Spanish Grand Prix 2012, Catalunya - Race 5/20

Too harsh, it's time for Mclaren to change Whitmarsh. He says all the right things to the cameras but the team fails to deliver time and time again.

Yet again he doesn't get the chance to pull away from his team mate due to team incompetance.
 
The way the rules are written excluding Lewis from qualifying was the only decision the stewards could make. Cars must have a litre of fuel on board at all times and return to the pits under their own power. If the FIA checked fuel after every qualifying lap then they could have just stripped Lewis of his pole lap, but they don't so the assumption has to be he was under-fuelled for the whole of qualifying.

Well said.

Everyone is forgetting this has happened at least once before for what is called "fuel irregularities".

2011 German Grand Prix when Buemi was excluded from Qualifying and demoted to the back of the grid with no time. Did everyone say they were walking away from F1 because of that? Hey, maybe it happened because he was Swiss and the German stewards hate the Swiss for not being in the EU...... Ridiculous isn't it. Just as daft as the Spanish/Alonso conspiracy theory! He broke the rules and had to take the punishment stipulated. Hamilton has done the same and must take the punishment.

Hamilton crossed the line with 20 seconds to spare before his final lap. The re-fueller saw that he had made a mistake and rather than leave the fuel rig attached a few seconds longer to give the correct amount of fuel either he or management decided to send him out. They knew Lewis was under fuelled and decided to try to pull the wool over the stewards eyes. Act of god indeed!

If the punishment isn't stipulated and is open to the Stewards discretion I think McLaren would have been better going to them and saying "look, guys we messed up and under fuelled the car by 2 litres (or whatever), as you know this gives a 0.2 second per lap advantage, therefore Lewis would still have been on pole, we accept any fine you might send our way". Doing something like that might have given them a better chance, or at least made McLaren look more honest to F1 fans. Although I suspect that under fuelling falls into the umbrella term "fuel irregularities" which carries a punishment of exclusion.

Should be a cracking race though, cannot wait.
 
So, whatever Williams have done during the last 3 weeks, it sure has worked.
Williams were consistently fast this weekend.

Predictions time (and this is not easy), I'll go first:
1. Vettel
2. Alonso
3. Kimi

I may as well throw a dice, as even now, there is no clear contender emerging.
McLaren overall, have the best car, but their drivers aren't in the best form, which is allowing Vettel, Webber and Alonso to compete.

So come on guys, lets have your predictions.
 
Too harsh, it's time for Mclaren to change Whitmarsh. He says all the right things to the cameras but the team fails to deliver time and time again.

Yet again he doesn't get the chance to pull away from his team mate due to team incompetance.

For me, Whitmarsh is one of the best team principals out there (along with Horner).

I think McLaren are just taking things right to the edge, thats all. Today, they got caught out. On another day, they'd have got away with it.
 
Yet again he doesn't get the chance to pull away from his team mate due to team incompetance.

Just give it a rest will you

The world against LH :rolleyes:

Jenson had a breakdown last race which cost a handful of points, but completely forget about this of course (not to mention Lewis having less fatal mechanical issues last season)
 
What's the bets on hamilton driving an epic race and getting up the field before taking out massa in a misjudged overtaking manouver into turn 1? :D
 
For me, Whitmarsh is one of the best team principals out there (along with Horner).

I think McLaren are just taking things right to the edge, thats all. Today, they got caught out. On another day, they'd have got away with it.

Taking it to the edge or not, poor team performance and mistakes has arguably cost them three races this season, and if not the wins then some considerable points loss. Thats a good way to lose a season, despite having the fastest car on the grid.
 
deserving of penalty? without a doubt! but cant help feel its a bit harsh, but as has been said, they took the gamble and lost, shame for Lewis though, yet another opportunity down the pan due to incompetence.
but should make the race entertaining.
 
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