Sebastian Vettel on Sunday stated - quite correctly - that he backs the decision to give Lewis Hamilton a controversial drive-through penalty during the French Grand Prix.
The Toro Rosso driver was passed by Hamilton at the Magny-Cours circuit, moments before the McLaren driver cut a chicane and triggered a stewards' investigation andf subsequent drive-through penalty.
"He had a better exit than me from the Adelaide hairpin," Vettel explained. "I was inside, to defend my position, and had the better line for curves six and seven. Lewis arrived with more speed; I went from the gas and braked and he kept going. For me it was clear that he was going to cut the chicane."
The 20-year-old German said Hamilton would not have been penalised had he immediately let him take back the position.
"He cut the chicane completely," he said. "I had a similar situation at the Monaco chicane, when I was too late on the brakes. I overtook two cars but I let them go again and so the issue was settled.
"If someone stays out in front, there is a penalty. I think he should have let me past again because he had a better car and could have passed me again."
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I watched and recorded the race. I watched the chicane incident more than once. It seemed to me that Hamilton passed Vettel completely well before the chicane and then had to cut the chicane to avoid hitting the car that was in front of him. He didn't gain a postion on the car that was in front of him, so there was no reason to punish Hamilton. This was one more rather obvious case of the FIA screwing with McLaren to make certain they don't beat Ferrari. Ferrari is a good team. They would do well without all of the FIA's help. The Ferrari/FIA alliance damages the sport.
He had pains getting by the Rookie in the Renault for almost 10 laps. An inferior car for sure. He is lost in the hype, and pressure which leads to poor decision making. Like I have said in other posts we have seen the best from MaClearn this year. HK couldn't even best the Toyota for a podium. I knew LH would be going nowhere from mid pack. There are some drivers that are very, very tough to pass. They all have something to prove esp when a MaClearn is in the mirrors.
Point from JOL. W taken. I do believe though in the same circumstance that we are discussing, MS and AS would have allowed the overtaken car the position back and then overtaken them properly and within rules. Maybe it is purely just inexperience on Hamiltons part but I think its arrogance and him annoyed that a "inferior car" is, how dare them, in front of me. I will make the comment that Prost and Barichello, although great drivers don't have a shelf full of world championship trophy's.
Ferrari is in front through superior engineering and team organization and not due to the idiot Mosely who is the worst part of F1. They are very important to the sucess of F1 as are all the teams.
What an idiot! I honestly think that McLaren would do better with even Jeremy Clarkson in the driving seat! Any predictions for Hamilton's inevitable Silverstone blunder?!?!
Put the blame on Ron Dennis. He should have called Hamilton to surrender the position to Vettel and try to overtake again. Ron is just too proud enough to admit it was a mistake. If he can prove that the race steward is wrong, take a video footage the prove it. The obvious is he doesn't.
The truth is as what Vettel said. Hamilton was overtaking him, but he hasn't cleanly done it yet. Vettel had already brake for the turn for the chicane. Hamilton carried too much speed. Had there not being other cars in front, he might be able to make it through the chicane and overtake Vettel cleaningly. He was too fast. To avoid collision with the cars in front, he straight line the chicane. That really undo his overtaking effort because he hadn't overtake Vettel cleanly, unfortunately.
Under gray area situation, Ron should have called Hamilton to surrender the position to Vettel to avoid the penalty.
it is clear that hamilton should let vettel pass him again after the passing incident..
so he will not been penalised.. he and the mclarent team need to accept this punishment.. not to protect the british driver who clearly wrong... so do hamiltania fan also..
iegenesis said "Senna and Schumacher were the last true pure drivers that were superior to their counterparts through pure talent irregardless of superior equipment"
Not always the case, remember that Prost and Barichello gave Senna and Schumacher strong competition in the same team cars. Both Schumi and Senna would also take strong and illegal action to secure a victory, grid position or championship. They were both "racers", something that also applies to Hamilton but is frowned upon by the authorities who want to exert control over what happens on and off the track, especially when the car isn't a Ferrari. Why, because Ferrarri is seen as commercially important to the F1 brand adn Moseley doesn't like the people he used to comepete against on the UK circuits (especially Ron Dennis).
Note, no personal abuse, racist taunts or swearwords in this posting, so some of you will obviously not understand it!
Barry R I truly doubt that you could do what LH could do and live to tell the tale. As a rookie he made history by being the only rookie to finish on the podium nine times in a row. How many podiums have you achieved in your life time? The only jerk here is yourself so cut out acting holier than thou and try and speak more rationally.
ssbriseno: I think "Ady" meant KR. K is close to M on the keyboard.
This penalty was justified, and if Lewis had simply let Vettel back through, he'd have got him on the next go around anyway. This was impatience, just the same as we saw in Rio last year, and we all know where that got him!
Is he a good driver? Yes. The best on track right now? No.
His car has plenty to do with his current success, but honestly, if you put Vettel in the MP4-23, you'd have a driver pushing for the podium if not the win. There is more than just the obvious "great" drivers in F1... For god sake, Felipe is leading the championship, and kudos to him for that.
I've read a number of posts in the last day or too about the FIA and Ferrari being in bed again, but this is just plain junk-talk. We all know this isn't true, and if the rules are obeyed then the penalties wouldn't be given.
To ady : I apologize for my ignorance, but, who the hell is M.R ? Mickey Rourke?
Lewis no doubt is a great driver but his ride makes him appear a lot better than reality. F1 has a fantastic group of drivers with some having the advantage of superior rides. Sauber is a prime example of a team ride becoming great and along with that it's drivers also become great. Drivers are only 50% of the equation in todays F1. Senna and Schumacher were the last true pure drivers that were superior to their counterparts through pure talent irregardless of superior equipment. Money didn't rule the sport back in Sennas days and Schumachers early days where he won no matter what ride he had. I would like to see Lewis in the Renault as Alonso would always have him in his mirrors.
to gringomonkey: it's not all the drivers effort that f1 is interesting again its because they removed alot of driver aids in the f1 car, that is why there's alot of action on the field rather than the previous seasons and by the way who looks stupid last season, you say its the ferrars'..... those stupids are the last years champions and now leading the both championship... and your right he overtakes where he want thats why he ended up having penalise... but i dont dis-agree that L.H is a good driver it's just the lock of experience and the pressure of being the number 1 driver and the youngest in f1 got into his mind so early!
to gringomonkey: it's not all the drivers effort that f1 is interesting again its because they removed alot of driver aids in the f1 car, that is why there's alot of action on the field rather than the previous seasons and by the way who looks stupid last season, you say its the ferrars'..... those stupids are the last years champions and now leading the both championship... and your right he overtakes where he want thats why he ended up having penalise... but i dont dis-agree that L.H is a good driver it's just the lock of experience and the pressure of being the number 1 driver and the youngest in f1 got into his mind so early!
Response to all...Yes Hamilton is young impulsive and on occasion a bit stupid, but at last we have an F1 driver who is prepared to look like an arse. He sticks his car where no other F1 driver will, I have become soooooo bored over recent seasons because no one else is prepared to overtake anyware!! Look at last season, both ferrari drivers and his team mate had absolutly no idea what he would do, hence he made them look fools on more than one occasion...He overtakes where you "Cant" acording to the retards ITV has commentating! I think we should have more of the likes of him racing, I just wish the FIA and other race officials would recognize that this is still as far as I know a race, not a health and safety exercise!
your f****** idiots, there is only two good drivers, L.H and M.R and the rest are spoilt little cry babies, if it was left to the real racing it would be a hell of a battle between the two
To jamiepowell26: I'm guessing that you were trying to add some intelligent input to this discussion but unfortunately, whatever it was, it seems to have been lost in the vitriol. If you were trying to add intelligent content, please try again so that we will be able to understand whatever it is that you want to say.
James
Barry, what the hell are you on, Hamilton isnt a jerk, or a rookie, Vettel shouldn't be so @#$% and then nothing could happen. You call hamilton's driving Flat out speed? good luck with that one, he is one of the most tactical drivers out there, oh and guess what, the youngest! Like to see you do better than Lewis has done...
I agree with Sebastian and with Barry; Hamilton seems to think that he owns the track and that having other cars out there is a bit of a nuisance. As I have said before, he is an arrogant pratt with much to learn and much to deliver if he wants to earn the respect of the guys on the grid. Another season working with the two time world champion Fernando Alonso would have helped him greatly but he, and his "Royal Family" entourage were too arrogant to understand that. McClaren need to take charge of this guy in a hurry and disabuse him of his thinking that he is God's gift to Formula One. He's not, he's just another fast rookie with a heck of a lot to learn. Right now, there are at least ten other drivers on the grid that could take his car and be on the podium more consistently than he has been able to do. And if he does not lose his arrogance, and his "Royal Family" entourage, he may well find himself watching one of those other drivers driving his car, whilst he is watching on TV in the comfort of his living room.
James
Barry R. hits the nail on the head again...I was suprised to see LH finish the race...
Nice the see FM take home another Ferrari win
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