2017 United States Grand Prix - COTA, 20-22 October

[NathanOlder]

I think the problem is simple: the stewards have been very lenient with the track limits throughout the weekend and with that have set a precedent. So the inconcistency was only the one decision at the end...

Exactly.

Yes they are inconsistent. Everyone knows that and its BS as you say
But they have been very consistent on the topic of people cutting corners to overtake. Because every time its happened, the guy has been punished.

[Edax]

LOL..... FIA website is down.

[TwanV]

Fully agree. As an F1 fan you can only object to this descision and give max the credit he deserves. Just look at Raikkonen his body language. Credit to him he knows that he was beaten fair and square and shouldn’t be on that podium.

It's no different to just driving straight through a chicane and then declaring how awesome an overtake it was.

I’d say it is different. 2 years ago Max had a great overtake in Blanchimont. I count it as one of the great overtakes ever. I frequent that track and in 40 years I have not seen anyone do anything like that. Yet officially it would not count as an overtake as he left the track with all fours.

Similarly look at Trulli in Grand Hotel. One of the best moves. Pity he damaged his suspension. Or mansell in suzuka.

Anyone can cut a chicane. Riding the curb at the limit of of grip at a point where going off line is not faster, takes supreme confidence in the car as well as your own skill. That is what defines a racer, and should not be penalized.

This. Very bad PR

[Steven]

Jos Verstappen not really being the smart guy...
[media]https://twitter.com/MaVic009/status/922204970937708544[/media]

Anyway, just for the record:
[media]https://twitter.com/LukeZerbi/status/922206075591516161[/media]

[NathanOlder]

Jos Verstappen not really being the smart guy...
https://twitter.com/MaVic009/status/922204970937708544

Anyway, just for the record:
https://twitter.com/LukeZerbi/status/922206075591516161

Jos and Horner have a bad case of sour grapes and let their mouths/fingers run without thinking.

[GrandAxe]

Mika Salo saying that Whiting made the call..

...And Max just said an idiot who's got his number made the call. Oops!

[Restomaniac]

I think the problem is simple: the stewards have been very lenient with the track limits throughout the weekend and with that have set a precedent. So the inconcistency was only the one decision at the end...

Exactly.

Yes they are inconsistent. Everyone knows that and its BS as you say
But they have been very consistent on the topic of people cutting corners to overtake. Because every time its happened, the guy has been punished.

But that's the problem. On corner A it's fine yet on corner B it's a penalty. It's BS as you agree.
We either punish track limits or we don't. That's the crux of the problem.
It's far to loose to personal opinion and that leads to bias slipping in. I'm not saying it is here but we need to be black and white on rules instead of the selective rubbish we have now.

[ringo]

I don't see why there is a discussion about this:

Cut the track 3 times in the same place you get a penalty.
Cut the track while overtaking to gain an advantage, you must give back the place or get a penalty.

I don't see where the stewards are inconsistent here. We are mixing up the situations and barking up the wrong tree.

From what i see they have been very consistent throughout the week.

Drivers cut a corner while circulating, and everyone has been doing this.

driver who cuts corner to overtake or to maintain position must give it back or get a penalty. simple.

[Shrieker]

Why would they enforce track limits during free practice?

Because it's an official session ? If it was private testing, then it would be a different matter..

If you exceed track limits in qualifying they can remove your time.

If you exceed track limits in the race they can penalise you (give back place, +5 seconds, drive through, or whatever).

What are they going to do in free practice? Also, nothing counts in free practice, so what's the point of enforcing anything anyway?

I would imagine this is discussed in the driver's briefing, so they all know what's allowable.

Wouldn't practice times take precedent if the qualy was abandoned because of force majeure ? I can't recall the last time this happened, but if it's in the rules ( I think it is) then it means it should be policed and regulated.

[NathanOlder]

Exactly.

Yes they are inconsistent. Everyone knows that and its BS as you say
But they have been very consistent on the topic of people cutting corners to overtake. Because every time its happened, the guy has been punished.

But that's the problem. On corner A it's fine yet on corner B it's a penalty. It's BS as you agree.
We either punish track limits or we don't. That's the crux of the problem.
It's far to loose to personal opinion and that leads to bias slipping in. I'm not saying it is here but we need to be black and white on rules instead of the selective rubbish we have now.

Im fully in support of track limits being respected as i feel Vettel and Verstappen pushthe limits more than the rest.

You still have to see though, only 1 man cut a corner to pass someone. So only 1 man needes punishing

[Phil]

I think the problem is simple: the stewards have been very lenient with the track limits throughout the weekend and with that have set a precedent. So the inconcistency was only the one decision at the end...

Exactly.

Yes they are inconsistent. Everyone knows that and its BS as you say
But they have been very consistent on the topic of people cutting corners to overtake. Because every time its happened, the guy has been punished.

Ricciardo / Bottas? They were showing it post race numerous times. One time Bottas was off but came back and stuck along side and once the other way around.

[ringo]

Exactly.

Yes they are inconsistent. Everyone knows that and its BS as you say
But they have been very consistent on the topic of people cutting corners to overtake. Because every time its happened, the guy has been punished.

But that's the problem. On corner A it's fine yet on corner B it's a penalty. It's BS as you agree.
We either punish track limits or we don't. That's the crux of the problem.
It's far to loose to personal opinion and that leads to bias slipping in. I'm not saying it is here but we need to be black and white on rules instead of the selective rubbish we have now.

Track limits isn't the main issue. it's gaining an advantage over a competitor. If Max was following kimi and they both cut the corner, the fia would let it pass until they do it 3 times each.
During an overtake is a different story. You know this i would assume, but may be a bit emotional because of the shock of max not getting rewarded for a good drive.

[NathanOlder]

Because it's an official session ? If it was private testing, then it would be a different matter..

If you exceed track limits in qualifying they can remove your time.

If you exceed track limits in the race they can penalise you (give back place, +5 seconds, drive through, or whatever).

What are they going to do in free practice? Also, nothing counts in free practice, so what's the point of enforcing anything anyway?

I would imagine this is discussed in the driver's briefing, so they all know what's allowable.

Wouldn't practice times take precedent if the qualy was abandoned because of force majeure ? I can't recall the last time this happened, but if it's in the rules ( I think it is) then it means it should be policed and regulated.

I think they would start in championship order maybe ? Not sure actually.

[ThumbsUp]

Well they didn’t penalize Sainz for overtaking with all 4 wheels off track.. not even an investigation. And on tv it was really clear..

Edit:
And which they shouldn’t!

[Shrieker]

Why were Mercedes so eager to fvck Bottas in the ar$se ? Sure, Hamilton was in a different race and could make the 1 stop work, but as soon as others had pitted, they should've brought Bottas in. They didn't have new tires or what ? Also they left Hamilton vulnerable to a safety car, and had it come out, Vettel and Raikkonen would've eaten Hamilton alive. Possibly Maxstappen too. Merc strategists were sleeping on the job today.