Serious debate - Mr Hamilton

[DaveB]

Hamilton is irrelavent this year. His car is so far behind in performance that no matter how good a driver he is he is not going to repeat last years performance.

[d000hg]

When they played back the radio footage he was being careful to avoid doing wrong while also keen to avoid giving away points.
I don't think any malice was intended... remember Hamilton is still a kid directed by these experienced big-wigs.

If they want to punish further, I'd suggest they penalise the team's manufacturer's points rather than Hamilton himself.

[d000hg]

Hamilton is irrelavent this year. His car is so far behind in performance that no matter how good a driver he is he is not going to repeat last years performance.

Isn't it fairly normal for teams to take a while to 'warm up'?

[stingman123]

Isn't it fairly normal for teams to take a while to 'warm up'?

Tell that to Braun, they look pretty warmed up to me

[centurian]

When they played back the radio footage he was being careful to avoid doing wrong while also keen to avoid giving away points.

And's that's the crazy irony over it all. He should have been on the podium. 3rd place was rightfully his.

Cock-up 1 was letting Trulli back through. He didn't need to yeild the place back, but McLaren were so paranoid over penalties from last season.

But that was nothing compared to cock-up number 2, which was then to lie to the stewards to get Trulli disqualified.

So the f-wits managed to turn a podium (from the back of the grid) into a disqualification

I don't think any malice was intended... remember Hamilton is still a kid directed by these experienced big-wigs.

He's 24 and a world champion, so should be able to rise well above the team intimidation stage by now.

If he truly had any balls or morals, he would have stood up to Ryan and it does make you wonder just how much he was "pressured" into it anyway.

At the back of my mind, I can't help but wonder if this is just the first time McLaren have been caught lying.

If they want to punish further, I'd suggest they penalise the team's manufacturer's points rather than Hamilton himself.

I think that's what will happen, but if Hamilton were to receive extra punishment, I wouldn't exactly feel any pity for him.

I've been a fan of Hamilton ever since he hit the F1 scene, but he and McLaren deserve everything they get for this.

[ASB]

At the back of my mind, I can't help but wonder if this is just the first time McLaren have been caught lying.

Alonso, Hungary, 2007 ?

http://www.motorsport.co.uk/formula-...rss85452.shtml

[centurian]

Alonso, Hungary, 2007 ?

http://www.motorsport.co.uk/formula-...rss85452.shtml

Yes, but I guess they weren't punished (for lying) that time. Perhaps the fact that they were able to get away with it time and time again, caused them to take greater and greater risks - until they told such a whopper, that the stewards were able to nail them for it.

However, just read on the F1 live site that Ralf Schumacher stated that this kind of thing had been going on for years and drivers just do what the team tells them and he probably would have done the same as Hamilton.

[TykeMerc]

Hamilton is irrelavent this year. His car is so far behind in performance that no matter how good a driver he is he is not going to repeat last years performance.

I get the impression that as soon as the debate over the diffuser is resolved the likes of Maclaren and Ferrari will implement similar ones to those used by Brawn or Brawn will be forced to change theirs.
According to various press articles it's quite a significant improvement to the downforce and grip.

I went off F1 some years ago as it was far too processional, at least things appear quite a lot more interesting these days.

[ASB]

Yes, but I guess they weren't punished (for lying) that time. Perhaps the fact that they were able to get away with it time and time again, caused them to take greater and greater risks - until they told such a whopper, that the stewards were able to nail them for it.

However, just read on the F1 live site that Ralf Schumacher stated that this kind of thing had been going on for years and drivers just do what the team tells them and he probably would have done the same as Hamilton.

I must admit I would like to know exactly the question asked and exactly the answer. The team argument was the assumption that they were referring to the last instruction (very thin I know). It's probably a bit like Clintons "I did not have sex with that women". In terms of the question he was asked this was in fact a true answer. Though I think the question defining sex didn't include fellatio or playing with a cigar.

[Swiss Tony]

However, just read on the F1 live site that Ralf Schumacher stated that this kind of thing had been going on for years and drivers just do what the team tells them and he probably would have done the same as Hamilton.

Coulthard has said much the same on the BBC site