RZS10 wrote: ↑06 Nov 2019, 02:14
The "more than enough room" part isn't true in the first place - Kimi himself drove right up onto the white line, how do you fit another car there? Unless you want to argue that if they touched wheels Hulk could have theoretically been able to fit 1cm of tyre on there.
You can see Kimi's car on the line in both the team radio and best onboards video.
But anyways...
"2. Overtaking, car control and track limits
b) Overtaking, according to the circumstances, may be carried out on either the right or the left. A driver may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason. 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.
However, manoeuvers 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 strictly prohibited. Pushing or other contact resulting in a lasting advantage is strictly prohibited. Any driver who appears guilty of any of the above offences will be reported to the Stewards.
c) Drivers must use the track at all times. Should a car leave the track for any reason, and without prejudice to 2(d) below, the driver may re-enter the track. However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage. For the avoidance of doubt, the track edges may be defined by white lines, tyre stacks, marker poles or other devices defined by the Race Director if appointed by FIA or the clerk of the course during the briefing. A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track, where lines indicate the track edge, or should the car pass behind"
That's the full quote ... how does that exclude the situation they were both in?
Kimi was defending through the corners 12, 13 and 14 - arguably the inside line Kimi took between 13/14 is the "defensive" line - the actual racing line is closer to Hulk's, using the outside curb between 13/14 and then slightly touching the curb exiting 14 on the left - so Kimi had been forced off-line and went back to the racing line out of corner 14.
There were other overtakes into 15 where drivers stuck to the outside through 13/14 like Hulk and were left enough space on track, which clearly did not happen here.
And if you believe he should have backed out ... at which point should Hulk concede? He's slightly ahead into 14 (and on the racing line) and fully alongside at the apex...
I think the decision was harsh (there was no 'penalty') and it was really bad how long they took to tell him afterwards which cost him a lot more time than needed.
After reviewing the onboards it does indeed seem like Kimi took the full width of the track to the white line. For some reason, or just maybe in my mind, the overhead helo/crane shot showed alot more space(maybe a front tire's width). That I will absolutely concede. Strange, time to get the peepers checked. On the onboards I am unable to determine if Hulk was fully off track before or after Kimi touched the line.
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.
This refers to straight line braking battles into corners, hence the first and last phrases "moving back towards the racing line" and " approach to the corner".
In the midst of a side by side battle thru a set of corners, if any driver has a "significant" amount of their car next to the other's on the entry of the corner. Then they must be given space to remain on track thru the middle and exit. Notice how teammates follow the rules just fine when battling, but then turn into Mad Max beyond Thunderdome when a different team's car is involved. I blame the FIA, who are too busy regulating helmets to establish, publish and enforce all complete list on racing rules which should cover F1 down thru the junior categories.