Australian GP 2011 - Albert Park, 24-27 March

[i70q7m7ghw]

Had Vettel kept on the track, there would have most likely have been a smash. I may be wrong here but I think a driver is allowed to do what Vettel did if it avoids an accident, therefore no foul.

It's not the job of the car infront to avoid a collision, we aren't talking wheel to wheel here, Vettel was well ahead through most of the corner. If he had been wheel to wheel with Button and had taken the run off that would have been fine. Your point is irrelavant anyway, he didn't take to the run off to avoid Button, he was carying too much speed to make the corner.

[andrew]

Had Vettel kept on the track, there would have most likely have been a smash. I may be wrong here but I think a driver is allowed to do what Vettel did if it avoids an accident, therefore no foul.

So it's okay for Vettel to break the rules, but if it's Hamilton then the stewards (and Johnny Herbert in particular) are racially biased in his favour?

I don't think Vettel broke any rules. By going off track where he did, he had taken the longer route an was compromised for the following corner, thus penalising himself.

[i70q7m7ghw]

Had Vettel kept on the track, there would have most likely have been a smash. I may be wrong here but I think a driver is allowed to do what Vettel did if it avoids an accident, therefore no foul.

So it's okay for Vettel to break the rules, but if it's Hamilton then the stewards (and Johnny Herbert in particular) are racially biased in his favour?

I don't think Vettel broke any rules. By going off track where he did, he had taken the longer route an was compromised for the following corner, thus penalising himself.

Next corner, you mean turn 5? It's pretty much full throttle, he wasn't compromised. Look at a map of the track before you just blurt stuff out.

[i70q7m7ghw]

Using the run off when u are racing alone (driver error or any factor) is another thing than when overtaking someone.Since its a park and a wall cant be just be built there,i would love to see Vettel (or any driver) completing that move with a bunch of these placed in the runoff area.

Agreed, they need to do this for next year. They do it at Monaco.

[andrew]

Next corner, you mean turn 5? It's pretty much full throttle, he wasn't compromised. Look at a map of the track before you just blurt stuff out.

I am fully aware of what the next corner was, so nothing was blurted out. Turn 5 is a righ hander and Vettel was off line so would not have been able to take it at full speed.

[i70q7m7ghw]

Next corner, you mean turn 5? It's pretty much full throttle, he wasn't compromised. Look at a map of the track before you just blurt stuff out.

I am fully aware of what the next corner was, so nothing was blurted out. Turn 5 is a righ hander and Vettel was off line so would not have been able to take it at full speed.

Turn 5 isn't immediatly after Turn 4, there's enough space to move to the left, I don't believe he was off line.

If you have photographic evidence I'm happy to be proven wrong.

[andrew]

Next corner, you mean turn 5? It's pretty much full throttle, he wasn't compromised. Look at a map of the track before you just blurt stuff out.

I am fully aware of what the next corner was, so nothing was blurted out. Turn 5 is a righ hander and Vettel was off line so would not have been able to take it at full speed.

Turn 5 isn't immediatly after Turn 4, there's enough space to move to the left, I don't believe he was off line.

If you have photographic evidence I'm happy to be proven wrong.

Not at the moment, but perhaps you can provide photographic evidence to back your claim? If I'm wrong then I'm wrong.

[PlatinumZealot]

Vettel was clearly ahead of Hamilton. Had he taken a tighter line to make the corner, Hamilton would be without front wing. As he had the higher ground, he is entitled to run off if there is the chance of a collision. Which had he made the corner or cut off Lewis nose there no doubt would have been.
So there are 2 ways of looking at this, and in my view there is nothing doing.

Had the FIA penalised Vettel, it would have been a bad day for racing.

You are obsessed! My gosh, never seen another driver so loved by his detractors.

[Mandrake]

Using the run off when u are racing alone (driver error or any factor) is another thing than when overtaking someone.Since its a park and a wall cant be just be built there,i would love to see Vettel (or any driver) completing that move with a bunch of these placed in the runoff area.

Agreed, they need to do this for next year. They do it at Monaco.

Yeah right, and then some driver doesn't hit the corner properly, goes off track and takes off like Webber into the next best barrier! That would be so much better right?

Turn 5 isn't immediatly after Turn 4, there's enough space to move to the left, I don't believe he was off line.

If you have photographic evidence I'm happy to be proven wrong.

The flow of corners is so that you have to go left as soon as possible to get best entry into Turn5. Vettel was no where near best possible speed through turn 5....

I am amazed by the knowledge about technical stuff here, but at the same time I am shocked about the apparent lack of knowledge about racing lines and driving in general. This is no personal attack against anyone specific, but those who don't know about racing lines, cornering preparation etc. should be silent when it's in the focus of the discussion. I do the same when it comes to the technical stuff....

[Poleman]

Yeah right, and then some driver doesn't hit the corner properly, goes off track and takes off like Webber into the next best barrier! That would be so much better right?

There are many ways to place the speed breakers and still preserve the run off area for "driver errors".It will be enough to prevent some "smart dirty tricks" from drivers.These are used to many places in many circuits...

[Shrieker]

The flow of corners is so that you have to go left as soon as possible to get best entry into Turn5. Vettel was no where near best possible speed through turn 5....

I am amazed by the knowledge about technical stuff here, but at the same time I am shocked about the apparent lack of knowledge about racing lines and driving in general.

After getting the position, it doesn't matter anymore if he can slice the next fast right hander properly or not. He could still go into the corner 10-20 kph slower if his line was that compromised. Button (or any other driver for that matter) couldn't have attempted an overtake on that corner (or the next one). So no advantage lost there for Vettel.

Try another excuse. What happened on Sunday was obvious, Vettel gained massive advantage by leaving the track limits well and truly which was the only way he was going to attempt an overtaking manouver. It was a travesty that the stewards decided to turn a blind eye to it when in fact the rules have been strengthened pre season just to prevent this sort of thing.

[Richard]

Yeah right, and then some driver doesn't hit the corner properly, goes off track and takes off like Webber into the next best barrier! That would be so much better right?

There are many ways to place the speed breakers and still preserve the run off area for "driver errors".It will be enough to prevent some "smart dirty tricks" from drivers.These are used to many places in many circuits...

Agreed, those speed humps are already used at a few circuits. They also use the polystyrene blocks at others.

Which is why the lack of any barrier in the Melbourne car park indicates that it is fair game. Just like Spa.

[Mandrake]

There are many ways to place the speed breakers and still preserve the run off area for "driver errors".It will be enough to prevent some "smart dirty tricks" from drivers.These are used to many places in many circuits...

Agreed, those speed humps are already used at a few circuits. They also use the polystyrene blocks at others.

Which is why the lack of any barrier in the Melbourne car park indicates that it is fair game. Just like Spa.

Sorry if I didn't bring my argument across properly I know these bumps are used here and then, but at places where speeds are different. I see no possibility to place them in Melbourne in a way that would be safe for the drivers but stopping drivers from running too wide. Place them near the track and it'll be dangerous, place them a bit further and people could still run wide. THose bumps are best used in places where cars go below 100 kph

[Pedro]

Pit-stop summary


Stint summary

[Richard]

Those bumps are best used in places where cars go below 100 kph

Fair point, they could put a kerb in there if runoff was thought to be a problem. It obviously isn't.