Safety car came out for Algusuarri's wing debris, but stayed out for how many laps? Bunched up the field for the last half of the race which was nice.

Hamilton has become the Dale Earnhardt of Formula 1. He drives like a diva.

 

That's how we keep the racing close, at the half way point safety car comes out! I think the safety car was out for 2-3 laps the second time. I was surprised Red Bull didn't do better. Maybe they did have that ride height adjuster? Or Mercedes found some speed in the last few weeks? Its hard to tell with wet races how fast the cars really are.

 

^yeah, could be the difference between a car setup for rain, for dry, or somewhere in between. the outright speed between the two was close though, lewis was just much more aggressive with passing while most of the others would wait and play it safe. button just got lucky by not coming in when everyone else did. hit the cruise control and let the laps go by.

 

Safety Car: Maybe they are paying more attention to NASCAR than first believed...

Earnhardt...(lol) In F1 terms though, Lewis is the modern day M.Schumacher (no penalty for weaving at Sepang, or that pitlane squabble in Shanghai).~always in with a shout for the win.

 

I guess FIA is gonna have to change its name from Ferrari International Assistance. That's what FIA stands for right?

 

Sounds like it was an intresting race I wouldnt know because I fell asleep during the pre race show and woke up just after the post race interviews. Damn boring pre race show they need to put something else on insted of three elderly men talking,I just leaned back and put my chair on snooze control.

 

Haha ya I hit the DVR button during the pre race. I didn't think I was gunna make it to the green flag. Good thing they are getting farther west so they are on early. These first few were on way to late.

 

I still don't understand why Hamilton wasn't given a drive through penalty during the race for his down right dangerous actions on pit lane.

 

Both were at fault so each should have received something more substative than a slap on the wrist. According to Brundle, a former F1 driver, "Vettel shoved Hamilton towards the wheel guns and mechanics, albeit long after Hamilton should have yielded. They both received a reprimand, but what does that mean? How long does a reprimand last and how many are you allowed to collect before a real penalty? They are lucky I wasn't the resident driver steward for the weekend because I would have strongly recommended dropping them both some penalty places on the grid for the next race in Barcelona. The decision taken has set a very dangerous precedent... It has been interpreted before that this is against the rules."
Bottom Line: I think U are correct that the incident in pit lane should have been recognized as a rules infraction and levied appropriate penalties but to BOTH Hamilton and Vettel.

Later, Ken

 

Really... both? I only see Hami at fault there. He should have yielded, Vettel was clearly in front of him. I also think Hami should have gotten a penalty for his going into the pit antics when he was basically on the front straight and decided to pit at the last moment. I feel all the guys pulling shady moves like that entering the pits should have been penalized, thats why thoose lines are there.

Also, there was a driver in the Stewards box, I remember them saying so I just don't recall who it was now.

 

I agree that Hamilton should have yeilded but that said Vettel tried to push him into the pits by cutting of the right side thereafter which was also wrong; not saying Hamilton didn't started it but Vettel tried to pull a fast one as well...if Vettel had moved left allowing Hamilton to enter into the pit passing lane then he would have been absolved IMHO and I guess the stewards as well.
Speaking of moves, how about Alonso on Massa...just good old team spirit there.

Later, Ken

 

I'm with grillpt on this, only Hamilton was at fault. Vettel was clearly ahead and was just trying to hold his position. Hamilton should've just conceded the position to Vettel. On the other hand, what Hamilton did was put the lives of several of the pit crew for various teams in danger. Not to mention his last minute decision to enter the pit lane by infracting over the lines that designate entry into the pit lane.

Bottom line: Hamilton should've had a drive through penalty. The decision by the stewards was a joke!

I wonder how things are going with Alonso and Massa after their little "incident". IMHO, clearly Alonso is the better driver.

 

EXACTLY! And this is a very bad thing for everybody on the grid when one driver has preferential treatment.

Schumacher was a world-class d-bag off the track, and a dangerous ***** on track. Hamilton is the Schumacher replacement that (apparently) the media clammored for.

 

Vettel was not "holding his position" rather he was trying to edge Hamilton further to the right, deeper into the pit lane. This was a secondary effect of Hamilton's aggressiveness who ,again, I agree, was the instigator and the cause for the incident. He was wrong and should have been penalized but Vettel was not innocent either...by attempting to edge Hamilton into the pit lane he also put pit crews in danger.
Hearing Hamilton rethoric following the race is rather pathetic when he "praised", aka kiss a...s (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/83074), the stewards for their great job in officiating the race or actually letting him off the hook.

Later, Ken

 

didn't hamilton cut across the bow of vettel going into the pit? vettel was in front from the in car, then hamilton cut across the white lines in front of vettel (almost exactly what alonso did to massa). i think that was what pissed vettel off, thus the reasoning for giving hami very little room (although any other team would have been penalized for leaving with a car there... remember all the automatic pit light incidents ferrari had?)