Massa and Hamilton’s Fuji crash – the penalty they got right (Video)
Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton clashed in the opening laps of the Japanese Grand Prix in highly controversial fashion.
Hamilton had dived down the inside of Massa at turn ten. But Massa cut across the inside of the following bend and tipped Hamilton into a spin which left him last.
The stewards hit Massa with a drive-through penalty which, based on recent incidents, it’s hard to argue against.
Heikki Kovalainen crashed into Mark Webber in similar fashion at the Belgian Grand Prix and received the same penalty for the same misdemeanour – causing an avoidable accident.
The stewards didn’t get everything right at Fuji – but I think Massa’s drive-through was the correct call. What do you think?
Kester said on 13th October 2008, 23:01
I wish people would start realising that it doesn’t matter if he lost out by it, it was the effect it had on other drivers. It potentially cost Raikkonen a race win (the 2 driver that got past the Hamilton incident went on to lead most of the race). I think that was one of the points that was taken into account when Hamilton was issued with his penalty.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 13th October 2008, 23:21
MC & Kester – loads of points about the turn one incident are covered here: Hamilton and Raikkonen’s Fuji clash – the penalty they got wrong (Video)
Antonio said on 14th October 2008, 1:29
Stop with these ridiculous rules and let them race. They got wrong every single penalty and that’s include the Bourdais x Massa.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 14th October 2008, 21:12
New video evidence here: F1.com reacts to criticism of Fuji penalties by releasing new videos