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[Fact Man]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26052011/ ... rosso.html

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has urged Monaco Grand Prix stewards to keep a close eye on the Toro Rosso drivers after accusing them of helping title rival Sebastian Vettel at the previous race in Spain.

World champion Vettel's Red Bull and Italian-based Toro Rosso are sister teams, although independently run, under the ownership of Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz's energy drink company.

Hamilton complained after the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend that Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari had held him up while he chased eventual race winner Vettel.

The Red Bull and McLaren drivers lapped all the others in that race in Barcelona but they will have a far harder time getting past on the narrow Monaco streets, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, on Sunday.

"Definitely in the last race there was some of that, all of a sudden moving in my way, causing a bigger gap," Hamilton told Reuters.

"The gap that I closed to him (Vettel) I lost. They let him past and then they held me up for the next couple of corners. That wasn't cool.

"If that continues to happen then some penalties should probably be handed out," added the 2008 world champion, who won in Monaco that same year

"I just hope that the stewards are wary of it, and I'm sure they'll do a great job of it."

Hamilton is the only driver to beat Vettel so far this season, winning in China thanks to clever strategy despite having a slower car. The Briton is 41 points adrift after five races but has high hopes for Monaco, his favourite street circuit.

Vettel has yet to win in Monaco, but set the fastest time in Thursday's first practice. Hamilton was second fastest in an afternoon session led by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner scoffed at Hamilton's concerns.

"Believe me, Toro Rosso drivers have often had that complaint from our own drivers as well," he told reporters with a laugh.

"You've only got to look at Abu Dhabi last year to see that with Mark Webber. Absolutely not, there's no discussion between the teams," said the Briton.

"The teams operate totally independently, there's no tactics to help one or the other."

Webber finished eighth in last year's season-ender in Abu Dhabi, his title hopes disappearing after he got stuck in traffic at a circuit where overtaking is as hard as Monaco. Alguersuari was ninth.

Hamilton's team mate Jenson Button also doubted there had been any collusion between the Red Bull teams.

"They never have before, and it's not the same team," he said. "I think Buemi and Alguersuari would love to beat Sebastian and Mark. I've never had an issue before and I don't expect to see one in the future."
Reuters
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I don't know how true those accusations are but I would assume if there anything true about it, then it should be investigated.

Would RBR/Toro Rosso be so stupid to do something like that? I don't think so. I guess he just couldn't keep up with the RBR and had to say something as usual

[Hammer278]

That's a good guess from you since he finished a hefty 0.6 seconds behind the Redbull.

Anyway, this isn't the first time. In Abu Dhabi they made a good show of holding Mark along the straights only to let him through with a wide open door, and then aggressively hold back Alonso for 2 laps before he forced his way past. This time they were racing for position though, not being lapped.

Both teams are operating independently, though there has be a little bit of leeway since indirectly everyone KNOWS that Toro Rosso gets assistance from Redbull away from the spotlight. Didn't they get Redbull's chassis to work with 2 years ago?

[billindenver]

Oh so THAT is why Hamilton couldn't pass Vettel?

[bud]

This isn't the first time STR has been accused of this, but from what the director chose to show the world a HRT did a great job of holding Lewis up!

[Hammer278]

This isn't the first time STR has been accused of this, but from what the director chose to show the world a HRT did a great job of holding Lewis up!

That was bloody Narain, he almost chopped Lewis' front wing off. I remember thinking HOLY CRAP

[vlad]

Oh so THAT is why Hamilton couldn't pass Vettel?

This guy is seriously getting paranoid... Yeah, that's the reason, If it wasn't like that, he would win? BS!!!

[bud]

Where did he say that? all he said is he was held not, not that's the reason why he didn't pass! But people always will read what they want to read.

[FRAFPDD]

Where did he say that? all he said is he was held not, not that's the reason why he didn't pass! But people always will read what they want to read.

"Where did he say that?"- Exactly, give me a warning but some people are special needs on here, they will take a quote and practically change every word for something else just to have a moan

Nice to see its the SAME culprits again and i only hope that the mods keep an eye on the frequent hater posters, some are getting away with too much.

[spankyham]

This isn't the first time STR has been accused of this, but from what the director chose to show the world a HRT did a great job of holding Lewis up!

That was bloody Narain, he almost chopped Lewis' front wing off. I remember thinking HOLY CRAP

Was it Narain that Lewis shook his raised hand at when he passed him?

[myownalias]

I think that race drivers need in general to stop moaning and get on with the job they are paid millions to do! Being held up is part and parcel of Grand Prix racing; as long as they backmarking car doesn't pass three blue flags then he is completely within his rights to hold his line to not compromise his own race.

[What's Burning?]

a penalty being assigned to a back marker would be of little significance.

[billindenver]

I think that race drivers need in general to stop moaning and get on with the job they are paid millions to do! Being held up is part and parcel of Grand Prix racing; as long as they backmarking car doesn't pass three blue flags then he is completely within his rights to hold his line to not compromise his own race.

[myownalias]

:hehe: a penalty being assigned to a back marker would be of little significance.

I don't believe a penalty was required as the Toro Rosso yielded before the third blue flag; and I disagree; because they happen to be a backmarker doesn't mean it's not important. Come the end of the season every position counts as that counts towards how much money a team gets from FOM!

[FRAFPDD]

I think that race drivers need in general to stop moaning and get on with the job they are paid millions to do! Being held up is part and parcel of Grand Prix racing; as long as they backmarking car doesn't pass three blue flags then he is completely within his rights to hold his line to not compromise his own race.

Irvine held up Senna and he punched him in the face?

To claim only modern grand prix drivers do it, you imply it, is strange coming from someone whos been watching F1 at least 20 years?

You shouldnt have to refrain from letting everyone know to keep an eye out ( a clever move if you ask me) on a team or driver because some people will tell you your a moany c**t.

[What's Burning?]

:hehe: a penalty being assigned to a back marker would be of little significance.

I don't believe a penalty was required as the Toro Rosso yielded before the third blue flag; and I disagree; because they happen to be a backmarker doesn't mean it's not important. Come the end of the season every position counts as that counts towards how much money a team gets from FOM!

Points count to teams that have scored points, and otherwise, they just go by highest position attained. I'm not digging at anyone with the comment, and I agree with you that there are rules for backmarkers that allow them their time and place to choose to safely let someone pass. My point was simply to say that in most instances if handed down, it would be a pointless penalty for someone floundering in an umpteenth position.