Italian GP 2010 - Monza

[timbo]

Yes, but couldn't the right wheel have been moved, and "steering" the steering wheel? That would deflect some of the energy, wouldn't it?

The impact was too fast for system to be able to move.

[marcush.]

the wheel will go into full steering lock position and everything that´s coming as a load on top of it will try and compress/ buckle the tierod...carbonfibre not very good in compresssion and you got your snapped steering.I don´t think the steering itself has taken much abuse by this ...if at all the mounts of the steering have taken a big sideimpact before the rod snapped.

[kalinka]

Yes, my view of it was the same : if Hamilton's steering were in centre position, the impact probably doesn't damage anything, and he would continue without any problem, but unfortunately the wheel was almost in a right lock, so everything worked against it. Actually I think it was Massa's left rear wheel that caused the damage, not he sidepod. It's just bad luck.

[marcush.]

even touringcars snap steering tierods in that sort of incidents ..so basically:
crappy attempt by Hamilton ..he was just y tad too agressive there.
But still:the guy is brilliant...he will take this in and carry that Mac further than it is worth i the remaining races...you bet.

[Raftaar]

Hello everyone!
Kalinka is spot-on there! Contact was with both Massa's sidepod and LHR wheel, the first one was lateral - no damage, but in the second one his wheel(in right lock) got stuck in front of Massa's and got snapped out when Massa exited the chicane, unlucky incident; But I would like to know if he did realise it then, but full marks to Hamilton for still going on the pedal , it could have been more dangerous out of Lesmo!!

That said, I'll still say it was down to his own error, he should have been more careful in such a tight situation!! On the exit to Rettifilo he was coming behind Alonso and maybe sensed a chance as the two Ferraris fought each-other, maybe that is why he got a little carried away, and got a little too aggressive ( careless basically!! )

[raymondu999]

He did get to Lesmo 1. He turned into Lesmo 1, and the left wheel turned while the right wheel didn't, and the car chose to follow the path of the other 3 wheels

[horse]

He did get to Lesmo 1. He turned into Lesmo 1, and the left wheel turned while the right wheel didn't, and the car chose to follow the path of the other 3 wheels

It's interesting this. Do you think he would have got to the pits with a little less gas? I know it's a bit academic, as they probably would have retired him there, anyway. Still, I'm not sure he was aware of the extent of the damage, or he wouldn't have charged up the road into the Lesmos, no?

[Raftaar]

You are right raymondu999 .
I would like to know though, when did he realise that his RHF was loose? Was it at Lesmo, or did he have a hint beforehand and just tried his luck!!?

[Raftaar]

My query is related to your's horse , I want to know if he was aware of the damage and still risked it!! I mean, just assume, had there been less gravel in the run-off, he could have crashed into the barriers, Thank Lord, that wasn't the case!!

[ringo]

I think the team could have replaced the tie rod. As long as a part being replaced is of the same weight, i think the mechanics are free to replace it.
We see this with the front wings. It would set him back in time to replace that tie rod, but a lap1 stop then onto hard tyres could have put him in the points.

Button crashed out 2 spas in a row, Hamilton crashed out 2 Monzas in a row.
3 DNF for Lewis this year, 2 for Jenson so far...

[timbo]

I think the team could have replaced the tie rod. As long as a part being replaced is of the same weight, i think the mechanics are free to replace it.
We see this with the front wings. It would set him back in time to replace that tie rod, but a lap1 stop then onto hard tyres could have put him in the points.

Williams couldn't manage that when they had a championship at stake.

[DaveKillens]

I think the team could have replaced the tie rod. As long as a part being replaced is of the same weight, i think the mechanics are free to replace it.
We see this with the front wings. It would set him back in time to replace that tie rod, but a lap1 stop then onto hard tyres could have put him in the points.

On the surface that may appear valid, but it's based on the assumption that just the rod was damaged, and nothing else. And even if a suspension part could be changed so quickly, another assumption is made, that the suspension is aligned and the geometry is as before.

If the suspension geometry is not correct, or even worse, a part weakened by the previous impact failed, finding out at the end of a straight at Monza isn't a good place to be.

The assessment of risk versus reward doesn't make sense in this application when you consider how long it would take to get back to the pits, replace such a part, and have a realistic chance at capturing some points when you have the facts available that even 10th place is almost always around a minute of the winner.

Here are the finishing times for tenth place so far.

Bahrain 1:02.5
Australia 1:09.4
Malaysia 1:18.9
China 1:01.7
Spain +1 lap
Monaco 8.1
Turkey 1:05.6
Canada +1 lap
Valencia 44.4
Great Britain 42.0
Germany + 1 lap
Hungary + 1 lap
Belgium 34.8

So based on results this year, the car would have to be able to limp back to the pits, and change the suspension component within 2 laps, period. Since the leaders would be lapping at under 1:30, that gives you exactly 3 minutes from the first indication of trouble to effecting a repair and getting the car back on the track and competitive.

And of course, if you get it wrong and miss something in the process, there is the possibility of a very bad accident. Is it really worth the risk of adding Hamilton's name to the list of Ascari, Peterson, and Rindt?

[ringo]

Nah he wont die that easily. At worst he's going to look like an idiot with the same thing happening twice to him.

Risk can be rewarding sometimes.

If Button had continued to chase Alonso, he could have regained first place when Alonso went off in turn 1. But he held back avoiding risk of running out of fuel fighting Alonso.

Speaking about Button, he was to quick to blame the team for the pitstop. He would have went into fuel saving mode regardless of when he pitted. That would have put him in front of Alonso with a much slower car saving fuel.
He would still have a problem and more than likely lose position.
He for some reason didn't make full use of the fuel before he had to go into G4 mode.

The ideal thing was for him to be way up the road of Alonso maybe 10 or 15s, where going into G4 would not compromise his race. His fuel strategy was probably based on Hamilton's data.

[siskue2005]

The only good thing is Lewis didnt get lost on the way back to the Pits from Lesomes....coz he already knew how to get back before hand
just joking

[marcush.]

the caster(trail) was holding the wheel in a straight ahead position ..If he was more gentle with his braking and turning the car would have been esily going back to the pits...but honestly ...it was good for nothing.No ways this was the sole damage ...no time to asses potential collateral damage....so now ays to send him out again in my view.

very unfortunate that Button got his rear aero redressed by alonso going into the first corner...the bit he lost was not small...