What's up with Schumie?

[KgB]

   I wonder what 2000cc's 20,000 rpm and 6 atmospheres of boost would put out???       


   

 

1.5 litre turbocharged F1 engine from 80's puts out 1300 plus horsepower during the race and 1500hp in qualifying. RPM were limited to 13000 , valve springs couldn't close valves fast enough.

[saggs]

WTG Webber  completely dominated, he would have been like 35-40s clear if not for all the safety cars.  I'd say the most dominating win so far this season.  On board laps didn't even look like he was pushing that hard.



Also I have to say that 20s penalty on Schumacher last lap is total BS in my opinion.  Alonso fubared the restart and Schumie took advantage of it.  Safety car was in, cars where accelerating away, Alonso screwed up, and Schumie did what race drivers are supposed to do.  Seems like a case of taking the letter of the law to the extreme to me.

I could concede, OK he hadn't crossed the line yet, shouldn't have done that, technically an illegal pass.  But then just give the place back to Alonso and all is well.  But 20 stinking seconds seems waaaaaay to extreme for me.     Ruined what was otherwise a decent drive for him.

[edog1977]

^ Actually you are allowed to pass after the first safety car line near pit in.  No to sure about this instance, but that holds true for any restart after a safety car period.

[saggs]

^ Actually you are allowed to pass after the first safety car line near pit in.  No to sure about this instance, but that holds true for any restart after a safety car period.

I guess Alonso hadn't crossed that line then yet, but it was close.

It shocked me when I saw the post race results, because Martin Brundle, David Coulthard, and that other commentator who talks to much and annoys me (I REALLY miss Murray Walker) all agreed it was a fair pass.  The safety car was already in the pit lane.  And Webber was already accelerating down the final straight nearly to the finish.  Alonso lost the back end for a moment accelerating out of the corner on the restart, and Schumie took him on the inside exiting the corner.  I was really shocked that the stewards called it illegal.  But even so, if it was illegal, why not just give the place back to Alonso.  It's not like it gave Schumie and unfair advantage over anyone else, it happened on the 2nd or 3rd (so many corners in Monaco I can't remember) to last corner, the race was over 15s later.  A 20s penalty in that situation just seems really extreme to me.

Edit: and I'm not just saying this because I dislike the Spaniard, I'd feel the same with any drivers in that situation.

[klingan]

There was a line just before pitlane that Alonso had past before Shummie passed him.

[danny76]

So 4 races in and so fan Schumacher has been, well... not very Schumacher-like.

Now I'm not a rabid Schumacher fan, and I never expected him to come back and dominate like he did before, I never though he could take the Championship this year.  But I did thing he would be in the top 5.  I'd just like to see him competing with the likes of Hamilton, Vettel, Button and Alonso.  The more people in the fight near the end of the season the more exciting it is I think.

So what's up?  Is he really just too old, has his reaction times slowed to much with age?

It seems, especially in Australia and China that his car just didn't have the grip, especially in China he was braking earlier into the corners and accelerating slower out of them, and it seemed like every time he put the power down coming off an apex he was fighting loads of over steer.  So I kinda wanna think that the car just isn't set up the way he likes, BUT then again Rosberg has outclassed him in every qualifier with the same car.  His only bright spot in China was when he blocked Hamilton, whose car was obviously faster and grippier, for 3 laps.  Everyone else Hamilton rolled right past with no problems.

Anyway, I think it's gonna be Vettel or Button for the Championship this year.  Vettel if his car is reliable throughout, Button if it's not.

Best bit of Formula 1 is the ability to switch channels and watch Moto GP, 100 overtakes a race against 10 overtakes per season

[-tronski-]

Ferrari appealed on a technicality that the race was finishing under the safety car and under such rules theres no overtaking - however race control announced to the teams the safety car was coming in, the marshals pulled the SC signs and waved yellows, and showed green flags and lights. Mercedes maintain under the sc rules you can pass after the safety car line which was before the Rascasse with the start finish line following the corner and there was no Safety Car as it had left the track just prior to the SC line with the track under green flags/lights, so race on.
If Ferrari maintain that their drivers knew the rules and were coasting to the finish, why did Alonso try to accelerate away at the SC line - spin his back wheels and slide the back out giving the chance for Schumachers pass if he was only coasting to the end?

Ross Brawn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQerOq_7DcA

 Tronsky

[RTHolmes]

safety car went in, both cars had crossed the line, alonsos right foot was too heavy, schumi nicked a cheeky place. looked fine to me, couldnt believe he got the penalty. and trust me i'm not a schumi fan...

[saggs]

Ross Brawn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQerOq_7DcA

 Tronsky

Wow!!  With that evidence Ross had, I'm now even more flabbergasted that he got penalized.  Not only had the SC come in, and not only had they crossed the SC line, it's plain as day from Schumie's in car footage that he was looking at green lights/flags.  It's also plain as day the Alonso was racing, not coasting to the finish.  How in the world does the FIA justify this?!?  If they're not allowed to race, then why the %#$@ are they waving green flags?!?   

[Wobbly]

From the BBC F1 site:

Article 40.13 of the Formula 1 sporting regulations states: "If the race ends while the safety car is deployed it will enter the pit lane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the chequered flag as normal without overtaking."

Doesnt explain the green flags though 

[saggs]

From the BBC F1 site:

Article 40.13 of the Formula 1 sporting regulations states: "If the race ends while the safety car is deployed it will enter the pit lane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the chequered flag as normal without overtaking."

Doesnt explain the green flags though 

Nor does it explain why they announced "track clear" and "safety car in this lap".  Or why they pulled the SC signs off the track, or the green lights.

Bottom line; Green lights/flags + no SC signs + "track clear safety car in this lap" = They (race control, FIA) either made several colossal screw-ups simultaneously, OR they did not intend to finish under the SC (per article 40.13). 

If the former, then the stewards should have said, "We're sorry Michael, but you shouldn't have been allowed to pass there.  It was our mistake however, so we'll just give the place back to Alonso, your back in P7, no harm no foul"

If the latter, then Schumi's pass stands.

Another thing to consider is that the steward/driver this week was Damon Hill.  Who by some accounts has no love lost for MS.  Apparently (I've heard 2nd hand) Hill was on the BBC this morning trying to justify this decision, say things like Schumacher was "dangerous" and "gonna get somebody killed" and the FIA needed more "safe passing rules".  Really Damon    Some of the passes Alonso made on his brilliant drive from 24th to 6th looked crazy dangerous, I mean pucker factor up in the teens scary.  At one point I thought he was gonna drive right under Kovalinen.   Should he be penalized for them?  *rhetorical question* Of course not, that's what makes it exciting.

I hate to say it, but this almost sounds like a case of Damon Hill still being  bitter towards MS, and using this as a chance to give him a big screw you.

[Gh0stFT]

Killer Instinct, yes Schumi still have it!
The rule is crap, i mean they disccussed for 3 hours before they announced the penaltie for Schumi.
If it was a 100% mistake it would be announced instant. I think it have something to do with Damon Hill
sitting in the Jury
This situation didnt happend before so i say nobody really knew what to do, but as a race driver you allways
try to overtake when the track is clear & green.
Good Job Schumi 

Best bit of Formula 1 is the ability to switch channels and watch Moto GP, 100 overtakes a race against 10 overtakes per season

LOL since when is F1 an "non-stop overtake sport"? it was not and it will never be, its F1.

R
Gh0stFT

[saggs]

Still, despite the ridiculous penalty on Schumacher, I thought it was a great race.  Alonso zipping up through the field from last place made some exciting moments.  A caution for a loose drain  . Button no doubt pissed at his crew for leaving a duct cover on and frying his engine, sucks for him.  And even Rubens Barichello tossing out his steering wheel gave me a chuckle.

Most of all Webber was just crazy fast, and it didn't even look like he was pushing as hard as he could have.  Plus Championship leader now.    Hoping Webbers great race streak continues.  He seems like a very deserving guy.