2014 Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps

[Shrieker]

So, what would you guys now think if the double points thingy wins Hamilton the title ?

[Jano11]

Not a Mercedes fan of either side, but I think the pictures of the point ROS hit HAM are a bit misleading. Take a look at where he was going into that corner:

http://oi61.tinypic.com/nwmzcp.jpg

The rules have a definition about being alongside, which is:

For the avoidance of doubt, if any part of the front wing of the car attempting to pass is alongside the rear wheel of the car in front this will be deemed to be a 'significant portion'.

So I think both could have avoided this accident. ROS by braking when he realized HAM wasn't going to let him stay there, and HAM by not closing the door this hard on a car that is alongside him at a higher speed.

But I really don't mind if they keep doing this. Would make the last races of the championship much more exciting to watch if Ricciardo manages to close the points-gap.

Thanks for bringing some reasoning and official guidelines/rules into this storm.

[Jano11]

So, what would you guys now think if the double points thingy wins Hamilton the title ?

Why would one think now about something that might happen in 3 months time?
Let's take it step by step.

[dans79]

wtf, I just saw the post race paddock interview, and Nico is doing himself no favors by making the booing about nationality.

[RicerDude]

It was a simple move which ended in contact so someone must have done something wrong

[SilverArrow10]

Did Nico just insult British fans there??

[Jano11]

Not a Mercedes fan of either side, but I think the pictures of the point ROS hit HAM are a bit misleading. Take a look at where he was going into that corner:

http://oi61.tinypic.com/nwmzcp.jpg

The rules have a definition about being alongside, which is:

For the avoidance of doubt, if any part of the front wing of the car attempting to pass is alongside the rear wheel of the car in front this will be deemed to be a 'significant portion'.

So I think both could have avoided this accident. ROS by braking when he realized HAM wasn't going to let him stay there, and HAM by not closing the door this hard on a car that is alongside him at a higher speed.

But I really don't mind if they keep doing this. Would make the last races of the championship much more exciting to watch if Ricciardo manages to close the points-gap.

Please watch Anthony Davidson doing a review of the incident and he clearly showed that Lewis was right on the racing line and to get to overtake through a corner, the chasing car has to be alongside and not keeping the tip of front wing to the rear wheel.

Maybe Davidson should read the above posted FIA bit of regulation?
Or maybe we should abide the rules instead of quoting those who are biased the same way we are?

[Edax]

Man, I just watched the YouTube interviews.

Lewis is unhappy but calm and saying all the right things to ingratiate himself.

Laura is visibly annoyed, verging on pissed off.

Wolff is ragingly pissed off. You can see in the interview where he actually catches himself and tries to calm himself down so he doesn't say something he will regret.

Surprising isn't it? I' mean although I'would be gutted if I were Hamilton, and I would not be sure if I would be capable of delivering such a balanced response as he just did.

And I do think it is 100% Nico's fault. The gap wasn't there, it never was, so no need to linger outside of the corner.

But at the same time it's racing. And this is what you get when you have two guys going for it. That should not surprise Mercedes.

And I do recognise we're spending an hour watching slomo's to asses whether a descision a driver made was a correct one; yet we expect the drivers to make the correct descision every time with less than half a second decision time.

That's why I'm surprised by the veneer, quickness, and absoluteness, in the Mercedes team response. I'm wondering whether we have got the whole story here. Looks to me like this was the straw that broke the camels back, but there is more going on in the background.

[dans79]

Did Nico just insult British fans there??

If you believe the only people that booed where British, then Yes.

[cossie]

Watched the incident a few times, Hamilton is as much to blame as Nico. Nico held his line, Hamilton shoot to the outside to slam the door and misjudged it.

[Shrieker]

If Hamilton wins 5 races and Rosberg just 2 with both finishing in second whenever they don't win, Rosberg will clinch the title by 1 point despite Hamilton winning the double points final race.

So that leaves Hamilton with only 1 chance to finish behind Nico out of the 7 races left.

That's a substantial advantage.

[dans79]

That's why I'm surprised by the veneer, quickness, and absoluteness, in the Mercedes team response. I'm wondering whether we have got the whole story here. Looks to me like this was the straw that broke the camels back, but there is more going on in the background.

Totto mentioned something about over revs. I wonder if Nico turned the wick all the way up to maximum and that's how he closed so much ground on Lewis in the first place.

[ChrisM40]

Watched the incident a few times, Hamilton is as much to blame as Nico. Nico held his line, Hamilton shoot to the outside to slam the door and misjudged it.

Wrong, Davidson on Sky F1 proved Hamilton stayed on the racing line the entire time.

[Jano11]

As said before he was alongside Hamilton who just cut over the front wing of his team mate.

This is a lie.

Did you read the rules and how being alongside is defined?
No? I didn't expect it either given your angry and not reasoned posts.
Now show me why stating the truth is a lie, or keep it for yourself next time. calling others liars needs proof or otherwise I might just ask my lawyer to send you a nice letter, he's getting his paycheck every month, might as well do some work for it.

[Waywardism]

The stewards thought different, and I bet they know better.

you might also want to remember that not so long ago the FIA stewards were asked to be more lenient in racing incidents, due to fans complaining. You can't have it both ways, it's as simple as that.

=D>