All over for Hamilton now

The lowest temperature the fuel is allowed to be is 10c below ambient. I think the offenders had fuel ranging from 12 to 15c below ambient. I've heard upto 10bhp and a few tenths of a second off a pit stop mentioned.

Tony

quote:

So why wasn't LH punished for breaking the rules and using 2 lots of tyres in practice?

The team was.

I guess the BMW and Williams will be a team punishment (if any) also.
Therefore not changing the WC positions.

I can imagine the criticism that would be leveled at Ferrari if they were contesting a driver's championship result the way that McLaren is...

face it:
it's all over now - baby blue!

regards
BF

quote:

quote:
So why wasn't LH punished for breaking the rules and using 2 lots of tyres in practice?



The team was.

I guess the BMW and Williams will be a team punishment (if any) also.
Therefore not changing the WC positions.

Quoting my self that's new.
LH was of course punished as he had a set of races tyres confiscated.

As regards the BMW /Williams thing you could argue and I'm sure McLaren will that by having quicker pitstops and quicker cars they effected the out come of the WC by preventing LH from getting higher in the results.
As to criticism of Ferrari I'm pretty sure they would protest this result,especially as they seem to take great delight in "pointing" out others errors and protesting anything they can.

A couple of observations....

Rules is rules, even in sport, and even in "commercial sport such as F1. As the Pub Landlord would say, if we didn't have rules, where would we be? - "France !!" and if we had too many rules, where would we be? - "Germany !!". In other words, we need rules, and we need clear, sensible rules that are applied sensibly.

The rules need to be applied, even in the last race of the season and even if this means the driving championship changes or the constructors' championship changes after the final flag. Otherwise, next year, the final will simply be a free-for-all, with all manor of shinanigans. Might as well hold the final in France.

So its only right that the governing body investigate the alleged crime and meet out an appropriate punishment. And if they are dragging their heels over the matter, its only right that McLaren push them into action, in the wider interest of the future of F1. And gracefully accept the verdict.

Cheers

Don

quote:

I wonder if Ron Dennis will pay Alonso next year - but not let him race? That might give Hamilton more space to take the championship. It looks like he is a born champion and it's just a matter of time - but he could have done without Alonso's childishness along with all of the other pressures.

What a load of rubbish.

Before the championship, Alonso was promised he would have a team behind it but it is impossible to back two drivers at the same time at this competitive level.

Ron Dennis´ management has proved very wrong. Reality has proven that a good driver is shown in the key moments of the championship. And to screw up on the last two races does not say much about Hamilton nerves.

At the end of the day Maclaren has not won the championship because the team has supported a rookie and a two times championship winner equally. That has proven a mistake, like it or not.

Well done Don the most succinct and amusing summing up. Thanks.

Howard

Thank you Howard.

Don

quote:

but it is impossible to back two drivers at the same time at this competitive level.

I don't think that's true at all.

You can back both drivers up to the point at which it becomes clear that you need to favour one who may have an increased chance of landing the title.

Whether Alonso was promised that he would get "top banana" status from the off - I don't know, and nor does anyone else who wasn't there. His petulance on realising that there was another rooster in the hen house was obvious though, and it does him no credit.

They should be given instructions that they are free to try to win, short of risking a collision with each other for the first half of the season (or whatever stage they feel is best). Then they should get behind who has the best chance, it's called teamwork.

Kimi had no such problem with Massa, and their teamwork played a big part in getting him the title.

Steve

Hi Steve,

I am not Alonso´s lawyer. What I am saying is that it is far from clear what has happened between him, Hamilton and Dennis and I don´t think Alonso is Satan.

What it is clear however, is that Ron Dennis (the manager after all) has shown a preference for Hamilton through all the championship and Alonso has felt discrimated throughout. For whatever reason Dennis allowed a (competitive) war erupting between the two and this has finally caused Maclaren to pay a highest price.

On pure driving skills, the final races have proven that Hamilton has failed to stand the pressure. Dennis made a choice and he clearly failed.

quote:

Originally posted by Juliussss:
On pure driving skills, the final races have proven that Hamilton has failed to stand the pressure. Dennis made a choice and he clearly failed.

There we differ. Yes he made a couple of mistakes - China and the start of this one.

The first two in a rookie season - I think. That is nothing short of incredible.

But. His problem with gear selection which needed a re-start of his electronic systems, together with the team's strange decision not to fuel him to the end was what cost him.

I respectfully suggest that his overtaking of Barrichello was one of the race's highlights.

I don't think a 21 year old should take too much stick for a bit of inexperience do you?

Steve

quote:

I don't think a 21 year old should take too much stick for a bit of inexperience do you?

I have no doubt that Hamilton is an outstanding driver and surely he will be up there next year. I am not blaming him but Ron Dennis.
Although for the record , Alonso did win the championship on his first year and he was only 22 I think. And that was with a Renault!

quote:

Although for the record Big Grin, Alonso did win the championship on his first year and he was only 22 I think. And that was with a Renault!

Although for the correct record he did not win the championship in his first year. He started in 2001 with Minardi, moved to Renault 2002 and won the championship in 2005 and 2006.He was the youngest world champ.

quote:

Although for the correct record he did not win the championship in his first year. He started in 2001 with Minardi, moved to Renault 2002 and won the championship in 2005 and 2006.He was the youngest world champ.

Ok whatever!