and when it happens, the car in front that is weaving/changing line should be penalised no matter who they are.

Enough of this for one day.

[Pup]

The rules state that a driver can make ONE change of position to defend their position. Hamilton made FIVE...

Geez, man. If you're going to exaggerate then have some balls about it. Go ahead and say he made FIFTEEN. You've really got your panties in a wad over something pretty minor.

There is no need to exagerate. It is a FACT that Hamilton changed line FIVE times which is illegal. And no one has their panties in a wad over anything apart from yourself it would seem.

Well, any idiot could see that it was 15 (FIFTEEN). If you're not going to admit at least that, then there's no point in discussing it. And I don't own any panties.

[ringo]

Lets give that cheating bastard sumbitch a penalty!! He's doing too well.

That'll teach him for spicing up the race!! Who does he feel like? contributing to Petrov's experience and confidence as an F1 driver? While at the same time doing it safely and fairly.
Insolence!!
He should be given 10 grid spot penalty for the next race! That'll stop him from fighting through the field from 20th ...for sure!
That'll keep him from overtaking and bringing much needed entertainment too. It'll give other boring drivers a chance to be not so boring, so we can talk about the little non passing things they do in the race, and spend pages bickering over what needs to be done to improve the spectacle.

[mx_tifoso]

Wow, Alonso caught some of that Schuey's "stuck in 5th" fairytale virus.

"From the start things went wrong," Alonso told Spanish television. "On the formation lap my gearbox broke and I had no clutch during the race, so I had to brake in a weird way.

If he had no clutch prior to start, how did he start than? What about pitstops too?

I think this is exaggerated to justify bad performance...

I don't he meant it in a literal way. He probably meant that he didn't have complete use of the clutch. C'mon MC, you should know better, but since it's from Ferrari you can't hold back from bashing on it.

[djos]

I rather like this bit of unbiased Journalism, it really sums it up very neatly:

What I don’t understand is how anyone could see no less than four (4) swerves to prevent Petrov from passing him as anything other than blocking and penalty worthy. Mr. Eason considers it just “fast and loose” but last weekend Fernando Alonso was accused of brake checking Hamilton when he clearly was trying to do the opposite and out braking him–that is fast and loose.

What if Kimi Raikkonen had done the same thing at Spa Francorchamps in 2008? What if he had swerved multiple times to keep Hamilton from getting a tow down the front straight preventing him from passing? I suspect Hamilton fans would be calling for Raikkonen’s head.

And what of Schumacher’s famous “chop” at the start of the race? Are Hamilton fans now unreservedly fine with that move? I recall having several discussions about it with a few Hamilton fans who thought it was base behavior and should not be allowed and that Hamilton would not have to do something like that because he was more talented than the cheat Schumacher. Well, maybe…I’m just not so sure now.

I have read the argument that the penalty fit the crime because Hamilton was swerving to keep Petrov from gaining a “tow” (benefit from the slipstream) of Hamilton’s car. That Petrov wasn’t actually passing him and therefore it was not blocking. Unless I am missing something, getting a tow and setting the car in front of you up to pass him is all part of…well, passing.

Petrov was seeking the tow in order to pass and a driver is allowed one defensive maneuver. In my mind that should include keeping the bloke on your tail off of your tow because you are being set up to be passed. I may be entirely wrong here and that wouldn’t be the first time but swerving 4 or 5 times to prevent someone from stalking you for a tow and passing you is a bit much folks. Hamilton knew Petrov had to the tow and pace and very likely chance of passing him–otherwise he wouldn’t have bothered swerving.

A drive through penalty would have sufficed, in my opinion. Also, let me be clear–Hamilton had an incredible race today and showed yet again just how talented and massive his skill is. He is a great bloke and a terrific driver so please save hate emails for a real Hamilton hater…I’m not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I am not in favor of the current trend toward a nanny state that F1 has become so while the moves were exciting from my point of view in racing, it is a rule and rules must apply to all or they are not rules. No, I am not talking about the “Red Rule” here so save the pithy quips.

I feel that swerving 4-5 times to prevent people from setting up their pass on you is blocking. Do you?

[Ray]

If Lewis wasn't worried about being passed by an inferior car and a rookie driving it, why would he weave back and forth 4-5 times? If he had no worries about Petrov setting him up for a pass from drafting off him he could have stayed straight. Catching a draft off the car in front to try and outbrake them at the next turn has been a part of racing since aero became important for cripes sake! He was trying to break the tow off the car behind him so he couldn't draft and outbrake him for a passing attempt in the first corner. Wether or not we think he deserved a penalty is not up to us, but he broke a rule. Rules must be upheld. He moved more than one time in an attempt to break a passing setup from the car behind which had already passed him back once. End of story. Accusations of racism and 'hating' are from the feeble minded who have no other defense than childish insults and sharp tongues.

I don't Hamilton deserved a penalty, this time. He deserved a warning for the future and maybe he'll think twice about it. He drove a fantastic race and wowed the crowd again just like in Melbourne. His racing today was only eclipsed by the drive from Alonso with a very very sick car. Those two are the only real racers in Formula 1. Hopefully we'll get to see them dice it out because it's rare for them to totally screw up an attempt and take another car out.

[ringo]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kGNnGAcT0[/youtube]
Leading driver acting on his own and not to the reactions of the follower.
look how harmless and sedate this is. I don't get the outrage. 3 moves, not 4 not 5, and all very slow and predictable.

Opposite:

Leading driver reacting to the actions of the follower.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnepNWQ0SpI[/youtube]
very eratic and agressive. Also in a small space so it's more dangerous.

And to be fair to ISLAM, ray you were the first one to bring up race out pf nowhere. No one mentioned it before you posted. It's a fact Hamilton is polarizing for many reasons. Maybe many envy his skill, popularity, ability to brush off problems that come his way etc.

What you said about braking, clearly 34s into the video (please take time to check it), Lewis assumed a normal line, and was in fact approached on the left by petrov in a normal fashion. Hamilton was not worried about being passed by petrov at all, and facilitated petrov's move on the outside.

Hamilton chose his line and stuck to it, way before the braking zones. No desperate move to prevent being out braked like what you said.

When you say he broke a rule, it would help if the exact wording was posted. I think it is agreed there there was no breach based on the exact wording, and the rules are not to be based on our own words.

[WhiteBlue]

To those folks still arguing that Hamiltons weaving is legal. Please read before you write such nonsense.

FLC has written it up nicely here

About Hamilton's move: the one move rule is not an agreement between drivers, it is actually written in the regulations. Appendix L to the international sporting code, Chapter IV, article 2 b states:

Overtaking, according to the circumstances, may be carried out on either the right or the left. However, manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such more than one change of direction to defend a position, deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are strictly prohibited. Any driver who appears guilty of any of the above offences will be reported to the stewards of the meeting.

Therefore, I think he clearly broke the rules.
As for Brundle's reaction, don't forget Hamilton is looking for a manager, and he is a candidate. Coulthard on the other hand isn't and he said it was wrong. As did Legard who wondered what would happen if MS sat in that car...

To say that "in this case leading car moves (out of the way in fact!! opposite of blocking) first and following car follows", is ridiculous. We can apply that to many other blocking moves if we wish.

The rule was applicable. Hamilton was reported to the stewards. The stewards warned him for his unsporting behavior (against the code). The code says nothing about abrupt or sedate or leading or following driver. It says you may not hinder other drivers and particularly by change of direction more than once. Braking a tow by weaving on a straight clearly is hindering the following driver to use his legal means to overtake. It is forbidden by the code!

Please stop this unreasonable and undignified bickering!