Not an unfair response. 
There is just more grey area in driving infraction penalties. You can argue one way or the other on a driving infraction. Was the car alongside enough to deserve space? Did the driver release the brakes unduly to gain position? Was that second defensive move really a “move” according to the regulations? Was the contact incidental or purposeful? Did the car leave the track to avoid a collision or to gain position/time? There are soooo many variables at play. And the FIA hasn’t done a good job of making the rules of engagement clear at all times. Part of the problem they’ve had with consistency on policing driving standards (and to be honest a problem almost every series across motorsport has to deal with) is trying to MAKE racing black and white according to the rules. In reality, a battle between two drivers is like a dance. Both drivers need to sort of work together to not crash each other. I think that is a fundamental misunderstanding among the general ‘normies’ who haven’t raced competitively before. I see comments all the time on F1 videos or whatever, saying “but I thought the rule was car A had to be X amount of feet alongside car B blah blah? Shouldn’t this be an automatic penalty?”, but it’s my belief you can’t make the racing rules cut-and-dried like that. Normal viewers probably want very strict and defined rules with regards to on-track incidents so they can understand them easily, because if you haven’t been in a race yourself, it can be confusing what is and isn’t allowed. There are too many other factors at play and each driver is different and their definition of “clean” or “acceptable” racing would vary a bit. Plus, these are the most competitive racers on the planet; they are going to take every inch allowed and then some. Which is what we want to see! Drivers on the ragged edge, risking and driving at incredible levels to produce compelling performances.
Whereas a technical infraction is pretty cut-and-dried. Was the plank too worn? It’s yes or no. You can’t really argue it. Either it passes the test or it doesn’t. Extenuating circumstances don’t really have an effect because you’re dealing with hard numbers and data, not humans.
1 Like
I hesitated to mix this in with everything else, but your sentiments above are probably the biggest factor in why there are flexible rules/penalties for driving versus the black and white rules/penalties are enforced for technical aspects. And that’s fine if that’s what the market wants. Really it is - who is one person to say that the world should change for them.
However, this thread has helped me realize the truth that complaints about sportsmanship, driving standards, and fairness all come from a place of failing to accept that prioritizing any of those values will put a competitor at a distinct disadvantage when faced with another driver who is simply seeking to find the limits of what they can get away with for the least penalty (which is exactly what the rules incentivize).
So next time I think about complaining about driving standards or how ‘dirty’ a certain driver is, I’ll just remind myself - it’s not an accident or an error, or a miscarriage of justice - it’s by design. And that’s ok. 
“He spent months meticulously building a bonfire in his living room, then had the audacity to call the fire department in a panic, genuinely shocked that his house was ablaze.”
I get your point.
The reality is that driving standards/sporting rules could easily be written/enforced to be pretty much black and white if people so chose. iRacing essentially does it with their Safety Rating system. The issue is that we went away from requiring room to be left and towards “owning” a corner.
Regarding this dsq, I’m conspiratorial. I find it too convenient for boosting viewing figures with a 3-way showdown. If it is genuine, it’s a colossal balls up by McLaren. It happens, but this really puts the pressure on two drivers that don’t have the best record of dealing with it.
1 Like
With the rain and limited practice, I can see how one would make a mistake and run the car a bit too low. Doesn’t take much on a street course to start bottoming out.
I’m more intrigued as to why McLaren were not as fast as Max was. They told Lando to “go get Max” and he was like “with what pace? This is all I have.” Lando was a couple tenths off. Maybe Red Bull has caught up finally and now McLaren are trying to be more aggressive with ride height to keep up, leading to the bottoming and plank wear.
Either way, it is a big screw-up by McLaren.
1 Like
Extremely stupid as it is completely unnecessary. Norris doesn’t need to be competitive to win the championship, no need to run the car this low.
Good thing it keeps the championship fight alive, but they are also the favorites for the next 2 races so idk
1 Like
It would take some more big mistakes for Max to take this, but it’s possible.
The only thing I can think of as justification for running the car so low and trying to eek out as much performance as possible right on the limit, would be to make sure Lando stays out of the mid-pack. The only thing that can cost him this title is a crash or DNF. And that likelihood goes up big time if he’s mired in the mid-field and Lawson or Bortoleto or Stroll collects him somehow.
Still needlessly risky in my opinion. But Max could win both the final races realistically. I’m excited!
Was not exactly on my bingo card
2 Likes
He always chased an executive position, and I guess Aston Martin were the only ones ok with him having some equity.
Yawn. Most boring Sprint ever?
Max drove the tires off that thing early but looks like Lando was mostly cruising and keeping tires alive.
What a dismal weekend for Ferrari and Lewis specifically. He was being pushed all the way by the Alpines…
1 Like
I understand why, from a business perspective, they chose to sign Hamilton, but I am still so disappointed they replaced a prime Sainz with him. Hamilton has 6 top 5 finishes on the year, Sainz only had 9 races outside the top 5 last season, including the Saudi Arabia race he withdrew from due to appendicitis. Granted Leclerc has also struggled more this year as well but not to that level. 14 top 5s this year versus 21 last year, so by that rate Hamilton still should be at least in the double digits for top 5 finishes this season.
Stoked for Piastri to look like he found some form back, but I have a feeling it may be too little too late for him with Lando only needing P3 in the next 2 races to seal the championship. Anything can happen but it still feels like a long shot with only 2 races left in the season.
I was pulling for Max to make something interesting out of the sprint but he just didn’t have anything after the first few laps
Most boring…. so far.
1 Like
Lando botched the timing there but not a huge deal for him. Piastri on it all weekend so far, not going down without a fight. Max squeaked up there and I expect him to go full checkers or wreckers in turn 1 tomorrow.
Ferrari is going to lose their drivers. What a dismal team. How much longer can Charles be patient or how long will his passion for Ferrari outweigh his desire to win races… Hamilton is totally lost in that car.
Tomorrow, every sector is going to feel like a move in a high-stakes chess game.
One of the biggest budget and resourced teams in the sport… if they don’t show up with a proper car next year I don’t see how they keep either drivers. Lewis can go wherever he wants and for Charles you can only kick a dog so many times before he bites back or leaves. Not sure how he manages to keep pretending to be positive in the Press Pin.
The only hope is Ferrari is sacrificing the year to get the new regulations right next season, but that’s such a weird decision to make when they were almost winning the constructors last year
I never imagined that Ferrari’s rivalry with Lamborghini would result in them making tractors.
8 Likes
These comments about how Charles should leave Ferrari could be copy/pasted from 2023 or even earlier. I think Charles has already proven that he would rather waste his career than leave Ferrari. I have little sympathy for him. Hamilton is a different matter.
Charles has already said he isn’t optimistic for next season.
With his self-flagellation over the radio and his desire to stay at the dumpster fire of Ferrari, he might actually be a sadomasochist.
1 Like