2016 British Grand Prix - Silverstone, 08-10 July

[stuartpengs]

They in effect told Verstappen not to race, because Rosberg would be getting a penalty. That's telling a driver how to drive, with no message given to him about the car in front having any reliability problem.....

Sorry, but they didn't, they said he was under investigation. It would be foolish in the extreme to predetermine that would result in a penalty, especially given it was uncharted territory, and if Max had an opportunity to close and pass he would have. I think the underlying message from RedBull was to make sure Max tried not to slip more than 5 seconds behind Ros in case a penalty was given. That's strategy and, rightly or wrongly is allowed.

We seem to be in furious agreement that the rules still need refining. However currently they are what they are.

[jknights]

How long before the tin foil hats come out and say that Mercedes giving Rosberg the coaching was to ruin his race as punishment for Austria?

=D>
Do I have to use tin foil or can I use my aluminium collander with the special antennas?

[FoxHound]

They in effect told Verstappen not to race, because Rosberg would be getting a penalty. That's telling a driver how to drive, with no message given to him about the car in front having any reliability problem.....

Sorry, but they didn't, they said he was under investigation. It would be foolish in the extreme to predetermine that would result in a penalty and if Max had an oppertunity to close and pass he would have. I think the underlying message from RedBull was to make sure Max tried not to slip more than 5 seconds behind Ros in case a penalty was given. That's strategy and, rightly or wrongly is allowed.

We seem to be in furious agreement that the rules still need refining. However currently they are what they are.

In a previous post I mentioned "possible penalty" aka under investigation.

[hollowBallistix]

Nico is on thin ice here, because he said "what does that mean, I have to shift through it" and then the team said yes you need to shift through it.

Apparently they just said "acknowledge" in response to Nico saying about shifting through it, I can't see them imposing a penalty tbh.

[gandharva]

Ferrari only 9 points in front of RBR in WCC. Come Hungary they could loose P2.

Excellent drive from HAM and VES! Wouldn't be too surprised if VES again will be voted driver of the day fourth time in a row.

[stuartpengs]

In a previous post I mentioned "possible penalty" aka under investigation.

Ah, OK, but in the one I quoted you infer Max was told Rosberg 'would' be getting a penalty, which wasn't the case.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out, given it's the first investigation for radio rules infringement. Undoubtedly they still need refining as there's still too much ambiguity. As they currently stand though I think the 'skip 7th gear' part is crucial given the current restrictions.

[smellybeard]

Apparently they just said "acknowledge" in response to Nico saying about shifting through it, I can't see them imposing a penalty tbh.

I can. I can see anything up to complete disqualification.
The Merc pit-wall team played a shot to nothing from an otherwise total loss of points. Good call if they get something out of it but the stewards might decide to impose a real penalty given a material breach of the rules.
Edit:
If they get one point out of this they have benefitted from breaking the rules.

[Restomaniac]

In a previous post I mentioned "possible penalty" aka under investigation.

Ah, OK, but in the one I quoted you infer Max was told Rosberg 'would' be getting a penalty, which wasn't the case.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out, given it's the first investigation for radio rules infringement. Undoubtedly they still need refining as there's still too much ambiguity.

Indeed. This is a precedent setting decision.

[ripper]

Punishment should be clarified BEFORE racing, not after... This is absurd.

[nevill3]

This stewards decision will set a precedent so will they be lenient in view of the relative ambiguity of the rules or decide to be strict and impose a severe penalty to discourage other teams calculating in future if it would be worth flouting the rules if any possible penalty would be less than any imminent failure.

I believe there was no premeditation on Mercedes part and they just reacted instinctively, they gave very quick instructions and responded to questions from Nico immediately without any forethought as to if they were allowed or if it was worth risking infringing the rules.

[ripper]

In my opinion they did a very smart and quick calculation: "if we don't tell him anything he might retire so 0 points, if we break the rule he can get from a reprimand (no point loss) to disqualification", so in the end that was a smart move.

[dans79]

Nico is on thin ice here, because he said "what does that mean, I have to shift through it" and then the team said yes you need to shift through it.

Apparently they just said "acknowledge" in response to Nico saying about shifting through it, I can't see them imposing a penalty tbh.

The said "affirmative, just shift through it, afirmitive...."

Nico posing a question, and then the pit wall responding with what looks like an answer is very thin ice. It's all down the the stewards discretion.

[Wynters]

Actually impressed with the coverage on C4, prefer it to the BBC & ITV's efforts.

Why did Seb get a penalty ? Only instance I can remember him with a Williams was when he passed and kinda closed the door on exit, usually like Hamilton does....

Was that the one where Seb pushed him off on entry, and then drove off himself? Because both of those things are frowned upon...

[stuartpengs]

In my opinion they did a very smart and quick calculation: "if we don't tell him anything he might retire so 0 points, if we break the rule he can get from a reprimand (no point loss) to disqualification", so in the end that was a smart move.

There-in lies the paradox. If not telling him would have resulted in terminal failure and retirement, by default the radio message to change the setting was permitted. Again I don't think it will be the mode switch which will prove to be the crucial point but the instruction to skip 7th gear (which, ironically, he didn't appear to do anyway).

[ripper]

VET pushed MAS offtrack because he lost control of the car, if the brazilian didn't go out that was a 100% crash. I think it is a correct stewart decision