Is Hamilton desperate or what?

[andrew]

I say desperate and rattled by Button.

Nuff said.

[astracrazy]

i say button should be worried.

Hamilton has been on top form in the last 3 races (4 maybe as well as he got a podium) and if it wasn't for poor calls and poor quali then we can only guess where he would be finishing.

Buttons a good driver, we know that. But i can't help but feel he has won two races because of his tyre calls at the right time and thats all (and to be fair, well deserved too). if we look at bahrain where it was a dry 'normal' race, he was 7th and hamilton 3rd.

I just feel come more dry racing, i don't see button beating hamilton. Perhaps in quali not in the race.

my opinion

[vall]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the following article from appendix L addresses this pit lane entry issue?

Entrance to the pit lane
a) The section of track leading to the pit lane shall be referred to as the “pit entry”.
b) During competition access to the pit lane is allowed only through the pit entry.
c) Any driver intending to leave the track or to enter the pit lane should make sure that it is safe to do so.
d) Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the Stewards of the Meeting), the crossing, in any direction, of the line separating the pit entry and the track is prohibited.

FLC, could you post a ling to these regulations? I can't find that part.

[lebesset]

very specific , line across the track end of the pit entry and , like when you leave the pit lane , you can't cross it
so if, by definition , you stay on the track beyond that line , then cut in , you break no regulation
so any lawyer would argue in a court of law , and expect to win

[Richard]

I'm still at a loss as to why we need a specific regulation for the pit entry beyond the current general rules of safe racing. Why is it any different to any other bend or chicane on the circuit?

[FLC]

FLC, could you post a ling to these regulations? I can't find that part.

It is in Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 4. Scroll right to the bottom, page no. 18.

Also, I've found the following article (2.4) in Appendix H:

f) Black and white flag divided diagonally
This flag should be shown once only and is a warning to the driver concerned that he has been reported for unsportsmanlike behaviour.

So did the stewards really do anything in regard to Hamilton's weaving, or showing this flag to a driver is just a technicality following a complaint or report, such as Renault complained?

A photo of the pit entrance in China, To help the discussion a bit more:


I believe the tarmac to the left of the pit entry should be considered as run off area.

[segedunum]

It's been mentioned in commentary before, particularly at Barcelona, where drivers come in at a wide angle to get the best entrance speed cutting right over the pit lane line. Thus far, nothing has been done although the rules for entry and exit are supposed to be the same.

[Just_a_fan]

to prevent the risk of a mechanic getting injured in the next side-by-side pitlane race, how about a car-length kerb between each pit box and the pitlane? That would stop people trying to run the whole length of the pitlane adjacent to another car.

Nice one. So a car veering slightly off track is guaranteed to loose control? A person caught by surprise would trip as they tried to move out of the way?

Lets base this rule making on facts. Can anyone recall an injury to a mechanic that was not caused by a car from his own team? There are one or two, but I suspect a tiny minority. Of that tiny minority, how many are from a car straying from the fast lane into a pit?

Oh

None (IFAIK).

No need for panic rule making.

Indeed so. It was merely a suggestion for comment. No need to be (slightly) sarky

[Just_a_fan]

pit exit is a totally different rule ; you must keep 100% inside the length of the line or automatic penalty ....this rule is enforced 100% , can't remember if the penalty is 10sec or a drive through , the latter I think , been a while since I saw it ..rosberg maybe ?

point is , the drivers know exactly where they stand which is why you don't see it normally , there is a definition whether or not a wheel on the line is in or out

The exit rule is part of the same rule as the entry rule. The difference is that the exit rule is much more important for safety than the entry one. Speeds are much higher, visibility much lower, overall outcome of a coming together much less pretty. At the entry there is likely to be a bit of bent bodywork/suspension and a red face or two.

[jac]

Hamilton, desperate? Well.... maybe. The current season ever so slightly reminds me of 07 when he and Alonso where going at it. We can argue all we want, but Lewis is definitely feeling
pressured by Jenson's ability. In 08 and 09 he simply didn't have the team mate to push him. Sure Heikki was fast at times. But certainly no match for Hammy.

Thing is, it's waaay to early to come to solid conclusions, but be assured people, should they both still be in the championship hunt come the end of the season, expect to see fireworks.
Lewis undoubtably wants to be number 1 in his team, no question about it. It must be a bitter pill to swallow when suddenly being challenged by an equally capable team mate.

I say give it time. Nearer the end of the season we'll have a clear(er) picture of just how he goes about dealing with the whole thing, because I've got this feeling that Jenson's got a couple of wins left in him at the very least. I think psychologically that Button's got the upper hand over Lewis - he keeps composure WAAY better, and won't be crack under his team mate.

Keeping the above in mind the same can be said of Alonso and Massa, so keep an eye on that too.

[Just_a_fan]

I'm still at a loss as to why we need a specific regulation for the pit entry beyond the current general rules of safe racing. Why is it any different to any other bend or chicane on the circuit?

There isn't a need other than for some who, disliking driver A, see said driver get one over driver B (who they do like (or at least dislike less)).

All that matters is that the overall event is safe. If something occurs that suggests that safety is at risk then it should be dealt with at that point.

If the pit entry was at 150mph with a grandstand immediately in front of it then it would have been a different thing altogether.

The problem is that people want "fairness". But calls for "fairness" are often tinged with personal preferences (I'm trying to avoid emotive words like bias here). The only way to be fair is to treat all drivers the same. And if that means the entire field gets drive throughs for cutting this white line or that white line where no safety was at stake then so be it. I won't care by that point because I will have wandered off to do something else less boring.

[Just_a_fan]

We can argue all we want, but Lewis is definitely feeling
pressured by Jenson's ability.

The way he was smiling and chatting with Button in the room before the podium ceremony suggests that he isn't that flustered yet. Nor did the way he greeted the arrival of Button's car to the parc ferme area. Seemed delighted to be there and not at all bothered that Button was in the 1 slot.

One thing we need to remember about Hamilton, perhaps more than any other driver at the moment, is that he is very focussed on the team. If the team is doing well then he is happy. I seriously think he'd be happier to finish second in the title race to Button than to e.g. Vettel, if only because the former result would mean that McLaren must also have won their title race.

He has a bit of a cry about decisions now and again but he's always the team player.

[doopie2you]

I neither love not hate LH. However I have to say that his driving and his behavior on track this year has been reckless and uncomplimentary.

That pit issue today was just STUPID .. the only thing more stupid than that was that he wasn't heavily penalized for it. Passing someone thru a single pit entrance is dangerous, and then racing between wheels down the pit lane on exit was doubly so. I will also acknowledge that Alonso also managed the same bone headed passing move on Massa at pit in.

The weaving issue last race was just pure simple illegal driving. Period.

Bad mouthing his team in Australia was very low class, to say the least.

So something is up with Hamilton, and I think his name is Button. I will openly admit that I thought Button had nothing for LH, but I've been proven wrong, twice now. Button is far better than I gave him credit for. OTOH, LH is just becoming an ass, and the idea of drivers as race marshalls doesn't seem to work too well.

These on track moves are NOT judgment calls, but flagrant disregard for racing safety and fairness. Soon someone will be hurt, or worse. I can only hope that when LH creates the next stupid desperate move he'll get the short end of the stick.

I'm sure Vettel is thinking now that he should have just squeezed LH to the grass on pit exit. LH has got to shape up or pay a price for these pointless and risky moves. That's my opinion of course.

I hope you don't think F1 is boring because Hamilton is making it awesome XD
If all drivers were like this then we had very cool races.
And because i GUESS Hamilton overtook one of YOUR f1 hero's you start complaining.

Stupid driving is what Webber did in Australia,

braking TOOO late twice in 1 race is desperate

http://en.espnf1.com/china/motorsport/story/15013.html

[Paul Oz]

How on earth is Hamilton desperate - how is he doing anything other than he always does; pushing the boundaries of his own skill, the car.... and occasionally the rulebook, to win! I for one applaud him for that - as do the vast majority who have been part of competitive sport I wager. Winning is everything, taking part counts for nothing - and blimey, talk about entertainment!

To those talking of him being dangerous - could you please point out when he has caused an accident and taken someone out? I think also you're crediting F1 drivers with your own reactions instead of those of a fly

[segedunum]

braking TOOO late twice in 1 race is desperate

.......and trying to drive in a pit box in an attempt to overtake someone in the pit lane when he'd already lost the place and was behind because of his poor pitbox exit isn't desperate?