2022 French Grand Prix - Le Castellet, July 22 - 24

[214270]

[...]
RUS tried a move, it doesn’t matter whether it was a controlled move, a lunge, etc. He failed to meet the overtaking requirements which would necessitate PER leaving space and consequently PER didn’t leave any, PER was not required by any rule. Had they come together in that instance it would have been RUS at fault, it’s no more complex than that. A reminder for all:

His front tyres are alongside the other car earlier than the apex, there's no arguing this fact:
https://i.imgur.com/ptXbXMW.png

Was the move safe and controlled? Yep.

Did Russell keep the car within the limits of the track? Yes.
https://i.imgur.com/zA4f2B8.png

So Russell absolutely did fulfill the requirements.

You already write that Perez did not leave any space and that part is mostly true (he did leave some space), he turned in really early, went shallow and also forced George to go shallow and over the curb which subsequently caused some understeer (where have we seen that recently i wonder?) ...
https://i.imgur.com/6WXncBb.png

So all of Russell's complaints over the radio and after the race were legitimate when sticking to the exact wording of the guidelines (and not "politics" as some here claim for some weird reason) but in the end it did not matter as he pipped him at the VSC restart.

Now whether the guidelines are sensible is a completely different discussion, i personally believe the move was rather late and generally believe that the race to the apex inside/outside is just silly but it is the consequence of those rules of engagement.

I have go disagree with this assessment. The only reason why Russell was able to make that corner is because checo aborted the turn and went wide. You can't just force another driver off the track when they've already initiated their turn in. Had checo even stayed on the outer edge of the turn contact would've been made and it would be a sainz Alonso podium.

As I mentioned it falls under an overtake, how clean/what type of move is irrelevant. The rule-makers are not trying to ban any moves, everything is game. All they are doing is defining the consequences if it goes wrong.

They’ve made the final decision point the apex, how you structure the overtake until then makes no difference. I don’t like it myself but those are the rules.

[Tvetovnato]

Leclerc is definitely not ready to challenge for real, today confirms that. But even if he was, with such CLOWNS at the Ferrari pit wall it doesn’t matter how well you drive, they will always find a way to make you lose positions. What on earth are they thinking? First off they are hesitant on what strategy to do, and putting the question to Carlos what they should do. And then when he wants to stay out, they bring him in with no chance to recover. MADNESS.

About Perez and Russell, 100 % Russells fault. Perez had already started the braking and had the right to space in the corner, but George just sends it up there at full speed leaving nowhere to go for Perez. We see more and more of these late moves where the driver dictating the corner has to take evasive action not to have an accident, which is not OK. Glad they made the decision they made, for racing’s sake.

[Mr5in1]

Not an amazing race but a few dramas to unpick!

Thought Check did well to avoid an accident with Russel at the chicane rightfully kept going thought that was OK but borderline dive from Russel. He did well on the VSC restart too.

Ferrari man I don't know how many plans they have for races but they seem to come up short far removed from the early noughties where they along with Schumacher seemed unflappable.

Leclerc big mistake dissapointed for him but that's racing I guess.

Mercedes had good race pace today big gap back to the Alpines too why have they no qualy pace because they are not .9 seconds slower in the race??

[InsaneX_Badger]

What a boring race. This season is as boring as 2020 for the title. At least there's more wheel to wheel battle thanks to the new rules...

I think 2020 is harsh on the season tbh. Think it's more akin to 2019 as there are some good races now and then due to racing while good 2020 races were due to accidents.

[Spoutnik]

What a boring race. This season is as boring as 2020 for the title. At least there's more wheel to wheel battle thanks to the new rules...

I think 2020 is harsh on the season tbh. Think it's more akin to 2019 as there are some good races now and then due to racing while good 2020 races were due to accidents.

In 2019 there was many different race winner of different teams (Vettel, Leclerc, Verstappen, Bottas, Hamilton..) it's not the case this year. Especially when you consider the very opportunistic win of Perez in Monaco.

[Big Tea]

What I have noticed this year is that TV shows hardly races not in the top 6 or so.
There seems to be lots of good racing down the field, or even cars making their way back up, but we see very little of it, and so much of what we see is in too tight a shot.

[Mogster]

[...]
RUS tried a move, it doesn’t matter whether it was a controlled move, a lunge, etc. He failed to meet the overtaking requirements which would necessitate PER leaving space and consequently PER didn’t leave any, PER was not required by any rule. Had they come together in that instance it would have been RUS at fault, it’s no more complex than that. A reminder for all:

For overtaking on the inside of a corner

In order for a car being overtaken to be required to give sufficient room to an overtaking car, the overtaking car needs to have a significant portion of the car alongside the car being overtaken and the overtaking manoeuvre must be done in a safe and controlled manner, while enabling the car to clearly remain within the limits of the track.

When considering what is a ‘significant portion’ for an overtaking on the inside of a corner, among the various factors that will be looked at by the stewards when exercising their discretion, the stewards will consider if the overtaking car’s front tyres are alongside the other car by no later than the apex of the corner.

His front tyres are alongside the other car earlier than the apex, there's no arguing this fact:
https://i.imgur.com/ptXbXMW.png

Was the move safe and controlled? Yep.

Did Russell keep the car within the limits of the track? Yes.
https://i.imgur.com/zA4f2B8.png

So Russell absolutely did fulfill the requirements.

You already write that Perez did not leave any space and that part is mostly true (he did leave some space), he turned in really early, went shallow and also forced George to go shallow and over the curb which subsequently caused some understeer (where have we seen that recently i wonder?) ...
https://i.imgur.com/6WXncBb.png

So all of Russell's complaints over the radio and after the race were legitimate when sticking to the exact wording of the guidelines (and not "politics" as some here claim for some weird reason) but in the end it did not matter as he pipped him at the VSC restart.

Now whether the guidelines are sensible is a completely different discussion, i personally believe the move was rather late and generally believe that the race to the apex inside/outside is just silly but it is the consequence of those rules of engagement.

edit: Are people mixing up the (a lot stricter) requirements for the outside pass?

When considering what is a ‘significant portion’, for an overtaking on the outside of a corner, among the various factors that will be looked at by the stewards when exercising their discretion, the stewards will consider if the overtaking car is ahead of the other car from the apex of the corner. The car being overtaken must be capable of making the corner while remaining within the limits of the track.

As others have said I suspect GR will turn up at the next drivers briefing with a presentation detailing some examples of previous overtakes for comparison. I certainly would. Alonso has already said Russell frequently puts the race directors on the spot.

We’ve gone beyond what’s felt to be right/wrong/fair here, the FIA have decided to provide criteria that the legitimacy of overtakes will be reviewed by. The officials need to be held to account when they seem to not be applying these criteria consistently.

[johnny comelately]

Ferrari could save some money now....

[chrisc90]

Ferrari could save some money now....

By sacking the strategists and giving the job to sainz? Ha

[AMG.Tzan]

Whenever someone is battling with Perez and they make contact, rest assured it’s Perez’s fault!

The guy just can’t race cleanly enough…he’s always too aggressive either offending or defending his position!

Can’t believe Leclerc made such a mistake!! He just went too wide…did anything fail in the throttle pedal??

Obviously the safety car destroyed Sainz’s race…

[johnny comelately]

Ferrari could save some money now....

By sacking the strategists and giving the job to sainz? Ha

yep

[Sieper]

What I have noticed this year is that TV shows hardly races not in the top 6 or so.
There seems to be lots of good racing down the field, or even cars making their way back up, but we see very little of it, and so much of what we see is in too tight a shot.

Directing is tough. Very. We see a demo of that every year at Monaco, with that own crew. And that is even a super easy race to televise. Nothing ever happens. But yes, we need to see all the action, or most of it, even after the fact, organize it and then show it when ready, at an opportune moment. Even in FP, constantly showing guys coming of a hotlap, or on a outlap, while someone else has their one first hotlap on reds. It feel it was better last year. Have changes been made to the crew?

[Watto]

His front tyres are alongside the other car earlier than the apex, there's no arguing this fact:
https://i.imgur.com/ptXbXMW.png

Was the move safe and controlled? Yep.

Did Russell keep the car within the limits of the track? Yes.
https://i.imgur.com/zA4f2B8.png

So Russell absolutely did fulfill the requirements.

You already write that Perez did not leave any space and that part is mostly true (he did leave some space), he turned in really early, went shallow and also forced George to go shallow and over the curb which subsequently caused some understeer (where have we seen that recently i wonder?) ...
https://i.imgur.com/6WXncBb.png

So all of Russell's complaints over the radio and after the race were legitimate when sticking to the exact wording of the guidelines (and not "politics" as some here claim for some weird reason) but in the end it did not matter as he pipped him at the VSC restart.

Now whether the guidelines are sensible is a completely different discussion, i personally believe the move was rather late and generally believe that the race to the apex inside/outside is just silly but it is the consequence of those rules of engagement.

I have go disagree with this assessment. The only reason why Russell was able to make that corner is because checo aborted the turn and went wide. You can't just force another driver off the track when they've already initiated their turn in. Had checo even stayed on the outer edge of the turn contact would've been made and it would be a sainz Alonso podium.

As I mentioned it falls under an overtake, how clean/what type of move is irrelevant. The rule-makers are not trying to ban any moves, everything is game. All they are doing is defining the consequences if it goes wrong.

They’ve made the final decision point the apex, how you structure the overtake until then makes no difference. I don’t like it myself but those are the rules.

I put put it down to racing incident leaning towards Russel's fault but not by all that much. Happy for RC just to call it a racing incident.

[organic]

Kmag's lap 1 overtakes. I count 7 including the stationary tsunoda

[cplchanb]

[...]
RUS tried a move, it doesn’t matter whether it was a controlled move, a lunge, etc. He failed to meet the overtaking requirements which would necessitate PER leaving space and consequently PER didn’t leave any, PER was not required by any rule. Had they come together in that instance it would have been RUS at fault, it’s no more complex than that. A reminder for all:

His front tyres are alongside the other car earlier than the apex, there's no arguing this fact:
https://i.imgur.com/ptXbXMW.png

Was the move safe and controlled? Yep.

Did Russell keep the car within the limits of the track? Yes.
https://i.imgur.com/zA4f2B8.png

So Russell absolutely did fulfill the requirements.

You already write that Perez did not leave any space and that part is mostly true (he did leave some space), he turned in really early, went shallow and also forced George to go shallow and over the curb which subsequently caused some understeer (where have we seen that recently i wonder?) ...
https://i.imgur.com/6WXncBb.png

So all of Russell's complaints over the radio and after the race were legitimate when sticking to the exact wording of the guidelines (and not "politics" as some here claim for some weird reason) but in the end it did not matter as he pipped him at the VSC restart.

Now whether the guidelines are sensible is a completely different discussion, i personally believe the move was rather late and generally believe that the race to the apex inside/outside is just silly but it is the consequence of those rules of engagement.

edit: Are people mixing up the (a lot stricter) requirements for the outside pass?

When considering what is a ‘significant portion’, for an overtaking on the outside of a corner, among the various factors that will be looked at by the stewards when exercising their discretion, the stewards will consider if the overtaking car is ahead of the other car from the apex of the corner. The car being overtaken must be capable of making the corner while remaining within the limits of the track.

As others have said I suspect GR will turn up at the next drivers briefing with a presentation detailing some examples of previous overtakes for comparison. I certainly would. Alonso has already said Russell frequently puts the race directors on the spot.

We’ve gone beyond what’s felt to be right/wrong/fair here, the FIA have decided to provide criteria that the legitimacy of overtakes will be reviewed by. The officials need to be held to account when they seem to not be applying these criteria consistently.

I wonder how much have the fia replay center has been used for stewards decision this year so far... this one is definitely one that could use a second look. George is spending this week putting together his PowerPoint presentation of overtaking fundamentals