FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Lewis Hamilton - COME ON!]

Oh thanks...looks like i'm onna have to say this...but LH wont et away with thisa!

WHAT

Yes thats right...even as a LH fan...I have to say...he broke the rules...as it states & I admit...I hope he doesnt get away with it...if he does, well it makes cheaters the best...& thats what those FA fans want!

[sidepodcast]

thoughts on grandprix.com:

"Punishing the teams involved may be rather difficult as there is a very recent precedent of inappropriate tyre use which went unpunished, when Ferrari started the Japanese GP on intermediate tyres. Ferrari claimed that it had not received any notification of the order and the FIA took the blame. It will be interesting to see whether the FIA is allowed to make mistakes and McLaren is not."

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19802.html

[certom]

here we go - who didnt expect this?

you never give up huh? if the team made a mistake, he has to pay for that mistake...but maybe there will be a massive pardon, we know how the things are going in these times on the FIA desk...

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Dennis rues McLaren's 'silly mistake'

By Jonathan Noble and Biranit Goren Friday, October 19th 2007, 18:38 GMT

McLaren team chief Ron Dennis rued his team's 'silly mistake' in using a second set of wet weather tyres on Lewis Hamilton's car during Friday's first free practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

And despite admitting this has been a clear breach of the regulations, Dennis emphasized there was no advantage to be gained by that error and hoped Hamilton will not be penalised severely for his team's mistake.

Hamilton is currently under investigation by the race stewards at Interlagos, along with Honda's Jenson Button and Super Aguri's Takuma Sato, for breach of article 25.3 of the F1 Sporting Regulations.

The article states: "No driver may use more than one set of wet and one set of extreme weather tyres during P1 and P2."

And while Dennis fully conceded his team had breached the regulations, he said the mistake only happened on a single installation lap and gave Hamilton no benefit.

"It was 100 percent the team's mistake," Dennis said. "Lewis did an installation lap on one set of wet tyres, and we just put on another set. It was 100 percent our fault.

"He only did an in-and-out lap, so there was no advantage, but it was clearly a breach of the rules. Two other people made the same mistake, and it is up to the stewards to decide on the penalty.

"We are trying maybe too hard, and it was a silly mistake. We can do no more than our best, and we are really trying hard. People make mistakes. I am not trivializing it.

"It just perhaps shows we are all human. I don't think anyone will imagine there was any advantage there at all. There is a rule there, we broke it, and we just have to get on with it."

Dennis, whose team has been excluded last month from the 2007 constructors' championship, was also humorous about the situation, adding: "I just hope the stewards don't take the constructors' championship points away - oh, wait, they've already done that!"

Well, there you are. Ron Dennis does come out and hold his hand up when he got it wrong, unlike Ferrari who, ironically, blame their FIA sugar daddies.

At the end of the day, McLaren (and a few others) made an error and should be punished, however, Ferrari made an 'error' at the Janpanese Grand Prix and got off scott free. Sadly, this has given the FIA the excuse they wanted.

[darwin dali]

thoughts on grandprix.com:

"Punishing the teams involved may be rather difficult as there is a very recent precedent of inappropriate tyre use which went unpunished, when Ferrari started the Japanese GP on intermediate tyres. Ferrari claimed that it had not received any notification of the order and the FIA took the blame. It will be interesting to see whether the FIA is allowed to make mistakes and McLaren is not."

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19802.html

I wouldn't say it went unpunished: they were threatened to get black-flagged unless they come in and change the tires, which was a punishment in itself for the time and postions lost. So, do you reckon that it would be fair to have them come in after the start of the race to change tires (or just for a 20 seconds penalty) as was done to Ferrari? Maybe they get lucky and only get a 10 or even just a 5 grid penalty...

[texasmr2]

This last post say's it all, a mistake was made, a penalty must be given as it is only fair and the infraction has been admitted too. I will state before anyone come's to McLaren's defense against my post, if it was any other team I would expect the same justice to be served.

[dank]

Hamilton hasn't been penalised but McLaren incur a $15,000 fine and a set of wet tyres. There's information on this this Spanish (?) site.

A set of wet tyres when the weather for race day is dry?!!

[dank]

[quote]McLaren has been fined 15,000 euros for its breach of the rules governing tyre use at Interlagos on Friday – but Lewis Hamilton has escaped without a time or grid penalty.

In an oversight which McLaren boss Ron Dennis described as “100 percent a team mistakeâ€

[Lewis Hamilton - COME ON!]

well as a LH fan...i'm disgusted...i would of said a 5-8 place drop aswell!

[McLaren Fan]

I wouldn't say it went unpunished: they were threatened to get black-flagged unless they come in and change the tires, which was a punishment in itself for the time and postions lost. So, do you reckon that it would be fair to have them come in after the start of the race to change tires (or just for a 20 seconds penalty) as was done to Ferrari? Maybe they get lucky and only get a 10 or even just a 5 grid penalty...

The fact they were caught and told to change them is not a punishment at all. The tyres were illegal and they had to change them no matter. In taking into account the punishment you have consider intent and consequence. Ferrari tried to catch the rest of the grid out, a serious breach of the rules. McLaren's (and the others') breach was a fairly minor mistake. Making McLaren and the others have to change tyres after the first lap would be disproportionate.

Now reading the stewards' decision, I think it's fair enough, no doubt motivated by not spoiling the television ratings. Still, I'm very, very surprised. The offence would have not affected the race so it's nice to see some common sense, for once.

[texasmr2]

Once again the driver in some form or fashion is not penalized, are they not a TEAM? There seem's to be too much segregation between the two entity's?

[McLaren Fan]

Once again the driver in some form or fashion is not penalized, are they not a TEAM? There seem's to be too much segregation between the two entity's?

Generally speaking, I agree as drivers benefit from the team. Hamilton et al. should be fined as well.

[Lewis Hamilton - COME ON!]

Once again the driver in some form or fashion is not penalized, are they not a TEAM? There seem's to be too much segregation between the two entity's?

Generally speaking, I agree as drivers benefit from the team. Hamilton et al. should be fined as well.

In aw I think LH shouldnt pay for the fine...he didnt do anything wrong, the team changed the tyres thats all, he didnt ask them to change them, if he DID ask them...then I would be saying for him to pay double what McLaren paid.

[McLaren Fan]

Once again the driver in some form or fashion is not penalized, are they not a TEAM? There seem's to be too much segregation between the two entity's?

Generally speaking, I agree as drivers benefit from the team. Hamilton et al. should be fined as well.

inaw i think LH shouldmnt pay for the fine...he didnt do anything wrong, the team changed the tyres thats all, he didnt ask them to change them, if he DID ask them...then i would be saying for him to pay double whta McLaren paid

Drivers are meant to know the rules as well. When he and the other saw the tyres being changed he could have said something. A team involves everybody.

[Lewis Hamilton - COME ON!]

Once again the driver in some form or fashion is not penalized, are they not a TEAM? There seem's to be too much segregation between the two entity's?

Generally speaking, I agree as drivers benefit from the team. Hamilton et al. should be fined as well.

inaw i think LH shouldmnt pay for the fine...he didnt do anything wrong, the team changed the tyres thats all, he didnt ask them to change them, if he DID ask them...then i would be saying for him to pay double whta McLaren paid

Drivers are meant to know the rules as well. When he and the other saw the tyres being changed he could have said something. A team involves everybody.

but can they remember EVERY rule? i think they can only remember the MAIN IMPORTANT rules

well...Schumacher didnt excatly need a team but he needed a team-mate to win the Europe GP one time & then alonso, the only team he needs, is a team of scientis who can figure out WHY he isnt leading the WDC!