2012 Formula One European Grand Prix

[James Johnson]

It was working out fine but Hamilton forced Maldonado off the track. Pastor could have taken a shortcut and for sure receive a penalty. He dediced to continue and many drivers would have done the same since Pastor is not racing for the championship, Hamilton is and should have been smarter with Vettel DNF'ed.

One accident, two drivers, two different visions. Curious what the stewards will decide as it will be a hard decision.

Well Hamilton can force Pastor off as Hamilton had the advantage of position. Pastor wouldnt get a penalty for cutting as long as he gives the position back to Hamilton on the other side. Yeah some of us might continue but i would for sure let the guy back infront and follow through instead of continuing to fight off track on kerbs.
I like when people race to race, wheel to wheel, not cruise and collect.

But like you said we will all have our own opinions.

 

[Sérgio Marques]

But Hamilton likes to race wheel to wheel and i would presume doesn't judge people on pasts. In a racing context Hamilton was right to do what he did and thats all the FIA will look at. When people say he should be smart and this, that and the other it irks me to be honest as these guys race and in the heat of the moment it all goes out the window but hey its all we think as arm chair watchers.

I understand your point, but the thing that was putting Hamilton this season on championship head, was his mature races, despite all McLaren pit mistakes, today we could see that his tires were ruined and with more than a lap to go, he should think in the championship first, instead of fighting with Maldonado. Today was a great example how a driver loose a championship.

 

[James Maskell]

3rd could be Webber's, claim that MSC used drs under yellow flag conditions! So it continues!

 

[My993C2]

Crazy race. Congrats to Alonso (he drove well today), congrats to Ferrari. Not only is their current #1 driver the winner but two former Ferrari World Champs are on the podium with the Spaniard (first podium for Schumi since his come back). Bad luck to Vettel who was let down with a car failure after dominated the race until the safety car, bad luck to Grosjean who showed us that he definitely belongs in F1 until his car too also failed him. Great drive by Webber to finish 4th after starting 19th and ... the bone head award of the day ... does have to go to Maldonado. Hamilton's tires were definitely going off and Maldonado should have been more patient. He could have had the Brit on a number of other better places to try and pass.

Alonso is the big winner today taking home the maximum number of points with his closest rivals going into the race (Hamilton and Vettel) getting big fat donuts. But we are not even half way through this crazy season, so who knows how this will all pan out in the end.

 

[Victor Ivanov]

I'll tell you what happens now:
Hamilton will be penalized for the next race. Alonso even won't be investigated for his "problem".

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

That was a great race, made even better by the fact that it was at a track that isn't known for exciting races.

The three podium finishers are, historically, Ferrari's last three consecutive lead drivers, in finishing order from most recent backwards... Interesting fact.

 

[Marian Zelenka]

Not a fan of Grosjean, but I think he will definitely win this year. He won't stop to surprise me.

 

[James Johnson]

I understand your point, but the thing that was putting Hamilton this season on championship head, was his mature races, despite all McLaren pit mistakes, today we could see that his tires were ruined and with more than a lap to go, he should think in the championship first, instead of fighting with Maldonado. Today was a great example how a driver loose a championship.

Well anyone can say that but i think Hamilton was running a mature race and yeah he could of given up the spot but he has every right to defend that position just like any others racing for position. Everyone knows Hamilton will fight tooth and nail for a position so why would anyone expect anything less is beyond me.
He never did anything that would of been different to anyone else when defending. He just kept the inside line and held it on the track in a commanding position. This is all Maldonado going off track and crashing into Hamilton who was on track and had right of way, that's what this is all about. This should have nothing to do with Hamilton who kept it on track.

 

[Adam Hartwell]

Webber won't get third if they rule Schumacher guilty of opening his DRS, he'll just get a 5 place grid penalty for Britan, which I'm going to and i'dd rather not see my idol get a penalty lol.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

We all know that Hamilton wont let anyone pass that easy and from where i see it, he didn't do anything bad.

And now we all know Maldonado never gives up

Pastor passed Hamilton on the outside before the apex so maybe the stewards will take this into account against Hamilton as he should have provided more space.

Eventually I think they are both wrong and both right. Agree fully with @Sérgio Marques that this was a great demonstration how to throw away your chances on a 2nd world title.

 

[My993C2]

.

 

[Xosé Estrada]

I'll tell you what happens now:
Hamilton will be penalized for the next race. Alonso even won't be investigated for his "problem".

Just to make it clear, drivers are not forced to go back to pits after the race, just provide 1L of fuel.

So what Alonso did is perfectly legal. Won't be legal in Q because there you have to go back to pits.

I'm so sorry

And talking avout Hamilton victim, where is the yellow flags penalty

If they balance the penalties one day, Hamilton won't be allowed to race in 3 years to compensate, so stop crying

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

I'm so sorry

No, you don't

 

[Rokas Charlapavicius]

I'm going to eat my own words..Valencia bore fest? That's bull....

Ferrari just keep racking up points great drive by Alonso, not so much for Massa though
McLaren - bad luck (Monaco 2011 - the rematch anyone?).Only 3 points.
Lotus well huge shame for Grosjean, but thankfully 2nd for Kimi,
Mercedes and Force India racked up quite a lot of points
Oh and where's Vettel - he's gone

and of course...

YEAH!!!!!! SCHUMI (although he didn't realise until after the chequers )

 

[James Maskell]

Webber won't get third if they rule Schumacher guilty of opening his DRS, he'll just get a 5 place grid penalty for Britan, which I'm going to and i'dd rather not see my idol get a penalty lol.

oh i totally feel the same way, just what rusty said on one. But next race penalty might be on the cards as they are quite strict on yellow flag situations.

 

[James Johnson]

Just to make it clear, drivers are not forced to go back to pits after the race, just provide 1L of fuel.

So what Alonso did is perfectly legal. Won't be legal in Q because there you have to go back to pits.

I'm so sorry

And talking avout Hamilton victim, where is the yellow flags penalty

If they balance the penalties one day, Hamilton won't be allowed to race in 3 years to compensate, so stop crying

Umm he didnt get it because the FIA saw that he only went 3 tenths faster than his last best on old tires then went even faster the next lap after the lap on question on fresh tires so they know he backed off. Also Nico went faster than Hamilton through the same section.

 

[Fadel Sabbagh]

3rd could be Webber's, claim that MSC used drs under yellow flag conditions! So it continues!

So could Weber pass under yellow flag?!

 

[Michael Brown]

I don't think there's a rule against opening DRS under yellow, but you do need to go slow through the area with yellows, which is what Schumi did.

If Hamilton is penalized for forcing Maldonado off the track, then so should Maldonado. He did that move to at least two ofher drivers throughout this race.

 

[Sérgio Marques]

Well anyone can say that but i think Hamilton was running a mature race and yeah he could of given up the spot but he has every right to defend that position just like any others racing for position. Everyone knows Hamilton will fight tooth and nail for a position so why would anyone expect anything less is beyond me.
He never did anything that would of been different to anyone else when defending. He just kept the inside line and held it on the track in a commanding position. This is all Maldonado going off track and crashing into Hamilton who was on track and had right of way, that's what this is all about. This should have nothing to do with Hamilton who kept it on track.

Yes, for in the incident was Maldonado fault, he is going off track and then hitting Hamilton, but Lewis knows him well and when a few corners before he defend hard on Maldonado move, I was really expecting that things would ended the way they did.

Resuming it, Maldonado fault on the incident, but Hamilton fault for putting himself on that position. With Vettel out and Alonso winning, he should minimize the damage and go for the 4th place. Still many races to go and those points instead of none, would be great.

 

[James Maskell]

So could Weber pass under yellow flag?!

No the point is MSC is not meant to be using DRS under yellows. It happened last year where people were penalised for using DRS under yellow.