2018 German Grand Prix - Hockenheimring, July 20-22

[thetruth]

"Valtteri, please hold position"

Hahah...first time in a while that Mercedes used team orders! Vettel crying for Kimi to let him through was nothing special to you it seems! Take a look at Hungary 2017 to see what's called sportsmanship!

lol
people you are very funny

[Bill_Kar]

"Valtteri, please hold position"

Hahah...first time in a while that Mercedes used team orders! Vettel crying for Kimi to let him through was nothing special to you it seems! Take a look at Hungary 2017 to see what's called sportsmanship!

First of all it wasn't a switch of position, which is more extreme. Second, they DID fight, it was only after the fight and Bottas dropping back 1.2 secs that they said bring the cars home. Third, it was dumb in some places, it could be dangerous even if they respected each other. I don't get the fuss, frankly.

[Shrieker]

Lewis and Kimi also went into the corner side by side.

Hamilton was clearly ahead mid corner, Kimi completely missed his braking and barged into side of his rear tire.

Both taps by Vettel and Kimi was a lot lighter than Bottas into Kimi.

Lol.

Bottas went into a 90 degree corner on the inside and slightly behind, which he wouldn't have made without hitting Kimi.

He would've made the corner easily if not for the kerb bouncing his car up and into Kimi. In hindsight, maybe he shouldn't have pushed his luck so far, knowing there was a high kerb there. Or Kimi could've given him room knowing the kerb would spell trouble for two wide. Maybe he knew ?

Anyway, in either case my point is made that the steward calls and penalties are very much situational as unjust as it is.

[Wynters]

I can understand Kimi not wanting to let Seb through. Seb hadn't challenged him for the position (although it's likely he could've) and, if the rain hit a little earlier than it did, Kimi would get first option on pitting and they'd all be on the same number of pitstops. However, sensible thing from the team perspective was to order Seb through. Letting Seb past wasn't going to slow Kimi down and it gave more security to a Ferrari win. It's quite interesting that they didn't. It really does suggest that they are uncomfortable with issuign Team Orders this season.

Similarly, I can understand Mercedes not wanting to have Bottas and Hamilton hit each other when they could pull off a surprise win in front of the Mercedes board and fans. The formation flying after the flag will give great PR shots to them. That Vowles had ot issue the order apologetically also suggests that Team Orders aren't standard at Mercedes.

Having Sky bang on about Kimi's 1st pitstop being purely to mess with Hamilton was immensely annoying. Clearly they wanted ot pit him so he came out in front and wasn't held up by the Merc on worn tyres. They left it as late as they safely could.

Shame Ricciardo DNFed, could've been fun if he'd been in the mix as Red Bull could've split strats. At least one of their drivers would've been on the right tyres at the right time and it could've spiced up the end.

I'm not sure what else Seb could've done to avoid the crash. Perhaps he coudl've kept more heat in the tyres by pushing harder earlier but it's hard to say and when you are the first car to encounter a tricky patch at a crucial corner entry then it's extremely tough.

In regards to the possible Hamilton penalty, it'll be interesting to see what the stewards decide. I can see a +5s, I can see a slap on the wrist. It'll be interesting to se their wording on the final report.

Finally, disappointing for Haas today. I'm not quite certain how they lost so many places. I'll probably have to rewatch. Similarly, the Saubers had a real chance today but LeClerc seemed ot have problems in the wet and once you compromise the surface of your tyres, it's only going to get harder.

[subcritical71]

What is that I don't get is; OK it's prohibited. What's the penalty? Is that on the rules?
Don't tell me because of prior penalties. The Raikkonen thing is really different because there were special notes.

So, Charlie could say OK it's prohibited but because of circumstances (SC, really slow speed, not feeding into racing line) it will be a warning. it isn't clear cut that it should be a time penalty imposed.

Is it really prohibited? Someone said it earlier, and looking at the rule once again. It seems the rule was written to discourage a late entry into the pit lane vs a late exit.

I guess we'll know soon enough.

[nacho]

If no penalty for aborting pit stop so late meaning the move is legit could this be used as an advantage on other tracks too?

[MtthsMlw]

If no penalty for aborting pit stop so late meaning the move is legit could this be used as an advantage on other tracks too?

Well you would still have the stuff about leaving the track and gain an advantage.
Btw they're discussing now for over an hour..

[Shrieker]

d) Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the Stewards), the crossing, in any direction, of the line separating the pit entry and the track by a car entering the pit lane is prohibited.

Hamilton did not enter the pits though, only the pit entry

edit someone else beat me to it....

He did not 'enter' the pits, but you damn well know and understand what the rule says

[LionKing]

What is that I don't get is; OK it's prohibited. What's the penalty? Is that on the rules?
Don't tell me because of prior penalties. The Raikkonen thing is really different because there were special notes.

So, Charlie could say OK it's prohibited but because of circumstances (SC, really slow speed, not feeding into racing line) it will be a warning. it isn't clear cut that it should be a time penalty imposed.

Is it really prohibited? Someone said it earlier, and looking at the rule once again. It seems the rule was written to discourage a late entry into the pit lane vs a late exit.

I guess we'll know soon enough.

No both ways. The rule says "either direction".

[MtthsMlw]

What is that I don't get is; OK it's prohibited. What's the penalty? Is that on the rules?
Don't tell me because of prior penalties. The Raikkonen thing is really different because there were special notes.

So, Charlie could say OK it's prohibited but because of circumstances (SC, really slow speed, not feeding into racing line) it will be a warning. it isn't clear cut that it should be a time penalty imposed.

Is it really prohibited? Someone said it earlier, and looking at the rule once again. It seems the rule was written to discourage a late entry into the pit lane vs a late exit.

I guess we'll know soon enough.

No both ways. The rule says "either direction".

And that would definitely result in a penalty for Hamilton otherwise there wouldn't be a need to write it like that.

EDIT. Nevermind, no penalty. Confirmed.

[thetruth]

d) Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the Stewards), the crossing, in any direction, of the line separating the pit entry and the track by a car entering the pit lane is prohibited.

Hamilton did not enter the pits though, only the pit entry

edit someone else beat me to it....

He did not 'enter' the pits, but you damn well know and understand what the rule says

I really don't understand.
"He did not enter the pits", you say, and other people say "he did not enter the pits so he did not break any rules".
There's a wall between the circuit and the pit lane,so..

[Bill_Kar]

Is it really prohibited? Someone said it earlier, and looking at the rule once again. It seems the rule was written to discourage a late entry into the pit lane vs a late exit.

I guess we'll know soon enough.

No both ways. The rule says "either direction".

And that would definitely result in a penalty for Hamilton otherwise there wouldn't be a need to write it like that.

EDIT. Nevermind, no penalty. Confirmed.

Source?

[MtthsMlw]

No both ways. The rule says "either direction".

And that would definitely result in a penalty for Hamilton otherwise there wouldn't be a need to write it like that.

EDIT. Nevermind, no penalty. Confirmed.

Source?

Albert Fabrega. Hamilton said it (that he keeps the win) in the press conference.

[Shrieker]

d) Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the Stewards), the crossing, in any direction, of the line separating the pit entry and the track by a car entering the pit lane is prohibited.

Based on this, Hamilton should be penalized. So what's the penalty for this transgression ? Is it stated somewhere in the rules, or is it track note dependent ?

I get it, he got no penalty, but I wanna know regardless.

[subcritical71]

What is that I don't get is; OK it's prohibited. What's the penalty? Is that on the rules?
Don't tell me because of prior penalties. The Raikkonen thing is really different because there were special notes.

So, Charlie could say OK it's prohibited but because of circumstances (SC, really slow speed, not feeding into racing line) it will be a warning. it isn't clear cut that it should be a time penalty imposed.

Is it really prohibited? Someone said it earlier, and looking at the rule once again. It seems the rule was written to discourage a late entry into the pit lane vs a late exit.

I guess we'll know soon enough.

No both ways. The rule says "either direction".

There is that, so the rule seems to be inconsistent. It'll be interesting to read the reason if the penalty is indeed not enforced.