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nigel@woodleybooks.co.uk September 8, 2008 12:38 PM

I woke up this morning to hear about this ridiculous ruling. The last couple of laps were "edge of the seat" stuff (even if it appeared to be in slow motion!), and Hamiltons victory was well deserved. Kimi couldn't even stay on the track. I can imagine that none of the drivers aggree with the ruling, even Massa..

DISCRACEFUL TACTICS BY THE FIA

maclauk September 8, 2008 2:51 PM

The decision to penalise Lewis is a travesty. He clearly let Kimi past him again.

It is becoming clear that no official decision will be made in McLaren's favour, especially if Ferrari are to benefit. After decades of watching & supporting F1 since the Team Lotus days I am now fed up with this "sport".

No team objected to Lewis behaviour; this debacle is entirely of the sport's official's making.

coolGav September 8, 2008 3:16 PM

After the relatively tiny fine imposed on Ferrari's unsafe pit release (I think the fine was the correct decision, but should have been more like €500,000 as it's a safety issue), the FIA do seem to be significantly harsher to McLaren. The incident at Spa may have only been 2 laps from the end (thus allowing the penalty to be applied after the race), but at the speed Hamilton was going that's over 4 minutes to the end - yet there was no indication during the race that car 22 was being investigated. Heikki's mistake was investigated and the penalty received promptly, so why the delay for the Lewis/Kimi incident?

Seeing the footage on last nights news (after the heat of the moment), it's clear to see that Lewis lifts right off to let Kimi lead over the line. Then he nails him into the first corner simply because he was prepared to risk a faster speed, when Kimi wasn't.

It seems the FIA want a championship showdown, but I'm afraid it may alienate many more core supporters than promote F1 to new viewers. I shan't be watching the action in Monza, and who knows if I'll bother for the remainder of the season. No wonder Fernando wants to be in the red car!

big x September 8, 2008 5:42 PM

If you watch the Hamilton on-board video it's clear was well behind Kimi after the chicane

www.youtube.com/watch

Weststandwatcher September 8, 2008 6:09 PM

Read Andrew Benson on the BBC web site and you will get a better understanding of what 'sporting advantage' means.  The 25 second penalty (in lieu of a drive through penalty) will seem appropriate.

pacman22 September 8, 2008 7:09 PM

from the FIA diary of rules changes for next season.

Item 1: ban all overtaking..

FerrariBloke September 9, 2008 3:29 AM

Even I ( a diehard Ferrari enthusiast) have to admit that the 25 second penalty really does'nt make sense.

FerrariBloke September 9, 2008 3:36 AM

A1 Gp anyone??! ;)

shanghaimax September 9, 2008 7:18 AM

Haven't any of you seen the following clause in the FIA's regulations?

All rules maybe re-interpreted at will in any scenario (by persons or corporations who the FIA chooses to listen to) which would result in cars without a predominantly red appearance from being awarding points, positions or both if said car performs in a manner which could be perceived as unfair to those driving cars that are predominantly red.

P.S. Are there any Ferrari fans out there who are proud of Ferrari's constructors championship of 2007 - Ferrari 204pts, McLaren 218pts????

Scottish Scrutineer September 9, 2008 1:10 PM

It would be a shame if the only way Lewis Hamilton could win the Driver's Championship was if he switches to a Ferrari. Mind you,  if the FIA continue to show such apparent bias against McLaren-Mercedes it wouldn't surprise me if Ron Dennis throws in the towel.

If the appeal is overturned I hope the FIA are clear in their explanation why otherwise even more people will just give up on following F1.

suman September 9, 2008 4:27 PM

I hope I am wrong about this, but going by past form, the FIA will probably refuse to allow the appeal on purely technical grounds that there is no right of appeal for a drive through penalty, even though the actual penalty applied was 25 seconds.

Such a weaselly decision would be extremely unpopular and unjustified, but what normal person would be surprised given the past form of the FIA decision makers?

blasos1983 September 9, 2008 4:28 PM

shanghaimax

"Haven't any of you seen the following clause in the FIA's regulations?

All rules maybe re-interpreted at will in any scenario (by persons or corporations who the FIA chooses to listen to) which would result in cars without a predominantly red appearance from being awarding points, positions or both if said car performs in a manner which could be perceived as unfair to those driving cars that are predominantly red.

P.S. Are there any Ferrari fans out there who are proud of Ferrari's constructors championship of 2007 - Ferrari 204pts, McLaren 218pts????"

The McLaren of last year was a Ferrari-designed car, plus as Massa says, if Hamilton had actually backed off and made the corner he wouldn't have had the opportunity to pass Raikkonen.

blasos1983 September 9, 2008 4:45 PM

All the Ferrari haters, Schumacher got penalised for spinning qualifying in Monaco by being put to the back of the grid while Alonso made a far more blatant manouevre on Hamilton in Hungary yet on got a 5 place penalty, Massa got a drive through penalty for passing the red light in the pit lane in Canada, Kimi got a drive through for not having the chosen tyres on 2 mins from the start of a race. You might say 'but they broke the rules', the same can be said in all the causes with McLaren. If you're wrong you're wrong, what ever happens at Ferrari is irrelevant.

Vectra32 September 9, 2008 4:55 PM

AutoCar: Please start a petition against the ruling

A1 GP: I believe it is regulated by the FIA - and for the 2008/9 season - 'powered by Ferrari'....I would like to congratulate Italy for winning the forthcomming championship.

Maclaren: If you don't get this overruled, please change the colour of your cars to red for the next race, Lewis should strut around in black leather (in a non goose step kind of way of course), then spend the entire race whipping these Italians arses (on the track of course) let them pass by again, then continue the whipping. Nothing to loose,  F1 has become a joke anyway.

kerrecoe September 9, 2008 7:11 PM

The staggering penalty levied on Hamilton at last weekends Spa Grand Prix has left me disgusted with the way F1 is managed. As far as I could see Hamilton behaved rather well, given the conditions, conceding the lead over Raikonnen immediately after the 'controversial' manoeuvre. He certainly behaved rather better than the 'officials' that consider his actions worthy of any penalty.

If Massa were any kind of sportsman he would refuse the extra points.

If this is the way Formula 1 and the FIA choose to conduct themselves, I shall not watch F1 GP's anymore, in site of being an avid fan for many years.

I wish Hamilton the best of luck in spite of the obvious bias against him and hope that he moves to a different motorsport that doesn't need to resort to race-fixing to artificially create a title competition.

Aitku September 9, 2008 9:11 PM

How much do Ferrari have to pay the FIA to obtain stewards decisions such as this?

Think I'll watch a sport where fair play is the norm in future.

KevL September 9, 2008 9:23 PM

What's the point. these people are killing our sport. Wont be watching next GP. Me Im going to Morecambe

jskater September 10, 2008 1:44 AM

Mclaren should either arrive with black leather cars covered in zips and Lewis and Heikki in full "gimp" gear, or perhaps with a four poster beds underneath the cars, sporting clownsuits... With the wheels drilled on a strange offset and water-squirting flowers...

The decision reminds me of that joke about the clown and the nun.....Max and Bernie anyone?

FerrariBloke September 10, 2008 4:38 AM

Let's face it guys. Things ALWAYS work for Ferrari. That's how it's been for 60 yrs, and that's how it's going to be for many ,many years to come!!!

montgomery September 10, 2008 1:18 PM

"Read Andrew Benson on the BBC web site and you will get a better understanding of what 'sporting advantage' means.  The 25 second penalty (in lieu of a drive through penalty) will seem appropriate."

Well said!

Latebreaker September 10, 2008 2:43 PM

Its laughable....if the FIA want the championship to go to the wire then going about it the right way. Its just ashame most people wont be watching it to find out.

There surely running out of bullets to shoot themselves with.

Beowolf September 16, 2008 9:28 AM

Hmmm, after all the brouha of last week, catching up with the Hamilton/Spa saga, it seems the definition of 'Advantage' when cutting corners has been further elaborated.  Not only to hand the position back - which is also what I had previously thought - but not to re-overtake until a corner or two or so further along.  You need to be a lawyer as well a driver to figure these things out in the heat of battle......