2019 Monaco Grand Prix - Monte Carlo, May 23-26

[zac510]

Why isnt Bottas at least been investigated for holding up Max and Vettel? He’s clearly more then 10 car lengths behind Hamilton.

Bottas is entering the pits and Hamilton is just leaving. That’s at least a gap of 5 seconds.

They mentioned on Sky (English commentary) that it was probably because they hadn't caught the safety car yet, so the 10 car length rule doesn't apply.

[ThumbsUp]

Why isnt Bottas at least been investigated for holding up Max and Vettel? He’s clearly more then 10 car lengths behind Hamilton.

Bottas is entering the pits and Hamilton is just leaving. That’s at least a gap of 5 seconds.

They mentioned on Sky (English commentary) that it was probably because they hadn't caught the safety car yet, so the 10 car length rule doesn't apply.

Ok thanks for that, sounds valid

[cooken]

What is all this bs about "can't see cars coming in pitlane" and "too many mechanics in the way"???
Is this not F1 the supposed pinnacle of technology? Surely a camera on the other side of the lane or placed overhead, etc etc could solve this?

Also, making a decision to release a car when you can't see is always unsafe regardless of whether a car is actually coming or not. The fact that you don't know is precisely what makes it unsafe.

[Jolle]

Why isnt Bottas at least been investigated for holding up Max and Vettel? He’s clearly more then 10 car lengths behind Hamilton.

Bottas is entering the pits and Hamilton is just leaving. That’s at least a gap of 5 seconds.

https://streamable.com/6ue8q

Was it not LH who was penalized for driving slowly in Bahrain 2017, blocking Ricardo in the process entering the pits after the safety car for double stacking ? If rules are to be applied the same should be applicable for Bothas. It was indeed strange.
I agree

There was a bit of a loophole. They were not yet behind the safety car so under double waved yellows (where the ten car lengths doesn’t apply). He was also not yet in the pit lane entrance where Hamilton got his penalty for.

[izzy]

TBH even though the penalty WAS lenient the net result IMHO was the same (4th place) due to the top 4 pace difference to everyone else.

yes i'm not complaining about the result, just having a moan about the stewards really, and how they've fallen ridiculously in love with the 5s penalty, that they seem to use all the time as a copout

[wickedz50]

Why isnt Bottas at least been investigated for holding up Max and Vettel? He’s clearly more then 10 car lengths behind Hamilton.

Bottas is entering the pits and Hamilton is just leaving. That’s at least a gap of 5 seconds.

https://streamable.com/6ue8q

Was it not LH who was penalized for driving slowly in Bahrain 2017, blocking Ricardo in the process entering the pits after the safety car for double stacking ? If rules are to be applied the same should be applicable for Bothas. It was indeed strange.
I agree

There was a bit of a loophole. They were not yet behind the safety car so under double waved yellows (where the ten car lengths doesn’t apply). He was also not yet in the pit lane entrance where Hamilton got his penalty for.

True, agreed

[Restomaniac]

TBH even though the penalty WAS lenient the net result IMHO was the same (4th place) due to the top 4 pace difference to everyone else.

yes i'm not complaining about the result, just having a moan about the stewards really, and how they've fallen ridiculously in love with the 5s penalty, that they seem to use all the time as a copout

Agreed and that’s the irony.

In this situation with Hamilton holding everyone up in front around Monaco the high chances was that Verstappen would end up 4th after almost any penalty due to the track and it’s layout and the speed Hamilton was going at. As such it became pretty quickly obvious what the net outcome was going to be apart from a strange chain of events. As such it was obvious that a heavier penalty wasn’t going to make much difference and yet they still left themselves wide open for abuse for what can only be the hell of it.

Before anyone says that’s with the aid of hindsight it was obvious at the time how it would probably play out looking at past races including 2018 with Ricciardo winning with a screwed engine.

[izzy]

absolutely @Restomaniac. this is a nice forum isn't it? is there no upvoting, am i missing it?

[digitalrurouni]

For those hating on Max man it's so obvious. How many times has Senna been an asshole and hit other drivers? Max is an angel compared to that especially this year. He's totally driving like a work champion. He's getting everything out of the car. He's been a measures driver all this season so far.

Different era, different rules. Referencing Senna is nothing short of a joke mate.
You cant even move twice to block now. Senna was moving twice every straight in Monaco in 92. Rules change so comparisons can't really be made.

Your opinion. Sure different era but how many times has Senna rammed Prost off the track? Or not turned into a corner so they both went straight on? Max has done nothing nowhere near as egregious even when he was moving a bit under braking. I don't think that lunge was a bad move. It spiced up the race. Well done max. It was on the limit. Of he had caused a puncture damaged cars etc then yeah he should be berated. Or else it was totally fine.

[Big Tea]

What is all this bs about "can't see cars coming in pitlane" and "too many mechanics in the way"???
Is this not F1 the supposed pinnacle of technology? Surely a camera on the other side of the lane or placed overhead, etc etc could solve this?

Also, making a decision to release a car when you can't see is always unsafe regardless of whether a car is actually coming or not. The fact that you don't know is precisely what makes it unsafe.

Its not seeing it that is the problem. it is communicating it to those releasing the car. 1 second to look up, see it is clear and give the release is about the distance the car will travel from the pit 2 along. the 1 second it takes to say 'Oh, hang on' is the time they have collided.

[WaikeCU]

For those hating on Max man it's so obvious. How many times has Senna been an asshole and hit other drivers? Max is an angel compared to that especially this year. He's totally driving like a work champion. He's getting everything out of the car. He's been a measures driver all this season so far.

Different era, different rules. Referencing Senna is nothing short of a joke mate.
You cant even move twice to block now. Senna was moving twice every straight in Monaco in 92. Rules change so comparisons can't really be made.

Your opinion. Sure different era but how many times has Senna rammed Prost off the track? Or not turned into a corner so they both went straight on? Max has done nothing nowhere near as egregious even when he was moving a bit under braking. I don't think that lunge was a bad move. It spiced up the race. Well done max. It was on the limit. Of he had caused a puncture damaged cars etc then yeah he should be berated. Or else it was totally fine.

As if he knew, if he hit Lewis in such way, the Merc wouldn't suffer a puncture...

Being that far off trying to dive on the inside is like hoping that Merc would suddenly disappear. Luckily both of them could continue with their race. It wouldn't be the first time that Max causes controversy.

[Jolle]

What is all this bs about "can't see cars coming in pitlane" and "too many mechanics in the way"???
Is this not F1 the supposed pinnacle of technology? Surely a camera on the other side of the lane or placed overhead, etc etc could solve this?

Also, making a decision to release a car when you can't see is always unsafe regardless of whether a car is actually coming or not. The fact that you don't know is precisely what makes it unsafe.

Its not seeing it that is the problem. it is communicating it to those releasing the car. 1 second to look up, see it is clear and give the release is about the distance the car will travel from the pit 2 along. the 1 second it takes to say 'Oh, hang on' is the time they have collided.

Just have someone with clear view of both cars with a button that has to be pressed or something to have the “go” light to go green. Not so difficult.

[cooken]

What is all this bs about "can't see cars coming in pitlane" and "too many mechanics in the way"???
Is this not F1 the supposed pinnacle of technology? Surely a camera on the other side of the lane or placed overhead, etc etc could solve this?

Also, making a decision to release a car when you can't see is always unsafe regardless of whether a car is actually coming or not. The fact that you don't know is precisely what makes it unsafe.

Its not seeing it that is the problem. it is communicating it to those releasing the car. 1 second to look up, see it is clear and give the release is about the distance the car will travel from the pit 2 along. the 1 second it takes to say 'Oh, hang on' is the time they have collided.

That aspect of the problem is exactly the same on every track. To my knowledge, they use a traffic light system for the driver, and one main person as a spotter who has an override button to keep the light red if it's unsafe. [Edit: Exactly what Jolle wrote]

I think it might be getting lost on people how easily e.g. Max and Valtteri's wheels could've interacted, resulting in an F1 car being punted sideways into a mass of mechanics...recall how little it took for Kimi to break someone's leg last year.

[henry]

What is all this bs about "can't see cars coming in pitlane" and "too many mechanics in the way"???
Is this not F1 the supposed pinnacle of technology? Surely a camera on the other side of the lane or placed overhead, etc etc could solve this?

Also, making a decision to release a car when you can't see is always unsafe regardless of whether a car is actually coming or not. The fact that you don't know is precisely what makes it unsafe.

Its not seeing it that is the problem. it is communicating it to those releasing the car. 1 second to look up, see it is clear and give the release is about the distance the car will travel from the pit 2 along. the 1 second it takes to say 'Oh, hang on' is the time they have collided.

That aspect of the problem is exactly the same on every track. To my knowledge, they use a traffic light system for the driver, and one main person as a spotter who has an override button to keep the light red if it's unsafe. [Edit: Exactly what Jolle wrote]

I think it might be getting lost on people how easily e.g. Max and Valtteri's wheels could've interacted, resulting in an F1 car being punted sideways into a mass of mechanics...recall how little it took for Kimi to break someone's leg last year.

Yes. To take this further the pit lane speed limit was 40mph. There’s a crude metric used by road safety groups. A person hit by a car at 40mph, has a 95% chance of death. It’s a serious risk.

If the FIA were serious they could regulate that the teams implement a system that monitors all the cars positions, they have transponders, and only allow a green light when it is safe. Compared to other software systems the teams have in place such a system would rank as trivial.

But as ever they’re trapped in the rift between safety and spectacle.

[Big Tea]

What is all this bs about "can't see cars coming in pitlane" and "too many mechanics in the way"???
Is this not F1 the supposed pinnacle of technology? Surely a camera on the other side of the lane or placed overhead, etc etc could solve this?

Also, making a decision to release a car when you can't see is always unsafe regardless of whether a car is actually coming or not. The fact that you don't know is precisely what makes it unsafe.

Its not seeing it that is the problem. it is communicating it to those releasing the car. 1 second to look up, see it is clear and give the release is about the distance the car will travel from the pit 2 along. the 1 second it takes to say 'Oh, hang on' is the time they have collided.

Just have someone with clear view of both cars with a button that has to be pressed or something to have the “go” light to go green. Not so difficult.

But in the short time between him pressing and his teams driver recognizing it as 'go' then pulling off, the car from the next pit can be level. That is what I am saying. A pit stop of 2.x seconds can be doubled. There is no point making minimum stop times as this then gets tagged on the end.

The only way I can see around it is 2 lanes for through and the car can not enter the outside lane for X mtrs after release. In this way adjacent pitboxes should be in sight and any further down will then be in the 'other lane' and the driver should see it. (If he takes action is another matter)