‘you can actually say that he had a slight advantage by coming from up high there’

Martin added a but clause after, but looking at it hard and fair, Alonso should’ve been penalized.

Alianora, you said:

‘The “clarification” ends up supporting Hamilton – he did wait until the next corner to pass Raikkonen, albeit the braking zone rather than the apex. So in fact the FIA has contradicted itself again.’

I think the FIA meant wait until the next corner before you start CHALLENGING again. Fundamental difference there. Which means Lewis shouldn’t have challenged at La Source, he should’ve challenged at Eau Rouge at the earliest.

‘Also, if contacting Charlie Whiting is a mistake, why is a two-way connection in place, and why have the teams recently been asked to pay for it (among other things)?’

I think Max had in mind that Charlie can directly contact the drivers for whatever reason (not sure what these could be).

Paige and Sumedh, I don’t for the life of me see how you think Keith can’t be objective with Lewis. Let’s remember that Keith has also criticized Lewis on a number of occasions, such as Bahrain, Montreal (http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/06/09/why-do-million-dollar-f1-drivers-keep-making-mistakes-at-red-lights/), and Magny-Cours (http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/06/22/video-hamilton-under-pressure-after-error/). Let’s also remember that making a call for this incident was VERY marginal. It could’ve gone one way or ther other. And while I do agree with the penalty, I also understand why many don’t agree with it – these folks have very valid points too.

Amy,

I simply cannot follow your logic. The two situations are nearly identical fundamentally.

Furthermore, you referred above to the clarification of how the FIA interprets the yielding of position, and how someone Hamilton should be held to this standard. The FIA didn’t issue this interpretation in an official statement until AFTER this weekend’s GP. It is simply and positively unfair to punish drivers for breaking a rule or an interpretation of a rule before said rule/interpretation was officially issued.

Also, Charlie Whiting himself during the race told McLaren that he was ok with what Hamilton did. This alone should exonerate Hamilton and McLaren, as Race Control gave the impression to them that they were conducting themselves within the sporting regulations. (Which, in my view, they were.) They acted based on the word of Charlie Whiting. Had Charlie Whiting said differently, McLaren and Hamilton would have acted differently. You cannot punish a team retroactively when the Race Director- the man who is responsible for interpreting situations like this- gives his seal of approval.

What you’re essentially suggesting is that the FIA should act in a reactionary form with disregard for the rule of law. In other words, you are arguing that the FIA should be a fascist organization. When the FIA ignores the letter of the regulations and the in-race interpretation of the Race Director and imposes their never-before officially declared interpretation of constitutes a proper relinquishment of position, they are in fact acting as fascists. This is a very bad and dangerous way to run Formula One, and its something that should upset all fans. The FIA has acted similarly in past situations, one of which includes the asinine penalty against Alonso at Monza in 2006.

Having read many of your posts, I have gradually come more and more to the conclusion that you are incapable of impartial analysis on any matter regarding Lewis Hamilton. I admire your passion as a Formula One fan, but you should allow passion to cloud reason. I am a Hamilton fan, but I will be the first to criticize him when he makes a mistake, as he has at Bahrain, Montreal, and Malaysia this year. (And I don’t even consider him to be the best right now, although I think he certainly can be.) If you want to have serious and informed discussions on topics like this, I would advise that you please check your biases at the front door, or at least acknowledge facts that establish validity for alternative points of view.

In this regard the FIA’s reaction has been shockingly mismanaged. No surprise to me that in fact Mosley’s reaction to the scandal was simply patroninising, accusing those who percieve bias of being “stupid”.

In his position (as I would expect anyone with management experience to know) he should be ensuring that his organisation’s decision making process is seen to be crystal clear, and that he is in a position to emphasise the expertise, training and experience of his stewards.

In other words to put the professional integrity and judgement of his officials beyond question

He doesn’t of of course, because the idea that this might be important is not taken seriously. F! teams are highly professional outfits, it is my submission that the FIA is not. It is in fact little more than a network of “influential”and connected people with little practical relevant experience.

FI teams and management should immediately pressure the FIA for greater transparency in the training, expertise, selection and decisions of stewards as a matter of utmost urgency, if the FIA does not get it’s house in order and become transparent and accountable, no new agreements (concorde or otherwise) should be signed

The credibility of the sport demands it

Drivers seem to agree Lewis was in the wrong.

But of course it’s all a FIA/Ferrari conspiracy :rolls eyes:

This latest interpretation is a knee jerk reaction to one incident and like most knee jerk clarifications in Max’s time it is a long term solution to a short term problem. Anyone who thinks it is a good idea is only considering it in relation to this one incident. Believe me there are implications which have not been considered which one day soon will have this ruling turned on its head. You don’t have to believe me just run a few alternative scenarios through your head and it is blindingly obvious that the new rule as written or spoken is not what was really intended. Tomorrow we have a circuit with chicanes which have been shortcut many times this weekend already and will be shortcut again during the race. I reckon there is an extremely good chance that something will happen which will make this rule look utterly ridiculous.