Don't worry, Fernando Alonso isn't under investigation, but he would be if the FIA stewards had any consistency.
In the first corner at the Singapore Grand Prix, Nick Heidfeld clearly cuts the first corner and gains a place which isn't given back. This is the same for Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr., who both cut corner one. This allowed Alonso to gain momentum to pass Jenson Button. The place was also never given back.
If the FIA were consistent, then Alonso, Piquet (who later crashed) and Heidfeld would have both received 25-second drive-through penalties, dropping them out of the points and gifting Rosberg the win, whilst Lewis Hamilton would move into second position.
- B/R Ticket Guide
However the stewards decided not to investigate, even though the "rule break" was spotted.
This echoes the FIAsco fans witnessed at the Belgium Grand Prix, were Lewis Hamilton gained momentum and passed Kimi Raikkonen, although Hamilton yielded the place back, he was still penalised.
Is this blatant FIA bias against McLaren again? This would have given Lewis Hamilton a nine-point lead and McLaren a four-point lead, as Heikki would have scored one point. Button would have also moved up into seventh, giving him two points.
Alonso even said that Hamilton deserved his penalty as he cut the chicane and gained momentum, which is how he passed Kimi. So does Alonso work by double standards?
**Added, after being pointed out by Peter**
Secondly, Massa has now received two different penalties for the same incident. Massa was handed a 10,000 euro fine in Valencia for 'unsafe release' and now he has been given a drive-through penalty. Inconsistent?
I don't want to take away from what was a fantastic win by the Spaniard, or the Singapore GP, but consistency and penalties need to be reviewed at the FIA.
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about 1 month ago
Spot on. And Massa has now had two different penalties for 'dangerous pit-stop release', he would be entitled to feel peed off today.
from about 1 month ago
ahh yes, see so inconsistent! I will add a bit about that now!
from about 1 month ago
I think Scuderia Ferrari we a letter of oppology to Massa and Kimi. Granted the safety car issue did mess with evryones fuel strategy but it is now obvious that the light system doesn't work.
If they continue to use it they need to add a yellow light for cars getting ready to pass. They need a person resposponsible for each light.
It is up to the stewards to decide what penalty to use. They did allthough way too slow. I just dont get the Kubica Nico investigations.
Up yours Mark; we were mourning. Scuderia Ferrari lost the race and a fantastic opportunity. Ferrari was justly penalized yesterday.
I didn't see the Fernando issue so I won't comment on that other than to say he would have cleaned Mclaren's clock had Hamilton even gottten past Nico. Mclaren didn't have what it took at Singapore to win.
I think this is th emost comments from Dagni ever!
about 1 month ago
Exactly the type of article we needed Ryan , well done mate , and have you noticed that in 40 reads not one single tifosi comment ? same as petersarticle the other day , there wasnt one single tifosi saying a word because articles that are the TRUTHare coming out , just like this one , Nothing against Fernando , he drove great but why are the Stewards and FIA so lenient when its anything other than a Mclaren , plus the Two Ferrari's werent in a position to gain anything from a penalisation so they let it slip , shameful !!!!!
5 * POTD
from about 1 month ago
Well said Mark, I like the truth, but some people can't handle it, you my man, can!
I just hate the double standards within the FIA, if they followed the so called rules, Hamilton would be much better off, and Ferrari would be worse off, but no, we can't have that, especially if a rule doesn't benefit Ferrari, Grr makes my blood boil!
I had to write a light-hearted article before this to settle my anger, check it out, its called Super-Lew-Glue: Out Now!
Anyway, it was a spectacular race mate, and cheers for the stars and POTD!
from about 1 month ago
You want everyone to follow the rules?
OK...in that case, if McLaren followed the rules last year, there wouldn't have been any spy scandal to bring down the reputation of Formula One. IMO, McLaren and Lewis Hamilton never deserve to win anything....
from about 1 month ago
What has the Spy-Scandal got to do with Lewis Hamilton? He had nothing at all to do with it, he was simply a third party! If Ferrari followed the rules then their mechanic would never of handed the information over!, IT ALL STARTED WITH FERRARI, don't forget that Prasanna!
from about 1 month ago
Mark, your comments are ridiculous and presumptive. The first corner was not addressed as there were cars all over the place and it would have not been possible to determine who would have given what to whom. The reason that no Tifosi have not made a comment, can be that they have not seen it or have nothing to say. You need to let go of this stupid conspiracy thing, you are starting to sound like that idiot Walker, he was a joke last night.
about 1 month ago
Hey, it's a no brainer. No consistency from the FIA. They target Lewis and McLaren. Alonso is a gloating cheating hypocrite. All true.
from about 1 month ago
Ridiculous!
about 1 month ago
you have an excellent point, consistency through the field. just imagine if alonso was driving a red car!
taking nothinhg away from alonso though, he drove superbly.
and also, how was massa's pit box release different from valencia? no difference what so ever!
from about 1 month ago
massa got a penalty today for unsafe release from pit box. ferrari received a fine for unsafely releasing massa from his pit box into the path of sutil. if massa had done an average stop today he still would have gone into the path of sutil, therefore unsafe.
i see no difference.
from about 1 month ago
Billy, you wrote 'how was massa's pit box release different from valencia? no difference what so ever!'
Did you not spot the fuel hose attached to the left hand side of his car? Perhaps still being attached to the fuel rig when you leave the pit, and then proceeding to rip the hose clean off before travelling at 50mph with a 60kg weight flailing around behind you as you pass within a few feet of countless other mechanics could be considered unsafe...
Not Massa's fault, clearly, but very obviously an unsafe release.
from about 1 month ago
yeah but massa was still released by the team into the path of sutil regardless of a fuel hose being attached. still an unsafe release, could have caused an avoidable collision
from about 1 month ago
Dagni, that still isn't consistent. He paid money in Valencia, not a drive through. The result of THAT race would have been different if it was a drive through penalty. In Singapore they couldn't really screw up his day any more that it already had been, but I would still think a fine would be more appropriate than a drive thru.
about 1 month ago
actually i don't think he cut the corner really. he was on the outside line which gives you a disadvantage anyway, so i don't think it should have been investigated.
from about 1 month ago
sadly this what macca fans can give at best to say that FIA is agianst them. i am surprised why so many tifosis are silent anyway lol
from about 1 month ago
to Dagni, at what point did i say he cut the chicane? nowhere
to Isuru, I'm not a Macca fan, simple as really
about 1 month ago
Well I'm going to have to review the video, but if it was on the first lap, then they moved to avoid crashes. And given that first laps are rather hectic, and people have been off track at the first corner on many a grand prix start, they shouldn't have been penalised because then we would have been yelling about inconsistantcy.
As for the actual article, I think you were annoyed at something when you wrote it, because there are some little spiteful comments in there.
E.g 'FIAsco' and the way you style this question 'Is this blatant FIA bias against McLaren again?'
One thing I do agree with though, is that if he was released unsafely twice, he should have recieved the same penalty. Whether it should have been a fine or a drive through though, I am not the judge.
about 1 month ago
Hey Ryan, adding that bit about inconsistent penalties for unsafe pit release makes it look like a hadn't read the article when I made my first comment!
Actually, when a driver is given the green light by his team, as Massa was, it seems a little harsh to penalise him. Massa did nothing wrong that I can see. Maybe it should be a points penalty against the team for that kind of foul-up.
from about 1 month ago
Hopefully that minor change will stop people thinking that! lol.
Yeah I agree, it wasn't Massa's fault at all, but then again the Team and Driver are one, if the car engine lets go, its the teams fault really, but ther both punished.
about 1 month ago
good point ryan, i totally agree with you, although i forgot to mention that about alonso in my article! i gave him too much praise!
from about 1 month ago
Alonso deserves the praise, he drove a great race!
But yea, i just wanted to show up some inconsistent penalties by the FIA!
cheers for the comment.
about 1 month ago
this is stupid, he had cut the 1st corner in the intrest of safety.
rules are important, but safety is more. if youve exer watched monaco, the backrunners 6 times out of 8 cut the first corner to avoid an inncedent.
from about 1 month ago
Hmm, I seem to remember a guy cutting a corner a few weeks back in a place called Spa to avoid a collision. Didn't help HIM win the race.
Inconsistency is just as bad as an unsafe driver because the drivers are trying figure out how a rule would be applied while piloting a 200 mph projectile down the track, thus making THEM unsafe.
from about 1 month ago
its a turn 1 avoisive action thing.
about 1 month ago
I am not a Ferrari fan however as the ESPN commentator Steve Slater pointed out Massa had already been severely penalised with the fuel rig fiasco by lost time without the drive through penalty however I think if it hadnt been called for at the time their would have been cries of inconsistency!.
I agree that the team as whole should have been penalised, The driver had already received his "punishment"
I also agree with Dagni that on the first corner some leniency must be made otherwise the the first 3 laps would be totally confused by stop go penalties.
What most people dont realise is the main reason for the anti clockwise track was the lack of run off available at the end of the pit straight if travelling clockwise. ( Marina Bay beckoning ) This quite obviously recognises that the first corner or two can be disastrous for all and therefore some space is required and normally provided
On another point which I havnt seen mentioned and what pleased me was the installation of 'Knobbly" kerbs that had to be respected therefore we had drivers who had to back off to keep to the track. Hopefully more will come into play in the future GPs
Overtaking - i thought there were plenty and more than Valencia
from about 1 month ago
Yes Mark a nobody who will lose his seat for next year. If you take the time, I have commented before on the safety car, even though it was not a Ferrari driver involved. It is the most stupid rule, in F1 and there are so real stupid ones. The safety car is a joke, why not freeze the field at the time of a full course yellow like other motor sports. A rule that allows the entire race to be up for whoever is lucky enough to be in the right place when some bozo crashes out, is a farce. It means that a team could use this to their advantage, by shunting one car to force a safety car at a time that would help the other car. Sounds far fetched, well if it comes down to the last race of the season and the title is on the line. There is a lot of things a team will do to take the title.
about 1 month ago
Interesting that nobody wants to mention that the stupid pace car rule completely changed the race. It is absurd that an accident by a nobody had the entire races outcome decided. What was looking to be a dramatic race between the people that deserved to be involved, was turned into a fiasco. If Hamilton would have been the guy who had lost it all, Hamiltonites would be screaming blue murder.
from about 1 month ago
That's how the cookie crumbles!
I agree it was looking to be a 1-2 for Ferrari, but how many times have we seen the Safety Car change the GP result? A lot! Things like that happen, its the luck of the draw, and how a team copes with those changes in the race and different situations is all apart of F1. It also provided all the excitement, so I shall not complain. We have seen Lewis and Heikki fall foul of SC periods, it has happened to everyone.
Thanks for the comment Paul.
from about 1 month ago
Exactly, thank you Paul.
Massa had stretched a lead and Hamilton had messed up his tyres AGAIN. Meanwhile, Kimi was setting fastest lap after fastest lap. And, whether due to tyres or fuel, was it not Hamilton that pitted first? I'm not sure about this, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it would seem that all the Massa-bashing regarding him being "a lot lighter" was indeed crap.
The pit-lane incidents that have been the result of new safety car rules have annoyed me no-end and I can't stand the "un-lap-yourself" turd either.
Also, for those that feel that Massa's penalization was just. What, exactly, did he do wrong that needed further time punishment? He'd already had to meander down the pit lane with the fuel rig still in place and sit waiting for aid. Is it not the job of the team to put together a good stop and release the driver at the right moment to maximize position? Massa prepared himself and planted his foot on the green light.
On another note, for those still sour over Spa and now shouting inconsistency... A case can easily be made that this was the second breach of the 2008 season by Massa's team and, therefore, a greater punishment was in order. This happens all over the world and in all forms of legislation. (1st time a warning, second time a fine. First offense; three months, second offense 2 years. etc)
On the same topic, comparing Alonso's first corner (which is commonly skipped in the sport to avoid crashing amongst a packed field) to Hamilton's in Spa is poor. Adding to it more claims of conspiracy is pathetic. I also notice few of the Brit's fans echoing the thoughts of others (drivers and fans) regarding his overtaking and defense of position at Monza - Webber - Alonso, etc. He also cut numerous corners as did others. Hamilton regularly getting more than the allowed* two tyres off the track.
*allowed is referring to remarks made by the British commentators stating such rules regarding other cars whilst seemingly failing to notice Hamilton doing precisely the same thing on multiple occasions.
I'm sick of the stink some of you kick up in your articles. If you can't write an unbiased account of events on the day, how about waiting a few days and doing a recap. If it takes you a few weeks ala Spa, then I suggest a different hobby. Your just annoying people by printing such bias. A common defense of this is that, "everybody is entitled to their opinion". Well, yes, this is true. It's just a shame that so many of the ill-equipped feel the need to voice theirs publicly and in print.
from about 1 month ago
Massa pitted first, but Hamilton left the pits first because of the Ferrari blunder!
I never said Massa's Penalty was just, I was simply stating that he should have received a similar penalty to the Valencia incident, as it was the same incident. If you park illegally, you get a parking fine, if you then do the same and park illegally again, you get the same fine!
However, a penalty is just, but it shoudln't of been against Massa, it should have been against the team, a team fine or team docked points as it wasn't Massa's fault.
Secondly, I wrote this article to get some points of views on the incident, which i succeeded in doing, I can write about what and who I wan't. If you have read the Bleacher slogan, which is 'You won't find Unbiased sports coverage on Bleacher Report - and thats the idea' as this is an Open Source Sports network, so don't tell me not to write biased pieces on a site which is all about your own views SIM!
from about 1 month ago
See here Sim:- http://bleacherreport.com/about
from about 1 month ago
Point taken, thank you.
I didn't need the exclamation mark as I had asked to be corrected. My comments regarding, "a lot lighter", as quoted from other articles stand. There was no proof he was significantly lighter.
I never said YOU thought Massa's penalty was just. I said, "for those that think...” This was because a number of people had commented on this site and others believing the Ferrari driver deserved it.
Again, no need for the exclamation marks - you want to instruct me to read the 'about page'? How about reading what I write?
I agree that it was a team issue and stated this in my comment. I then went on to explain that a steeper punishment could easily be explained as this was Ferrari's second offence.
You seem angry - exclamations are used to express strong feelings or high volume.
...Do you not think that continuing for three weeks to make snide remarks about the FIA and their decisions regarding an illegal action by one racer, who has gotten away with plenty, in his short career may anger some readers?
Having read the 'about page' I'm not trying to justify my asking more of you to write less biased articles. But, as I'm entitled to express my opinion, it is as follows…
Failing to drop the issue despite myself and others repeatedly explaining precisely why Hamilton was penalized at Spa whilst adding nothing new makes you come off as a boring, bias person of little intelligence. …that or someone that likes to stir people up.
If you are the latter; congratulations… You have, as you stated ‘sparked some interest’ and that’s my ‘opinion on the subject’.
Finally, it is my belief that the FIA should look into full time stewards... But, if more than one decision went against Hamilton – deserving or not - there'd more-than-likely be another thousand Brits crying that the FIA is rigged and that they want outside, varied and independent stewards.
from about 1 month ago
Ha ha I sense annoyance at a non Ferrari finish , awww bless . not so nice when the boot is on the other foot is it paul .
an accident by a nobody changed the race ??? So what did you want them to do ? just ignore the crash and leave it there and keep the safety car in , that would of been floutiung the safety rules , and to call Piquet a nobody is a bit rich coming from you Paul , at least he is trying , so he made an error , its his first season after all jeez .
Anyone who damages a Ferrari finishing ahead of Mclaren gets your anger at them , at least us Mclarenites get annoyed for the right reasons eh . Sad !!!!!!!
from about 1 month ago
Yes Mark a nobody who will lose his seat for next year. If you take the time, I have commented before on the safety car, even though it was not a Ferrari driver involved. It is the most stupid rule, in F1 and there are so many real stupid ones. The safety car is a joke, why not freeze the field at the time of a full course yellow like other motor sports. A rule that allows the entire race to be up for whoever is lucky enough to be in the right place when some bozo crashes out, is a farce. It means that a team could use this to their advantage, by shunting one car to force a safety car at a time that would help the other car. Sounds far fetched, well if it comes down to the last race of the season and the title is on the line. There is a lot of things a team will do to take the title.
from about 1 month ago
In my opinion Piquet's car was not in a dangerous spot. I thought the safety car was overkill. But I did voice my concen about the corner workers reaction times before the race. They need to study how they do it at Monaco for next years race. They were in definite need of more cranes.
How did Piquet shunt there? Did he hit the outside wall and back into the inner?
from about 1 month ago
Yes, I wonder how he bounced off the wall on the straight?
from about 1 month ago
Piquet lost control after rounding the corner, and spun the car, with the rear hitting the wall.
I'm not sure it needed the SC either, but better be safe!
about 1 month ago
It is interesting that the man that needed a safety car the most, got one with some help from his team mate!
from about 1 month ago
It is, but at the cost of several £ million - I don't think Renault would do that. It's not like it was a championship winning race for Alonso.
Simply not cost effective - and as much as we'd like to believe their was a set up - I highly doubt their was!
Adam
from about 1 month ago
Was not really saying, that he did. Just showing how absurd the safety car rule is. If one was intent on forcing a full course yellow, it would be rather easy!
about 1 month ago
Let's just say - if he was in a Silver car, then he would be. However, no love lost, a great drive from him!
about 1 month ago
The rules state that drivers are allowed to use the run off areas if they impeded by others, so there is no argument here. Alonso won fair and square, deal with it.
from about 1 month ago
I know he did, and I said I didn't want to take away from his win, but Hamilton was impeded by Raikkonen, I don't care what people say, thats my view!
I only wanted to spark some interest and see some views on the subject, I have done this successfully.
I have also reviewed the video and Alonso had enough room to stick with the track, but he saw Hedifeld do it, and maybe it looked like an easy way to make up a place or 2.
about 1 month ago
Uh, wana talk about inconsistent penalties? How about the Q1 bit with Heidfeld and Rubens? When something similar occured earlier this year, that person was penalized 5 positions, not three.
about 1 month ago
The FIA are definitely inconsistent, you can't punish Massa for an unsafe release in Singapore and then not punish him in Valencia.
I didn't think Lewis should have been punished and I don't think Alonso deserved to get punished in this case either. However it is a good spot by Ryan though, I didn't realise Alonso did cut a chicane in the opening stages.
The main issue for me is that when you change the stewards at every GP there is no chance of applying consistency in punishments.
Permanent stewards would give you the consistency but if they had a bias against a team or in favour of a team then this bias would be carried out at every race because it would always be the same stewards.
This problem has to be looked at as it is causing alot of problems for F1 at the moment.
about 1 month ago
Just to pick Sim up on a point, even though his cage has already been well and truly rattled, this F1 section is what it is because people are not shy of expressing their opinions. If you find writers' articles boring and repetitive there is an easy answer, don't read them.
There are regular writers whose articles I know in advance I will not agree with, but I read them. Debate and the sometimes fiery exchange of opinions are all part of this site's success.
I am a 'Brit' BTW, is that a problem for you? And do I care if it is?
about 1 month ago
There is an FIA bias against Mclaren but all they can do is get on with the job and hopefully win both titles
about 1 month ago
There is nothing to do with if he was in a mclarern or whatsoever.
Lewis's incident was because he passed with the momentum, its in the rulebook.
Fernando's incident was to avoid an accident.
And to all who think the FIA are bias, they're not,they do everything according to the rulebook, which is fair. Yes the Lewis incident was unfair, but rules are rules mate.
As for Alonso's decision there is no need to penalize as he was in the turn 1 mid-field back of field. Driver's in the midfield happen to cut the first corner sometime to avoid an accident, particularly at street circuits. It happens at Monaco, it happened at Melbourne, it happened at Valencia, but why is the Frnando incident singled out?
from about 1 month ago
Most of these decisions are nothing to do with the FIA, except that they are taken by FIA-mandated local officials, and those officials are inconsistent from circuit to circuit.
Example. When the two drivers had to refuel during the safety cars first two laps, ie before the pit-lane was 'open', they knew they would incur a penalty, everybody knew that. Except, apparently, the stewards, because it took them 15 minutes to investigate if a breach of the rules had occured. That worked well for Rosberg, because he was able to put the hammer down and thus emerge from his stop-and-go in front of the pack, enabling him to score a second place in the race.
Nobody is suggesting, and I am not suggesting, that this was some conspiracy. It was bungling by race stewards that affected the results of a race. It happens time and time again, and that is why there will be a constant outcry until the FIA bites the bullet and tackles the issue in an effective manner.
about 1 month ago
so i would say that decission was done by tim schenkin and his team from Australia and CAMS
about 1 month ago
Great article. I am sick and tired of the FIA stewards.
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