- 09 Sep 08, 02:32#63867
As Hamilton and Raikkonen approach the Bus Stop Chicane Hamilton edges ahead on the outside.
As Raikkonen squeezes Hamilton, the McLaren driver decides to cut the corner to avoid an accident. Note that at the point Hamilton crosses the white line (i.e. the earliest point he can be judged to have left the track) his front wheel is virtually level with Raikkonen's rear wheel.
As Raikkonen exits the corner, Hamilton is about a car's length ahead.
As the cars cross the first line, Raikkonen has already caught up 1 1/2 car lengths and leads. At this point Raikkonen is known to have been 6kph faster than Hamilton.
At the second line, Raikkonen's rear wheel is ahead of Hamilton's front wheel.
Hamilton is at this point TOTALLY behind Raikkonen.
Now take a look at this photo:
It shows the start of the second lap with Raikkonen in the foreground quite clearly off the track and going past Hamilton, who has spun. If the judgement applied to Hamilton (i.e. that despite giving the position back he gained an advantage from leaving the track, as evidenced by his later overtaking move) were applied in this case, Raikkonen would have to take a penalty as his extra speed out of Eau Rouge allowed him to overtake Hamilton and resulted in part from going off the track rather than cutting inside or stopping. But we all know that would be barmy.
Does anyone have the OFFICIAL wording of the rule that this involves, and/or the wording of the stewards decision?
As Hamilton and Raikkonen approach the Bus Stop Chicane Hamilton edges ahead on the outside.
As Raikkonen squeezes Hamilton, the McLaren driver decides to cut the corner to avoid an accident. Note that at the point Hamilton crosses the white line (i.e. the earliest point he can be judged to have left the track) his front wheel is virtually level with Raikkonen's rear wheel.
As Raikkonen exits the corner, Hamilton is about a car's length ahead.
As the cars cross the first line, Raikkonen has already caught up 1 1/2 car lengths and leads. At this point Raikkonen is known to have been 6kph faster than Hamilton.
At the second line, Raikkonen's rear wheel is ahead of Hamilton's front wheel.
Hamilton is at this point TOTALLY behind Raikkonen.
Now take a look at this photo:
It shows the start of the second lap with Raikkonen in the foreground quite clearly off the track and going past Hamilton, who has spun. If the judgement applied to Hamilton (i.e. that despite giving the position back he gained an advantage from leaving the track, as evidenced by his later overtaking move) were applied in this case, Raikkonen would have to take a penalty as his extra speed out of Eau Rouge allowed him to overtake Hamilton and resulted in part from going off the track rather than cutting inside or stopping. But we all know that would be barmy.
Does anyone have the OFFICIAL wording of the rule that this involves, and/or the wording of the stewards decision?
Jim Clark, Monza, one lap down...
