Belgium Grand Prix 2011, Spa Circuit - Race 12/19

Looking at the BBC replay, I'm changing my 50/50 view of the Ham/Mal incident..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9573626.stm

@22 seconds, the camera behind does show Maldonado in a really bad light..

The subsequent front shots show Lewis jinking still, but I think the camera angle doesn't show the actual track direction vs car direction very well and it's at odds with the first shot, which show Lewis largely trying to follow the circuit, Maldonado has a very clear line he's taking, a deliberately aggressive one!

Hmm.. maybe 80/20 Maldonado.. :)
 
I think the trick is to look at the gap between the white line and Hamilton all the way round, that way you can clearly see hes largely just following the curve. :)
 
As I see it Hamilton moves to his right as that's the line down to Eau Rouge - going from the outside of the track to hugging the wall. He jinks left as he realises Maldonado is beside him. Maldonado carries on straight, which as the track curves around to the right, means he cuts straight accross Hamilton path.

Yes, Hamilton could have braked, but you couldn't blame Lewis for giving Maldonado credit and assuming he wasn't going to be a complete retard and run in to him.

And besides all this, the first incident at the bus stop at the end of Q2 was Maldonados fault too.
 
Hmm, having watched a better quality video it does look like Hamilton turns towards him VERY slightly but not in the same way Maldonado just ignores the turn. Should be DQ'd for that.
 
It was a difficult moment, there was no reason from my side to have contact and from the side of Lewis. It wasn't rainy conditions and we need to understand what happened. There was no need for contact after the chequered flag.
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When asked if he agreed with Hamilton's claim he had deliberately moved into his McLaren, Maldonado responded:

No, no, I don't.
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Subliminal Aura said:
Vettel confirms what I said earlier.... Either Hamilton or the car is not happy with sector 3, the lockup in S3 cost him the pole.

Should make for an interesting race as Hamilton was blisteringly fast through S1 + S2
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Wasn't his front left wing end plate touching the track, i think i saw sparks every time he braked for the bus stop.
 
It was - every time he went over the bump braking for the bus stop. Pretty sure I saw Alonso's Ferrari do it too in Q3.

I'm not so sure Hamilton locking the inside wheel braking for the last chicane would have cost him .4 of a second. He still made the apex tight enough and carried good speed through the second turn. Haven't seen the sector times so not usre though.

Hopefully the coverage tomorrow will show where Vettel made his time up. My guess is Pouhon and Fagnes due to the better stability the RBR has at high speed.
 
Couple of things from Twitter:

@VoxVocis said:
Both drivers are out [of inquiry] but still no decision from the Stewards as to what - if any - penalty will be given. Lewis is in the garage and Pastor the Williams Motorhome. #BelgianGP #F1

FIA asked for telemetry from both Williams and McLaren. #BelgianGP #F1
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And Ferrari make their bias even more obvious.
 
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sunama said:
So, are you implying that Hamilton is under no obligation to take avoiding action and if he can see another car right alongside him?

Hamilton could've stayed on the left hand side of the track or could've hit the brakes to allow Maldo to pull away. They were not racing, so there was no need for Hamilton to hold his speed or his racing line. No need at all.
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Yes but UNTILL IT HAPPENS Hamilton couldn't predict and assume that Maldanado wouldn't turn to go around the curve aswell.

99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the time that happens Hamilton AND Maldanado would have turned at just about the same time and cruised around the corner.

You're blaming Hamilton for failing to assume Maldanado wanted to hit him, when Hamilton realised this(and failed to see INTO THE FUTURE) he did move back left, and Maldanado just made it worse basically.

Assume Hamilton wasn't there, Maldanado would have, hit the wall going straight instead of turning normally, how on earth could anyone expect Hamilton to know he would do this?

Also why would you expect Hamilton would flat spot a pair of tyres he might need to use in the race, by breaking hard, to avoid someone he doesn't know intends to hit him?
 
Bizarrely i wouldnt be surprised to see hamilton get some kind of slap on the wrist for instantly saying over the radio it was deliberate

Since that pretty much 'brings the sport into disrepute' as mentioned earlier

Maldonado definitely looked fishy though, to start going on about track being wet etc was surprising. Theres no excuse for being so close on the slow down lap once the session had finished, wet or not.
 
@CroftyF1 said:
5 place penalty for Pastor, Lewis gets a reprimand. The decision has been made folks
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Little harsh on Lewis - I can see why though as he did move accross slightly, and very light on Pastor, especially considering what happened to Stefan Mucke.
 
MooMoo444 said:
Bizarrely i wouldnt be surprised to see hamilton get some kind of slap on the wrist for instantly saying over the radio it was deliberate

Since that pretty much 'brings the sport into disrepute' as mentioned earlier
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Surely the race director did that by broadcasting that radio message? It's not like he said it directly to the media.
 
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