2012 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE

[Hammer278]

Maybe that's why no updates, they've spent all their time working on pitstops.

[acosmichippo]

They typically target Silverstone for car updates. And it's not like they commandeer their aero engineers to fix the car jack...

[racechick]

I think the engineers were all trying to get jenson up the grid.

[TeamMcLarenF1]

They typically target Silverstone for car updates. And it's not like they commandeer their aero engineers to fix the car jack...

If so, it's seems a bit out of order at this stage of the season, especially when it's clear the remaining top team have caught up (and some pass) in the performance area. McLaren should be bringing updates at every race now...and not just bits to get half a tenth but steady gains. It's like this every year with them—they start catching up when it's too late and then are satisfied to have won some races. In the last few seasons, they started out on the back foot but this year, they were actually ahead and this is where McLaren has no killer instinct. When Red Bull started off their seasons with a bang, they kept their foot down on their opponents' necks and didn't let up until both Championships were secured. McLaren, they pulled their foot off and said, "right, get up and lets have another go." It's hard to watch them p... away these championships this year.

I'm just saying...

[acosmichippo]

I'm not sure you can so easily sum up their engineering attitude like that. I'm sure they've been working just as hard as they always do on their car. Some teams make quicker progress than others, and sometimes those other teams do. That's just how it goes.

[suitcase]

OK, question everyone. This was probably discussed somewhere within this thread but to be honest I'm not about to go through 30-something pages to find it. So why did Pastor Maldonado receive a penalty for the collision with Lewis Hamilton? Looking at it again, it looks like Maldonado may have pushed Hamilton into the wall sort of, but he did so because Hamilton didn't give him any room in the first place and was running him off the track. I'm not biased either way, just curious because I don't totally understand.

[spankyham]

OK, question everyone. This was probably discussed somewhere within this thread but to be honest I'm not about to go through 30-something pages to find it. So why did Pastor Maldonado receive a penalty for the collision with Lewis Hamilton? Looking at it again, it looks like Maldonado may have pushed Hamilton into the wall sort of, but he did so because Hamilton didn't give him any room in the first place and was running him off the track. I'm not biased either way, just curious because I don't totally understand.

You're right, it has been discussed to death. My summary and opinion:-
1) the FiA has set a clear principle that pushing a guy off track in this manner is legal - Bahrain Rosberg/Hamilton and Rosberg/Alonso. Hamilton did exactly what Rosberg did. If you recall, Fernando was critical of the decision and said it would create a dangerous precedent.
2) Maldonado was completely in the wrong because, he was already off the track - there was no reason for him to get back on track immediately, he could simply have gone ahead and off track (there was mountains of room) and joined the track a little later and the tried another pass. If he really felt aggrieved he could protest, but he'd get nowhere IMO because of the precedent the FiA has made at Bahrain.
3) Maldonado is an <EDITED FOR CONTENT> No name calling! DD

[stonemonkey]

What Hamilton did in Valencia was no different to what Kimi did here:

[acosmichippo]

Or what Maldonado himself did twice before in Valencia alone, with Webber and Kimi.

[Hammer278]

What Hamilton did in Valencia was no different to what Kimi did here:

It's vastly different since Kimi is the blue eyed blond kid who can do no wrong, whereas Hamilton is...Hamilton.

[bud]

Kimi's eyes are more a piercing grey.

[spankyham]

You might even add that its really no different to what Shumi did to Rubens in Hungary a couple a years ago. The difference was in the environment (in Hungary was there was a wall there) but the driver actions were the same.

[bud]

No way near the same!

[Hammer278]

Kimi's eyes are more a piercing grey.

I don't know mate, never stared into his eyes before.

[Slim]

No offence to all alonso fans but can anyone explain why alonso was allowed to take his 1st place podium this week when he never got his car back to parc ferme ( he stopped in front of the grandstands and left the car there ) , in light of the fact that when Lewis did similar a few races back to save the correct amount of fuel for testing , he got a penalty !!! The rules quite clearly state a car must make it all the way back to parc ferme at the completion of the race !!!!!!!