Really interesting post meeting comments from all the drivers after the Masi driver briefing. For all the debate in this thread, we are all armchair observers. The drivers know what happened. Not one of them, bar Max himself, thinks his defence was legitimate. Even Checo didn’t support him though he would presumably have been under pressure from Horner to do so. Case closed for me. the FIA want the show to go on and don’t want to have penalties determine the outcome if they can avoid it. I understand that, but in this case they/the stewards obviously should have acted. Lewis’s calmness and acceptance of this nonsense for me is more than enough to make him the deserved winner in the end. I hope that’s what transpires.
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All very strange, especially when F1 is another sport where the focus is on driver (participant) safety. I hate to think what RBR’s view on events in Brazil would have been if LH had overtaken MV when forced off the track.
I missed it all yesterday, out visiting was nice but they’re not F1 fans, & guess who forgot to set the PVR.
Reading the news this morning it looks like Max is in trouble again. He was summoned by the stewards for not reacting to a double-waved yellow when Gasly has his punctured front tyre. The hearing is this morning (Sunday) and if found to be guilty is likely to get a grid penalty.
Maybe a bit of common sense has been applied here.
The photo below shows Max and Lewis weren’t the first drivers to drive off track at that corner.
The question is. How many drivers drove off track at that corner during an overtaking attempt, plus during the entire Brazilian grand prix how many driver went off track during an overtaking attempt.
If the FIA penalised drivers every time it happened, half the grid would end up with a penalty.
Grid penalties for …
Max has a 5-place penalty for the double yellow
Valtteri has a 3-place for a single yellow.
Carlos - No Further Action
Having just seen the footage and circumstances, I think the FIA has become the ‘Formula1 Incompetent Authority’.
This supposed a high tec, high cost and high performance business - yet drivers are being penalised for not seeing waved yellows at night, on the edge of the circuit, when the hazard is on the opposite side of the track. I rarely side with Christian Horner but where are the adults in all this?!
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Still 50/50 in my opinion.
Some may remember my work colleague’s nephew is (one of I assume) Lewis Hamilton’s gear box engineer. I helped him out a while back after his wife was the victim of a freak accident and now has to use a wheelchair.
Yesterday he came into the office and gave me this:
Unexpected and very kind.
G
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Sad news, just read that Frank Williams has died aged 79 this morning
R.I.P. Frank… thanks for the great Mansell years.
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Yes, very sad.
Yes, very sad, but not unexpected.
Not just the Mansell years to be thankful for; Jones, Rosberg, Piquet, Prost, Hill and Villeneuve as Champions. Senna, Reutemann, Coulthard, Button and Patrese along for the ride. 9 I think constructors titles.
Not a terrible legacy.
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A truly phenomenal legacy Jamie.
RIP Sir Frank WIlliams.
Peter
Rest in peace Sir Frank.
Watching GP practice. This circuit looks dangerous, particularly in practice with the big speed differentials. Its very fast.
Interesting Qualifying.
That last lap from Max was awesome to watch, but it was high risk going beyond the limits & he paid the price.
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Race will be nail biting tomorrow. Hard to imagine a safety car not being involved at some point…
My daughter has, for some reason, become an overnight and avid F1 fan this year. She is a big supporter of Max. Right from the start of Q1 I predicted Max would be trying too hard at some point and put it into the wall. She’s not happy.
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