Did you watch the race? How much harder could Lewis have tried with out crashing? There was no margins on several occasions.
He is an exceptional talent, and rarely makes mistakes but don’t confuse that with him not trying.
Leclerc will need to learn acceptable limits, and will I am sure have an accident if he continues to drive with such an over zealous(and dangerous) defence.
On the other hand at any other circuit would there have been a special flag, or would there have been a 5 sec penalty instead?
It would have been handing a 1,2 to Mercedes and I expect a riot would have ensued from the Tifosi if that had that been the case.
He had the racing line and was there first. I’m a Hamilton fan... just not sure it would have been justified as a penalty.
I agree in part. I don’t think a penalty would have been a good outcome for the race or the fans. But the precedent has been set in the past that if you don’t leave a cars width for your competitors when they are along side on a straight you are penalised.
I think Leclerc drove a very good race under intense pressure. But if Ham had crashed when he was forced onto the grass perhaps we would view things differently
20.4 Any driver defending his position on a straight, and before any braking area, may use the full width of the track during his first move, provided no significant portion of the car attempting to pass is alongside his. For the avoidance of doubt, if any part of the front wing of the car attempting to pass is alongside the rear wheel of the car in front this will be deemed to be a 'significant portion'.
20.5 Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted.
I’m sitting with a former F2 driver that disagrees that those rules apply in that case. Since he was their first and on the racing line. 20.5 would not apply in either case.
20.4 their where not in a straight at the time. Rewatch the incident, they where in a braking area.
Anyone passing on the outside would then be in the right according to your interpretation.
But to each their own.
20.3 Any driver moving back towards the racing line, having earlier defended his position off-line, should leave at least one car width between his own car and the edge of the track on the approach to the corner.
I think it is clear that you should leave a cars width of track if you have a competitors front wing along side your rear wheels. The only thing in dispute for me is the punishment given. A return to letting the drivers drive with less intervention from the stewards is welcome, but things must be consistent and the drivers safety kept in mind.
I can’t watch the incident again right now, but are you saying Leclerc maintained the standard racing line down the straight and through the braking area without defending the inside line?
That seems unlikely, as HAM would have been down the inside like whippet into a rabbit hole?
He didn't defend offline, that is the 2nd move rule.
Rubbing is racing!
I wonder if Max needs his own thread for next year?
Max Crashstappen
