Comments on: Alan Donnelly inadvertently reveals FIA's Ferrari bias

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:03:44 +0000

Montoya actually broke the rule of switching to the T-Car too close to the start without the FIA’s approval, if you’re thinking of the US GP 2004.

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:40:00 +0000

Montoya broke the rule that forbids anybody to be on the grid except for drivers in their cars within 15 seconds of the start. This is an absolute safety issue, hence why the back flag (which is the usual penalty for this, even though I’m not entirely sure whether the FIA remembered to specify this in the regulations).

Raikkonen broke the rule that says mechanics may not work on the car within three minutes of the start. That is a conditional safety issue; it’s there to make it more likely that the “nobody on grid within 15 seconds” rule is respected, but it’s primary purpose is to ensure an orderly removal of people from the grid. By not allowing work on the car in the final minute the mechanics can be on the grid, it means that they have time to gather their things together and make their way to the edge of the track in the allotted minute. Kimi’s mechanics obviously did this because otherwise Kimi would have been liable to two penalties rather than one.

The stewards will never come up with fair and consistent judgements until they read and memorise the regulations. It’s got to the point where the stewards are simply an encumberance to fair racing rather than the facilitators they are meant to be.

By: Lephturn

Lephturn — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:08:00 +0000

@Andrew

Not true. If Hamilton can win despite the obvious bias against him he more than deserves it. Now of Massa wins, that won’t really count, as he’s been handed so many points by the FIA it’s obvious he wouldn’t deserve it.

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:33:18 +0000

See – thats the problem when you tell lies. You have to keep telling them in order to try & retain control over the story, and you end up tripping up.

I love these ad hominem attacks from Mosley and Mini Me (Donnelly). If they could learn to argue their case without insults then they might stand half a chance of souding reasonable and credible.

As it is, they can’t, won’t and don’t – yet we are stuck with them. What a ridiculous state of affairs to be in. Exactly what will it take for the teams to say no more?

By: K2san

K2san — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:31:19 +0000

Thanks Doctorvee for the correction.

By: doctorvee

doctorvee — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:19:38 +0000

K2san — I think the Montoya black flag you are referring to was probably the 2004 United States Grand Prix, but that was quite a different incident. In that instance, Montoya actually switched to his spare car after the time limit.

By: K2san

K2san — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:14:44 +0000

I’m not sure but wasn’t Montoya black flagged for a similar incident? I mean I can imagine that you’re too late to put the guy with a flag in front of the driver … he these stewards have 25 years experience right so could be slow because of their age right?
So can anyone recall the black flag of Montoya incident? Because if this is true it’s even worse isn’t it.

By: josh joseph

josh joseph — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:39:06 +0000

wow – that’s a truly great piece of information – thanks Doc.

By: Ponzonha

Ponzonha — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:59:15 +0000

I can define this situation in my language with many words. In English, I can only come up with “Moronic”

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:25:08 +0000

it is a great shame that this sort of nonsense goes on. It is one more reason why whoever wins this season won’t be considered the true champion until they do it again.