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[Hexagram]

Total over reaction by the Stewards. It was a f**king mistake, they never punished drivers/teams for releasing drivers with the fuel rig still attached which can potentially kill just as easy.

Renault should win their appeal, they did not know the wheel was not on properly nor did Alonso until turn one and its not like he was trying to race then afterwards, he slowed down and tried to get back to the pits.

[ducksfan]

Does Fernando have a permission to drive for another team, if his team is banned? I dont think Renault will allow this.

But let me think. If this would happen to Ferrari, would they punish them like this? I dont think so. This really is unfair.

[Gilles 27]

My understanding is that Renault were aware that the wheel cover was not correctly attached. This itself is a sign that the wheel may not be properly attached but the team may not have known for sure that the wheel itself was loose, only the cover. They were therefore happy for the cover to become detached out on the track, which would not harm them greatly but would be quite dangerous for following cars.

They failed to notify Alonso of any irregularities with his pitstop once he radioed in to complain about the car's behaviour. This radio transition would surely have been the point at which they could be certain of a loose wheel but they neglected to tell Fernando to pull over.

[Denthúl]

But let me think. If this would happen to Ferrari, would they punish them like this? I dont think so. This really is unfair.

What a ridiculous comment to make. What are you on?

[ducksfan]

What a ridiculous comment to make. What are you on?

Look. This is getting all too weird. Kimi has a accident, and nothing happens. Fernando has a accident, and they get penalised like this. Yes, the accidents were different, in a major way, but we know, from the previous races, and years, that Ferrari has always been judged with a different meter than the others.

BTW: I am a Ferrari fan. I just want things fair, and they are not.

[Denthúl]

What a ridiculous comment to make. What are you on?

Look. This is getting all too weird. Kimi has a accident, and nothing happens. Fernando has a accident, and they get penalised like this. Yes, the accidents were different, in a major way, but we know, from the previous races, and years, that Ferrari has always been judged with a different meter than the others.

BTW: I am a Ferrari fan. I just want things fair, and they are not.

What accident of Kimi's?

[richindarlo]

What a ridiculous comment to make. What are you on?

Look. This is getting all too weird. Kimi has a accident, and nothing happens. Fernando has a accident, and they get penalised like this. Yes, the accidents were different, in a major way, but we know, from the previous races, and years, that Ferrari has always been judged with a different meter than the others.

BTW: I am a Ferrari fan. I just want things fair, and they are not.

What accident of Kimi's?

your getting 2 very different incidents confused. you should be comparing Kimi to Webbers incident in Germany. If Webber got a penalty, Kimi should have. you cant however say Kimi touching wheels with people is the same as Renault allowing a car with a wheel dangerously loose deserve the same severity of penalty

[FerrariFan63]

How the hell is everything that happens in F1 something to do with Ferrari?

Renault knew that the wheel wasn't properly attached, and knowing this they sent it out on the track. This is a serious safety breach which deserves a serious penalty. End of.

[Amanda]

How the hell is everything that happens in F1 something to do with Ferrari?

Renault knew that the wheel wasn't properly attached, and knowing this they sent it out on the track. This is a serious safety breach which deserves a serious penalty. End of.

Did they really know it was loose when they sent him out? I just can't imagine why they'd do that knowing it was bound to come off and force Alonso back into the pits, I think Renault's appeal will address that.

[Denthúl]

How the hell is everything that happens in F1 something to do with Ferrari?

Renault knew that the wheel wasn't properly attached, and knowing this they sent it out on the track. This is a serious safety breach which deserves a serious penalty. End of.

Did they really know it was loose when they sent him out? I just can't imagine why they'd do that knowing it was bound to come off and force Alonso back into the pits, I think Renault's appeal will address that.

That's what I want to know, too. During the pit stop, Brundle commented that the guy working on the right-front wheel didn't appear to have his arm up, though.

[Amanda]

How the hell is everything that happens in F1 something to do with Ferrari?

Renault knew that the wheel wasn't properly attached, and knowing this they sent it out on the track. This is a serious safety breach which deserves a serious penalty. End of.

Did they really know it was loose when they sent him out? I just can't imagine why they'd do that knowing it was bound to come off and force Alonso back into the pits, I think Renault's appeal will address that.

That's what I want to know, too. During the pit stop, Brundle commented that the guy working on the right-front wheel didn't appear to have his arm up, though.

The only video I can find on youtube doesn't have a very good angle to see if he does put his hand up or not. If they did knowingly let him out then I'd think their appeal would be pointless but who knows.

[7UpJordan]

In the next few weeks leading up to Valenci-yawn, Renault's suspension could play a big part in both Alonso's short and long term future, he won't want to stay with Renault if they are going to start mucking his races up, and we all know it's hardly a secret that he wants to join Ferrari next year.

[Gaz]

How come Kimi got of scot free in France last year.

that was far more dangerous than this potentiay as:

1. Alonso was going alot slower
2. The part was much smaller + lighter (wheel cap)
3. Alonso Was not aware of the problem

Kimi pitted they looked at the exhaust and sent him on his way it then flew off fortunitly not into some following drivers path.

You can't go giving out no punishments for that, then because of a series of terrible events give out completely diffrent penaltys.

its a joke.

[EwanM]

This is precisely the same complete pile of bollocks which I have come to expect from the FIA and its petulant race stewards.

Today's decision to ban Renault for the next Grand Prix is the same Knee-jerking reaction that we always see from the governing body in regards to safety.

Unfortunately incidents like this happen. I don't think that the Renault pit crew could have done anything to prevent it really. They are not mechanical. They all think for themselves and they are all competitive.

Sometimes in the heat of the moment and when rushing to save as much time as possible, lolly pop men do make mistakes. (Whether they are using lights or the stick). Although they are to blame, sometimes it is impossible to prevent. Although the wheel man appeared not to be ready, the other mechanics were and off Alonso went.

You can hit me with the "oh he should have been more careful", but none of us have been in such a high pressured situation, and as everyone knows we all handle pressure differently.

Alonso didn't fit the wheel on and he surely didn't realise that it was loose. It wasn't his fault that the wheel came loose from his car. So why is he being punished with such a race ban?

As I said in the canopy thread, motor racing is dangerous, and no matter what precautions are taken, accidents happen and fatalities do occur. Mark Webber could easily have collected Kimi Raikkonen in the pits today and there could have been a whole host of injuries, maybe even deaths. Why wasn't Red Bull banned?

My point is why is it that loose wheels or debris are the flavour of the month at the moment? I realise the Surtees and Massa accidents play alot on the minds of the body, but shouldn't such care and attention on these issues be enforced all of the time? It has happened before, so why haven't the guilty teams been banned?

Are they, the FIA, saying that a wheel coming off a car is more dangerous than a pitlane accident? Or a brake failure or cars crashing into each other? It appears that way.

This so called war on safety (something we'll never win) needs to be fought on all flanks. And it should be fought after much consideration. Rash changes to the cars or penalties to teams or driver is not on.

Renault do not deserve a ban. They deserve a reprimand and a hefty fine. At most the loss of constructors points in Valencia or a suspended ban.

If anything this pushes Renault further out of the door. I'm sure the French boardroom will think twice after this decision, and think further if the appeal is not overturned.

This was an untimely error and serious damage could have been done. I do not disregard the threat to safety that today's incident posed. But today's decision shows how inept the FIA and its law enforcers are.

And it doesn't just happen in Formula One. I've complained before about other FIA ran series. (Such as Formula 2)

[7UpJordan]

As I said in the canopy thread, motor racing is dangerous, and no matter what precautions are taken, accidents happen and fatalities do occur. Mark Webber could easily have collected Kimi Raikkonen in the pits today and there could have been a whole host of injuries, maybe even deaths. Why wasn't Red Bull banned?

Are they, the FIA, saying that a wheel coming off a car is more dangerous than a pitlane accident? Or a brake failure or cars crashing into each other? It appears that way.

Yeah I think pitlane incidents are far more dangeous, look what happened when a wheel came off Michele Alboreto's Minardi at Imola in 1994 and hurt some Lotus mechanics. When Alonso's wheel came off, it was lucky that he was going quite slow, the wheel was travelling in a straight line away from the track and not bouncing as bad and anyone that could have seen it would have had plenty of notice to take evasive action.