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[LewEngBridewell]

And what if there was a contact? It would be different?

What if it was Monaco?

[darwin dali]

NR didn't force anybody off the track since both LH and FA were BEHIND him when he moved towards the edge of the track. It was LH's choice to pursue his original plan and venture out on an agricultural excursion - he didn't have to, he could have done what FA did in the same situation, i.e., back off and stay on track. I agree with the stewards' decision. This is racing at the pinnacle of motorsports and not some nanny fou-fou motoring!

Under the current rules, a driver can make one defensive move and has to allow a car's width, something Rosberg did not do... lack of consistentcy on the part of the stewards, I have seen lesser infractions punished, either just let the drivers race or punish everyone equally, no shades of grey, did a driver break the rule as written, yes? hand down the appropriate punishment!

Charlie Whiting:
“A driver can make one move only to defend a position – but when that driver then moves back onto the racing line to take a corner it can be construed as a second move, which is not allowed. It’s a matter of deciding to what degree resuming the original line is acceptable.

“We don’t want to get into silly arguments about centimetres so we’ve decided the defending driver must leave at least one car width on the racing line otherwise he will be judged to have made a second move and penalised accordingly. We need to have drivers giving each other space on the track – otherwise we risk dangerous collisions.”

So, the NR situations don't apply here - it was his first move that spelled trouble for LH (and FA) and LH should have backed down and not force the issue (he was lucky there wasn't a wall or something in his way). Afterwards NR moved back to the racing line coming out of the corner and there was plenty room on either side of his car.

[myownalias]

Charlie Whiting:
“A driver can make one move only to defend a position – but when that driver then moves back onto the racing line to take a corner it can be construed as a second move, which is not allowed. It’s a matter of deciding to what degree resuming the original line is acceptable.

“We don’t want to get into silly arguments about centimetres so we’ve decided the defending driver must leave at least one car width on the racing line otherwise he will be judged to have made a second move and penalised accordingly. We need to have drivers giving each other space on the track – otherwise we risk dangerous collisions.”

So, the NR situations don't apply here - it was his first move that spelled trouble for LH (and FA) and LH should have backed down and not force the issue (he was lucky there wasn't a wall or something in his way). Afterwards NR moved back to the racing line coming out of the corner and there was plenty room on either side of his car.

Surely what NR did would be in breach of article 20.4?

"20.4 Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted."

[darwin dali]

Charlie Whiting:
“A driver can make one move only to defend a position – but when that driver then moves back onto the racing line to take a corner it can be construed as a second move, which is not allowed. It’s a matter of deciding to what degree resuming the original line is acceptable.

“We don’t want to get into silly arguments about centimetres so we’ve decided the defending driver must leave at least one car width on the racing line otherwise he will be judged to have made a second move and penalised accordingly. We need to have drivers giving each other space on the track – otherwise we risk dangerous collisions.”

So, the NR situations don't apply here - it was his first move that spelled trouble for LH (and FA) and LH should have backed down and not force the issue (he was lucky there wasn't a wall or something in his way). Afterwards NR moved back to the racing line coming out of the corner and there was plenty room on either side of his car.

Surely what NR did would be in breach of article 20.4?

"20.4 Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted."

Apparently not since LH was not crowded by NR as he was BEHIND NR when the move happened and he CHOSE to drive to the right of NR and off the track instead of backing down and trying the open side to the left. Had he been 'substantially' along NR when the move happened, THEN it would have been a punishable maneuver.

[bud]

It was no different to Schumacher and Rubens at Hungary I believe a couple years ago and Schumi got penalised.

[darwin dali]

It was no different to Schumacher and Rubens at Hungary I believe a couple years ago and Schumi got penalised.

and you know it. Watch the video footage. MS and RB were side by side and then RB got squeezed with no alternate line available to him. LH wasn't anywhere along side of NR when he made his defensive move and LH simply chose to stick it out and go off track when he could have lifted and pick the other side.

[racechick]

NR didn't force anybody off the track since both LH and FA were BEHIND him when he moved towards the edge of the track. It was LH's choice to pursue his original plan and venture out on an agricultural excursion - he didn't have to, he could have done what FA did in the same situation, i.e., back off and stay on track. I agree with the stewards' decision. This is racing at the pinnacle of motorsports and not some nanny fou-fou motoring!

I would argue he did force him off the track by not leaving a cars width for lewis's car to fit into. I agree withe your sentiment That this is the pinacle of motor sport and we should let the big boys race.....but how many times last year did lewis fall foul of 'nanny fou-fou' stewarding. Now nobody knows what they are allowed to do and its left to the inconsistent stewards to decide who they play nanny to, and who they let race. Not good enough.

[acosmichippo]

I don't think it's a good idea to go comparing rulings to any old race from any other year. Stewarding, like officiating in any other sport, varies from race to race and, even more-so, year-to-year. That's just how it is when there are so many variables, points-of-view, and interpretations to consider.

With these being the first major questionable moves this year, I'd say let's see how the stewarding is for the rest of the season. Maybe they're trying to not meddle as much as they did last year, especially since no one was really harmed or benefitted in either case.

[racechick]

Lets hope so, though the penalty on Narain kind of suggests otherwise.

[killem2]

NR didn't force anybody off the track since both LH and FA were BEHIND him when he moved towards the edge of the track. It was LH's choice to pursue his original plan and venture out on an agricultural excursion - he didn't have to, he could have done what FA did in the same situation, i.e., back off and stay on track. I agree with the stewards' decision. This is racing at the pinnacle of motorsports and not some nanny fou-fou motoring!

I would argue he did force him off the track by not leaving a cars width for lewis's car to fit into. I agree withe your sentiment That this is the pinacle of motor sport and we should let the big boys race.....but how many times last year did lewis fall foul of 'nanny fou-fou' stewarding. Now nobody knows what they are allowed to do and its left to the inconsistent stewards to decide who they play nanny to, and who they let race. Not good enough.

I would also like to hear your opinion on the commentators coming out of the gates blasting nico, since it matters.

[racechick]

NR didn't force anybody off the track since both LH and FA were BEHIND him when he moved towards the edge of the track. It was LH's choice to pursue his original plan and venture out on an agricultural excursion - he didn't have to, he could have done what FA did in the same situation, i.e., back off and stay on track. I agree with the stewards' decision. This is racing at the pinnacle of motorsports and not some nanny fou-fou motoring!

I would argue he did force him off the track by not leaving a cars width for lewis's car to fit into. I agree withe your sentiment That this is the pinacle of motor sport and we should let the big boys race.....but how many times last year did lewis fall foul of 'nanny fou-fou' stewarding. Now nobody knows what they are allowed to do and its left to the inconsistent stewards to decide who they play nanny to, and who they let race. Not good enough.

I would also like to hear your opinion on the commentators coming out of the gates blasting nico, since it matters.

Coming out of what gates? What commentators?

[cheekybru]

NR didn't force anybody off the track since both LH and FA were BEHIND him when he moved towards the edge of the track. It was LH's choice to pursue his original plan and venture out on an agricultural excursion - he didn't have to, he could have done what FA did in the same situation, i.e., back off and stay on track. I agree with the stewards' decision. This is racing at the pinnacle of motorsports and not some nanny fou-fou motoring!

I would argue he did force him off the track by not leaving a cars width for lewis's car to fit into. I agree withe your sentiment That this is the pinacle of motor sport and we should let the big boys race.....but how many times last year did lewis fall foul of 'nanny fou-fou' stewarding. Now nobody knows what they are allowed to do and its left to the inconsistent stewards to decide who they play nanny to, and who they let race. Not good enough.

I would also like to hear your opinion on the commentators coming out of the gates blasting nico, since it matters.

Coming out of what gates? What commentators?

I presume he means that the sky commentators both said they thought maybe NR would get penalised, i spend the whole of the race after that point pissed off because i thought hammy was bound to get a grid penalty next race which would hurt him so much more in the championship, I didnt think Lewis deserved that i said at the time nethier should get penalised as NR was in the wrong, but didn't gain from it, after doing the same to FA, i wouldve liked to see Niko punished just because i KNOWLewis would have got punished if hed done that to two other racers.

[cheekybru]

Since the Maldanaro incident at spa ive lost all faith in the stewards, in fact it was before that, with the kimi-lewis incident at spa, maybe its just spa stewards

[killem2]

With all that said, Lewis was totally shoved off the track and I think it was amazing that he still overtook the merc, off track. I cheered for minutes.

[Hammer278]

With all that said, Lewis was totally shoved off the track and I think it was amazing that he still overtook the merc, off track. I cheered for minutes.

Totally, only Lewis will metaphorically give the finger to a car which just shoved him off the track and still get by. Ballsy stuff, even Alonso backed out of it.