There’ll be more post-race analysis of the Malaysian Grand Prix later today. I’m at Oulton Park today to check out the up-and-coming racing drivers in the British F3 championship.
Links
Vettel escapes yellow-flag penalty (Autosport)
“The stewards spoke to Vettel after the race and, after also viewing video and telemetry data, they decided that since he had made ‘a large reduction in speed through the yellow flag area and that he understood that Car 18 was slowing with an obvious problem’ it was decided that no penalty would be applied.”
Malaysian Grand Prix: Jury still out as teams are told to improve action – or else (Daily Telegraph)
“Don’t be fooled,” [Bernie Eccestone] said prior to the race. “We have been lucky with the rain. We have got to do something. For the first time the teams have realised that they have to do something about it. We don’t need reverse grids, we just need more overtaking.” Asked how he would achieve that he said he would “make the front wing smaller and get rid of the double diffuser”.
Comment of the day
Was Lewis Hamilton’s move on Vitaly Petrov really that bad? TommyB reckons he’s seen worse this year:
It was a bit silly but no where near as dangerous as what Massa did to Webber in Melbourne weaving about in the braking zone.
TommyB
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Red Andy!
On this day in F1
On this day in 1992 Nigel Mansell won his third consecutive race of the year at Brazil. The crushing dominance of the Williams-Renault FW14Bs told as only he and team mate Riccardo Patrese (half a minute behind) beat their rivals by a full lap.
Michael Schumacher finished third but his fastest lap was two seconds slower than Mansell’s.
Harvs
5th April 2010, 0:19
I think we should put TommyB on the stewards pannel!
Just watched both moves (Massa’a and Hamilton’s) again, and looking at them from a neutral position Massa’s looks more dangerous, and more unsporty.
James_mc
5th April 2010, 0:22
As if Vettel and his RB6 don’t look distressingly omnipotent already…. :-P
TommyB
5th April 2010, 0:23
I’ll do it :D Although I’d DQ everyone but Vettel and the Toro Rosso’s so maybe it wouldn’t be such a good idea :D
Haha and thanks for choosing my comment Keith, I’m sure there will be much debate about it anyway. I think more of the hype about it was because it was a controversial driver who did it.
My heart stopped when Vettel stopped behind the Lotus I didn’t get what was going on but again a good decision by the stewards, they seems to have stopped having a power-fix and giving out penalties every few laps for little racing incidents, the idea of having drivers on panel was such a good one :)
Happy Birthday Red Andy, hope you have a fantastic day :)
Harvs
5th April 2010, 0:31
if anyone is going to say that hamilton deserved more than a black and white flag, watch the video again, and see that hamilton moves before petrov, every time, thats not blocking its trying to break tow, petrov wasnt even wasnt close enough to try overtake. its not petrov moving first and then hamilton moving infront of him, which if he did he should be penalised for.
Lenny
5th April 2010, 1:00
Hit the nailon the head Harvs.
TommyB
5th April 2010, 1:24
Agree with that, Think of it as if Petrov was driving straight on down the straight then Hamilton would have been weaving to block a move but because Petrov was trying to tow Hamilton they were simply weaving down the straight together, not Hamilton blocking Petrov.
manatcna
5th April 2010, 2:02
At last! someone with a bit of common sense
Beanzoo
5th April 2010, 9:26
Yea I think the warning was fair but know one is sayin any thing about petrov I was very impressed wit him him.
leon
5th April 2010, 20:23
At last ! Some really accurate comments!
Well done guys. I’m afraid our not–particularly- bright Legard is much to blame for starting this particular hare.
You get the impression that Brundle finds it difficult to tolerate his inane remarks.
wasiF1
5th April 2010, 11:24
I saw that when Vettel stopped car 18 ( TRULLI) waved to Vettel & I think he asked him to pass his car.
Katy
5th April 2010, 0:24
Happy Birthday to Red Andy. You’re the Run Off Area guy aren’t you? :)
I’m glad nothing was done about the Vettel thing, didn’t look like there was anything he could do. Trulli was going so slow Vettel seemed to almost stop. When I saw it on screen my heart stopped because I thought Vettel had a problem!
Michael Griffin
5th April 2010, 0:32
When I saw Vettel slow to a near stop, I actually screamed with horror! Last lap too, even the 5Live guys were in utter disbelief for a moment!
Glad Vettel did not get a penalty because lets face it, not a single one of us even realised it was under yellows, lol.
Red Andy
5th April 2010, 19:41
Thanks Katy – I am indeed the Runoff Area guy!
Michael Griffin
5th April 2010, 0:36
Whoever thought of the driver-on-the-stewards-panel idea deserves a medal, last year we would have seen so many penalties handed out, this year we seeing offenses being dealt with a rational frame of mind, not one that believes a penalty will artificially spice up the action.
Oh and regarding what thney little grey one had to say, I still say take us back to the 2008 regulation front and rear wing, but keep the cleaner bodywork and ditch diffusers altogether, hey presto, we may have flurries of overtaking again.
I still think that reverse grids of some sort might be the only thing that helps, because looking at Hamilton, once he met the Force India, slightly faster than him, bang, stopped in his tracks.
Icthyes
5th April 2010, 0:42
Here’s one idea: halve the points, but give points for qualifying. Then reverse the grid, or just the Top 10. Gives incentive to go for pole even though you’ll be disadvantaged.
Michael Griffin
5th April 2010, 0:49
I’ve always been of the view that qualifying deserves a points system, you can imagine a Lotus next year on the cusp of Q3 (dreaming I know), and thinking wow, I may get a point or something similar if I give it the beans on my lap and then BANG, cracking lap, fair reward.
Fastest lap deserves something too, especially these days with the ridiculous tyre conservation that goes on now.
US_Peter
5th April 2010, 2:53
I agree completely. There should at least be one solitary point for pole and one for fastest lap. Often times those are both claimed by someone other than the race winner, and their efforts go unrewarded.
George
5th April 2010, 15:19
Anyone could get fastest lap if they go onto soft tires in the last 5 laps
plushpile
5th April 2010, 1:16
I think the only way a reverse grid would work would be to run a sprint race on sat after quali. Quali would determine your position for the main race and the sprint race would be a full reverse grid worth 1/4 points down to 6th (8 4 3 2 1 or something).
BBT
5th April 2010, 9:03
Won’t work. You’d just get a train of cars for nearly 2 hours
Ino
5th April 2010, 1:18
Massa’s move certainly looks more dangerous but Hamilton’s move is cockier. Massa looked a bit desperate; it was more like an automatic reaction that he didn’t manage to control. Hamilton was just plain rude, like saying, can’t be ***** to overtake you again later so I’ll do whatever to keep you behind. Both should have been punished, now drivers know they can get away with it.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
5th April 2010, 10:03
I would say in Massa’s case they know they can get away with it; in Hamilton’s case perhaps not.
Hallard
5th April 2010, 15:48
Watch Hamilton’s move again. He was LEADING petrov with his weaving, rather than REACTING to Petrov’s attempt to pass. He wasnt blocking at all, petrov wasnt in a position to overtake at that point, and the black and white was a good call by the stewards.
Prisoner Monkeys
5th April 2010, 1:31
And people say Bernie is senile …
David A
5th April 2010, 2:03
He’s come a long way from the ludicrous shortcuts idea.
Plink Plonk Plunk
5th April 2010, 5:17
You want to make the show better…..how about getting rid of Bernie? And why is he always squinting?!!!
newnhamlea1
5th April 2010, 1:31
did any1 else notic the mysterious james from plymouth in 1st practice on friday? Lol, apparantly i have sources in high places or on autosport.com
George
5th April 2010, 15:20
Hehe that was funny, poor guys
JK
6th April 2010, 20:29
Lol hello James Newnham… funny seeing you here :P
US_Peter
5th April 2010, 3:02
I think we need to see a couple more dry races before the whole season is written off. Bahrain is a notoriously boring track anyhow, and with the new section added it both increased the percentage of track that had no place to pass and also spread the drivers out over more track. Hopefully China will be dry so we can see what a normal race might look like this year.
Macca
5th April 2010, 7:07
A normal race will look like Red Bull-Red Bull followed by Ferrari-Ferrari followed by McLaren-McLaren followed by Mercedes-Mercedes followed by Kubica followed by Sutil followed by who cares because they dont get points.
BBT
5th April 2010, 9:00
I don’t think so, Ferrari are going backwards at the same rate as Mclaren are going forwards. Hard to tell about what RBR are doing as they weren’t tested but Mclaren have made a decent step forward and with adjustable ride height at China will be closer to RBR.
I’m sure Mc will be ahead of Ferrari unless they step up a a step or two.
George
5th April 2010, 15:25
Ferrari’s pace has been hidden the last couple races being stuck behind other cars, Fernando’s fastest lap last race was 5/10ths faster than Hamiltons (not a great comparison I know). I think they are closer than they looked in Bahrain but still Ferrari in the lead.
Calum
5th April 2010, 8:41
Lewis was unlucky having made many overtakes to get up the field, subsequencial retirements/ incedents made the Ferraris get close to him again.
BBT
5th April 2010, 9:21
Ferrari to have F-Duct soon.
ILoveVettel
5th April 2010, 9:58
Were not the front wings made larger for helping overtaking !!!!
tenerifeman
5th April 2010, 10:26
Forget qualifying and have a draw for grid positions so that every car starts from every position on the grid through the season. Why should those on the back of the grid have to race further than those on the front? I wonder how often the race results would be different if the times of the cars started when they actually crossed the start line? Not traditional and certainly controversial but food for thought?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
5th April 2010, 10:31
Because they didn’t do well enough in qualifying.
Your idea of having a draw is even more inequitable – starting at the back at Monaco is a far greater disadvantage than starting at the back at Sepang.
Macca
5th April 2010, 14:54
***I wonder how often the race results would be different if the times of the cars started when they actually crossed the start line.***
WHAT?????
Tom L.
5th April 2010, 18:29
“I wonder how often the race results would be different if the times of the cars started when they actually crossed the start line?”
They do!
That’s how we’re able to compare lap times…
Accidental Mick
5th April 2010, 10:49
Sorry this is late – I have only just read yesterdays round-up.
Can anyone explain what Vettel was trying to say about his wheel/brake problem please. I just dont understand.
NomadIndian
5th April 2010, 14:30
Happy Birthday Red Andy… Have a great one…
Bellof
5th April 2010, 18:14
hi all, bit off track but is anyone playing pitstopboss i could really do with some help and see f1 fanatics have a few races allowing amateurs to join but i cant join somehow.. any help be much appreciated thanks
Chaz
7th April 2010, 17:02
Thankfully a common sense approach and decision from the stewards regarding the Vettel yellow flag incident…