Australian GP 2010 - Melbourne

[Mr Alcatraz]

You could clearly see the red flags waving when Michael Schumacher set that time. A penalty should be a no-brainer, but maybe the powers upstairs think that might dampen the possibility of Schumacher competing at the sharp end........

I totaly agree, and hate to split hairs, however I was watching timing, he did not get credited for that lap.
He didn't actually set a time.
If he wasn't on such a hot lap he would have backed off.
Mike showing a little frustration by pressing on. I know I wanted to see his time.
I'm pretty sure it would have been the fastest of that session!

[Ganxxta]

You could clearly see the red flags waving when Michael Schumacher set that time. A penalty should be a no-brainer, but maybe the powers upstairs think that might dampen the possibility of Schumacher competing at the sharp end........

Like I saw it, the red flags were only there when he was already on the finish straight, so what should he have done in your opinion? Also this lap didn't counted, but he had best times in s1 and s2 as far as i remember, also the TV grapichs showed P1 after he crossed the finish line, but lap wasn't counted, sadly.

[NaZzO]

You could clearly see the red flags waving when Michael Schumacher set that time. A penalty should be a no-brainer, but maybe the powers upstairs think that might dampen the possibility of Schumacher competing at the sharp end........

I totaly agree, and hate to split hairs, however I was watching timing, he did not get credited for that lap.
He didn't actually set a time.
If he wasn't on such a hot lap he would have backed off.
Mike showing a little frustration by pressing on. I know I wanted to see his time.
I'm pretty sure it would have been the fastest of that session!

According to autosport.com during FP1 live:

41 min: Schumacher now sets the timing monitor alight with the fastest first sector time of all. Oh this could prove interesting! Schumacher posts 1m28.629s under red flag conditions.

42 min: The German crossed the line with the fastest lap time of the session a good 20 seconds after the red flag was first displayed.

43 min: His time has been discounted on the official timing monitor so Hamilton still leads the standings with 1m28.680s.

43 min: Schumacher has now returned to the pits after that run. He wasbuc the last driver back into the lane.

source:http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/193

The fastest time of that session was set by Kubica: 1:26.927 around 1.6s faster than schumi.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Thanks Naz'!

[forty-two]

On the matter of MS continuing to push during a Red Flag, in my opinion this should indeed attract a penalty, failure to do so would demonstrate bias.

IMO as far as safety is concerned, who the perpetrator happens to be should be of no consequence. If they've broken the rules and put others or themselves at risk as a result, a serious penalty must be applied.

Not sure if anyone remembers, but MS has form for this type of behaviour:
1994 "At the British Grand Prix, Schumacher was penalised for overtaking on the formation lap. He then ignored the penalty and the subsequent black flag, which indicates that the driver must immediately return to the pits, for which he was disqualified and later given a two-race ban."

Let's see if they have the courage of their convictions, somehow I suspect they'll decide otherwise?

[andrew]

On the matter of MS continuing to push during a Red Flag, in my opinion this should indeed attract a penalty, failure to do so would demonstrate bias.

IMO as far as safety is concerned, who the perpetrator happens to be should be of no consequence. If they've broken the rules and put others or themselves at risk as a result, a serious penalty must be applied.

Not sure if anyone remembers, but MS has form for this type of behaviour:
1994 "At the British Grand Prix, Schumacher was penalised for overtaking on the formation lap. He then ignored the penalty and the subsequent black flag, which indicates that the driver must immediately return to the pits, for which he was disqualified and later given a two-race ban."

Let's see if they have the courage of their convictions, somehow I suspect they'll decide otherwise?

He only "passed" on the formation lap because Damon Hill clearly brake tested him. He had no other option but to pass. Would you rather there was a crash? He was correct to ignore the penalty as the FIA during 94 were determined to stop him from rightly becoming champion. Even with FIA help Damon Hill still couldn't get the championship with the best car!

[forty-two]

On the matter of MS continuing to push during a Red Flag, in my opinion this should indeed attract a penalty, failure to do so would demonstrate bias.

IMO as far as safety is concerned, who the perpetrator happens to be should be of no consequence. If they've broken the rules and put others or themselves at risk as a result, a serious penalty must be applied.

Not sure if anyone remembers, but MS has form for this type of behaviour:
1994 "At the British Grand Prix, Schumacher was penalised for overtaking on the formation lap. He then ignored the penalty and the subsequent black flag, which indicates that the driver must immediately return to the pits, for which he was disqualified and later given a two-race ban."

Let's see if they have the courage of their convictions, somehow I suspect they'll decide otherwise?

He only "passed" on the formation lap because Damon Hill clearly brake tested him. He had no other option but to pass. Would you rather there was a crash? He was correct to ignore the penalty as the FIA during 94 were determined to stop him from rightly becoming champion. Even with FIA help Damon Hill still couldn't get the championship with the best car!

I wasn't making any comments about who should or should not have won the championship, nor was I referring to any bias against MS, I was merely pointing out that when a race official waves a flag at a driver it is ESSENTIAL that the driver in question does what they're told, irrespective of the driver in question's opinion about whether they THINK they've done anything to warrant it. Ultimately, the race officials must be obeyed or people can get hurt.

What do YOU think Andrew? If/when you answer please try to keep your opinion clear rather than allowing your personal liking or disliking of the driver in question. to affect your feelings.

[Danlizzyman]

Thanks for the info guys, I didn't realise Schumacher was on a fast lap up to that point, I now kinda understand why he didn't want to lift.

I was expecting the yellow flags to come out but they didn't. Anyone know if marshalls act at their own discretion or if they have to wait for confirmation to put out a flag? Anyway it was pretty clear that this was yellow flag material but the yellow flag never came.

About 20 seconds after the incident the red and yellow flag was put out, this was already after many drivers had come upon the corner with no flag out and slowed once they saw the debris and the dust hanging in the air. It was while this flag was out that Schumacher came into the corner and he didn't lift at all. The red flag was not out at that point, but he did seem to ignore the red/yellow flag.

It's somewhat predictable that people would call for a penalty when it's Schumacher, while the same people would probably jizz their pants if it was Kimi Raikkonen or Lewis Hamilton that went flat out through a debris zone.

[WhiteBlue]

This Schumi bashing is ridiculous. Anybody can make a mistake and he of all top drivers will be the least familiar with the new electronic flag system. This was only practise and one has to ask if autosport was correct in the life commenting. There was no further report of this incident after FP1. I have also not seen a steward's communication on this, which would surely have happened if it was a serious issue of safety or sporting matter. If the time was disallowed then a penalty was given and that should be it.

[DaveKillens]

Right now, I agree with WB. Schumacher was not penalized for any infraction by the stewards or the FIA.

What happened in the past is in the past. Michael has been away from the sport for three years, and it's my personal philosophy to allow anyone a second chance. Even Michael Schumacher. If he does step over the line of acceptable conduct, then we will deal with it when and if it happens. I am one of those persons who could have a whole list of his past transgressions to bring up at the slightest notice, but I choose to give the guy a chance, and instead deal with the more positive aspects of this wonderful sport.

Right now, I'm cheering for Mark Webber. It sure would be a party down under if he won.....

[RacingManiac]

Did he actually pass anyone under the red? He must have been crossing the flag stand as the red is being declared.....

[WhiteBlue]

Welcome to 3rd practise.

First flying lap by Petrov. 1:32.342 after spinning in the last corner

[Mr Alcatraz]

Cheers WB

[WhiteBlue]

and you!

Massa, De la Rosa and Glock also on track now

Senna out of the practise. Probably hydraulic failure.



The times with hard tyres.

[WhiteBlue]

Schumi goes P1 for the first time, still with hard tyres.



We got a yelow flag in the last minutes by Chandhok.



Final FP3 standing. Schumi beats Rosberg again.