Comments on: Renault banned from European Grand Prix following Alonso’s wheel loss

By: race_sceptic

race_sceptic — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:29:25 +0000

There was a period of a few seconds when it would have been clear to Alonso that his wheel was in danger of coming off. At this point, he should have pulled over immediately out of respect for the safety of the other drivers. Given that he chose to ignore this, it’s hard to feel any sympathy for him. In fact, I think that he should be punished for his reckless behaviour in addition to the team’s penalty.

By: sato113

sato113 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:46:37 +0000

oh yeah i’m sure he wouldn’t mind…

it’d be bad for the f1 image if the seats were half empty. and we all know Bernie’s job is to keep the image good. if no one turned up, the circuit would make a huge loss and maybe have to drop off the calendar. (good for us, bad for him)

By: Kes

Kes — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:34:52 +0000

George K. I agree with you but the fact is that this doesn’t really punish Renault. They are not in the running for world championship this year. They won’t miss the points. Alonso is in the same situation but it does punish the fans who have paid to see him there. Surely there are other penalties that they can impose that don’t punish those fans that have paid to see him.
Similarly I feel sorry for Massa fans that have paid to see him in Valencia and other races but this was an accident.

By: dsob

dsob — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:23:12 +0000

I wasn’t going to mention it, but since you did …

Considering one of the race stewards was Mssr. bin Saleyam, “conspiracy” fairly screams out. bin Saleyam was the fellow, you’ll remember, who is so close to MM that he personally contacted all the member clubs and got MM the necessary votes to get MM his vote of confidence, in last year’s Spankgate.

And Flavio has been a particular thorn in MM’s side this year. One cannot help but wonder if MM is grinning hugely over all this, after a quick word in bin Saleyam’s ear.

By: Kes

Kes — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:10:40 +0000

According to the Spanish press this morning Bernie is pushing for Alonso to be in red for Valencia. Have any of you heard about this?

By: dsob

dsob — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:53:18 +0000

Why would Bernie care?

Bernie has already made his money from Valencia, doesn’t matter if zero spectators show up.

By: dsob

dsob — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:19:52 +0000

I know I’m way late to the party, but just in case anyone happens along to read this thread, I need to point out a couple things.

What Vettel/Red Bull did in Australia was stupid. And had it come 1 week after a driver was killed from a tire flying loose, doubtless they also would have been banned from the next race, instead of being fined. So not quite apples-to-apples comparing that to Renault’s penalty.

Brawn did not KNOW that the spring was loose/damaged/had a bolt failing, and still said nothing to the driver. Brawn did not know what EXACTLY was wrong with the car until it was back in the garage after that lap. There was nothing intentionally done or not done by the team. Therefore, no penalty.

Renault, on the other hand, knew damn well that wheel was not properly secured. They knew it the instant the car pulled out and the wheelman from the right front picked himself off his ass and said ” Hey! I wasn’t done yet!”

Watch the tape, it’s plain as day, the lollipop man blew his job, releasing the driver before ALL crew members finished.

Bad form, he’s probably looking for a job now, but nothing sinister so far. Had Renault radioed Fernando as to what happened, and he slowed way down and managed to get back, I doubt anyone would have said a word.

Instead, Renault chose to NOT radio the driver to apprise him of the situation, even when Fernando radioed in to say he had a problem.

So Renault getting a damn sharp penalty comes as no surprise to be. I’m not certain the ban is the correct penalty, but the correctness of the penalty is another debate. Seems the debate here is whether Renault deserved a penalty, or not. Answer: Yes.

By: Mouse_Nightshirt

Mouse_Nightshirt — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:15:35 +0000

So basically it’s not Renault’s fault because it was their employees fault?

Renault let him on his merry way, didn’t tell him to leave the track and didnt tell him his wheel was loose.

By: kelosma

kelosma — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:38:38 +0000

it wasnt renaults fault the guy changing the wheel tried to secure the retainer even when alonso was diving away but the man with the lollipop left him go too soon

By: Daffid

Daffid — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:07:33 +0000

Absolute tosh. Let’s see this alleged evidence the Stewards have gathered. Are we to believe that the guy on the lollipop – who is the one who released Alonso – looked down and said, “Yeah, wheels not on right, but sod it, I’ll let him go.”
Nobody knowingly released anyone – why on earth would they, what would they have to gain? They would much have preferred a 10s longer stop and the wheel on right.
The stewards have issued a ridiculous statement – not for the first time – and everyone seems to have swallowed it. Another ridiculous decision, defensible only if you you live in the FIA dreamworld.