Charlie Whiting's on the Grassy Knoll

[NJB13]

What's the Conspiracy?
Basically I see two conspiracy lines being put forward:-
1) That the events at Valencia were in some way pre-planned by Charlie Whiting et al and they had pre-planned what to do to ensure Hamilton benefitted
In my opinion there would be more truth in a Saddam Hussein press release that this one
2) That the Stewards have a predisposition to Hamilton and McLaren and they tend to look at things from their perspective
It's just my opinion, but, I think this is definitely the case and the results of their dealings so far pretty much prove this.

Given that 2) is true - So What? That's racing, that's life, decisions are going to go against you - deal with it. Don't fall into the trap of living trapped in the European GP for the rest of the year. In my opinion, the best thing we can do is to focus everything on getting revenge by crushing everyone at Silverstone and every other race this year.

[Hermann]

Though i found option 1 tempting i voted for 3. No use to do something alike next race, they should have done it right away. Next race is too late for protest actions.

And 2 is senseless. Like fighting windmills.

From now on, Fernando and Felipe should also come to a gentlemen's agreement and forget everything about team rivalry. Its a war out there, and they need each other.

Instead they should, from now on, follow Hamilton closely in every race ( if they can and if they are not in front of him). Just stay right behind him and do everything he does.

So when he pulls another 'smart move', and our drivers will do exactly the same, Whiting will have a problem. When he penalizes our drivers, he would have to do the same with Hamilton. And he doesn't want to do that if possible. Meaning that our drivers would be safe as well.

If you can't beat them, join them...i know this is not very realistic. But the thought of that made me cheer up a bit.

[mad_ani]

Ferrari will NEVER QUIT Formula 1...even when Luca di M said that a million times last year...Ferrari wil stay in F1..as they always have....

I personally doubt if the events could have been preplanned...esp not a crash like Webber/ Hekki.... It was a horrific accident and thankfully we didnt see Webbo injured...

On point 2, Mclaren have been penalised...but may not be harshly...Lewis has been caught up in such situations..and he was penalised...sadly that did not make any impact on his position..IMO, Alonso was bitter and wanted to see Lewis punsihed....(repeated radio calls between his engineers)....and as posted before...Although Sauber and Torro rosso run Ferrari Engines, Alonso couldnt overtake...same with Massa...I believe this is becoz of strategy and the nature of the track...Hope we come good at Silverstone...

[REDARMYSOJA]

You should have included a "Do like everyone else and ignore the rulebook" option.

[Becool70]

What's the Conspiracy?
Basically I see two conspiracy lines being put forward:-
1) That the events at Valencia were in some way pre-planned by Charlie Whiting et al and they had pre-planned what to do to ensure Hamilton benefitted
In my opinion there would be more truth in a Saddam Hussein press release that this one
2) That the Stewards have a predisposition to Hamilton and McLaren and they tend to look at things from their perspective
It's just my opinion, but, I think this is definitely the case and the results of their dealings so far pretty much prove this.

Given that 2) is true - So What? That's racing, that's life, decisions are going to go against you - deal with it. Don't fall into the trap of living trapped in the European GP for the rest of the year. In my opinion, the best thing we can do is to focus everything on getting revenge by crushing everyone at Silverstone and every other race this year.

I agree!! We need to focus on next race and keep a log on these injustices for future reference just in case we do the same and the punishment is different then we can take them to the FIA appeals and get whitting for corruption and kick him out!!!

[Hornet]

I don't think there's any conspiracy there, but rather, the FIA once again showed one of its classical flaw, that is to take too long to make a real time decision. With all the technology they have, and that many people sitting around in the whatever room that is, information could have been processed faster and a decision should be made quickly.

This is not the first time we see this issue, they really should do something about it.

And the 5 second penalty is a joke that isn't even funny.

[XXX132]

New safety car procedure...

Next time a safety car comes out, FA should just overtake everyone, blitz the safety car, lap 20-30 seconds quicker than everyone for a couple of laps, then get a drive through costing him what, 20-sec? He's still made 15-30secs.

And a point.

[hogo]

I've read Domenicali comments, hes gave up already, blamed stronger Ferrari words on fans and "hot moment". Such a shame, what a weak leader...

[aldoseri]

Winning is everything to me & i want to see the Team doing very good in quil & samshing everyone by winning in the race ...

that is the only way that we can do such thing, no matter what the race circumstances are this is what we have 2 do ...

[Greig]

I've read Domenicali comments, hes gave up already, blamed stronger Ferrari words on fans and "hot moment". Such a shame, what a weak leader...

More likely that Alonso's comments could see him face a charge of bringing the sport into disrepute, which would really not be helpful

[Alessandra]

Harbouring bitterness and resentment in any area of life, but particularly in sport, is a waste of time and a misdirection of energy.
Since 2007 Fernando should know this better than anyone. I'm sympathetic towards him and Felipe over this incident, and the whole team, but to prolong the argument simply gives the rest a good laugh - and especially Hamilton & McLaren - so let's heed the the fatherly counsel of Fernando's engineer to him during the race, " It's unfair, but you need to be wise and calm". And he was, so at least ended up with a few points.

We all know that Hamilton is a loose canon on the track when confronted with a situation hasn't met with before. It's not the first time a safety car has seemingly confused him and he hasn't applied the appropriate response. He can create chaos for himself and others and can lie about it afterwards, we know that. it's no news. The other drivers all know that too and complain bitterly about it. But both our drivers, in the event, did the best thing and just steered clear. Calm and wise.

[Greig]

Lewis was right when he said Alonso should just concentrate on his own race, Alonso's dislike for Lewis really does seem to rattle Alonso more than it does Lewis.

[epiclyaddicted]

Voted for option 3. Valencia was terribly unfair, but no point sulking about it now. It's gone, over. The best way we can come back from this is by developing the car better than anyone else over the rest of the season, and hopefully, just clinch both the World Championships right at the end, on the last lap of the last race at Abu Dhabi (and hopefully, in the process, make McLaren feel they've been robbed off the championships).

As the saying goes... revenge is a dish, best served cold.

And don't worry, what goes around definitely comes around.

Here's to the treble at Silverstone: pole, fastest lap, chequered flag. Forza Ferrari!

[racingbradley]

Voted for option 3. Valencia was terribly unfair, but no point sulking about it now. It's gone, over. The best way we can come back from this is by developing the car better than anyone else over the rest of the season, and hopefully, just clinch both the World Championships right at the end, on the last lap of the last race at Abu Dhabi (and hopefully, in the process, make McLaren feel they've been robbed off the championships).
As the saying goes... revenge is a dish, best served cold.
And don't worry, what goes around definitely comes around.
Here's to the treble at Silverstone: pole, fastest lap, chequered flag. Forza Ferrari!

Great post
If I could have just one teeny wish it would be Ferrari 1-2 at Silverstone after a superb 1-2 quali and of course the fasestt lap of the race just to dip their faces in it !!!!!!! in their backyard. Oh if my wish could only come true.
I totally agree what goes around comes around but please let it be quick!!!!!!!

[Anni]

I've read Domenicali comments, hes gave up already, blamed stronger Ferrari words on fans and "hot moment". Such a shame, what a weak leader...

I wouldn´t say he is a weak leader. In my opinion it´s the right desicion of him to drop the topic. Of course, it was a great dissapointment and very unfair, but what happened happened. The desicions are not always adequate and I don´t think it was a conspiration against us or the race was manipulated on purpose. At Monaco Massa crossed the line when he came out of the box and the stewards just forgot to punish him.I don´t want to defend Hamilton or his "punishment" (which hadn´t been one), I just want to say the stewards are only human and sometimes they err.

Maybe we should cool down and look forward to the next race and give the answer there on the track!

[Hornet]

Maybe we should cool down and look forward to the next race and give the answer there on the track!

Yeah, can't wait for next race. Hopefully both Alonso and Massa will beat Lewis. That would be the sweet revenge for me

And I'll secretly hope other drivers pull some "very sneaky" move on Lewis, lets see if he will "just focus on his own race" or start shooting his mouth off.

[ferrari4life]

I think we should quit FOTA and all those other gentleman agrements and then do our own thing.

[MarlboroFA]

Lewis was right when he said Alonso should just concentrate on his own race, Alonso's dislike for Lewis really does seem to rattle Alonso more than it does Lewis.

Well I don`t think that`s true, we have seen Lewis do pretty stupid things around Alonso....Alonso is only rattled because of what Lewis did this race...And it`s perfectly understandable...
It`s just clear as glass that Mclaren/Lewis have a guardian angel sitting in the FIA.....
I`m sure Alonso and the whole Ferrari team are allready concentrating on next race, wich is Silverstone. And what better place could you imagine to settle scores, then the Home grand prix of the Mcheaters...

[Nova]

Its easy to overlook certain things and better for your health..Sundays race was probably 1 of the worst race scenarios Ive seen in a while...
Blatant management of the sc....If this is the highest form of motorsport, mabey there should be the same level of stewards..pro's...not part timers and
ex racers who may or may not harbor a grudge against certain drivers or teams..

With that said, I was concerned at the way the F10 performed towards the end of the race, the tires.....the F10 def has had a problem with the compounds BS has brought
to quite a few races this year...Why is the F10 chassis so compound sensitive?? If that was all Alonso could do at the end given the tires condition, how could he have kept a top place
finish?? On a better note, It looked as if Felipe was getting a better grip on the car, and looked much more competitive than he has in awhile....shame I couldnt watch him
fight towards the front...was looking forward to that.

[aroutis]

Stick it to them at their home ie. Silverstone. Get new upgrades and just make an embarassment off them in their soil ground.

That's what -I- want to see.

[ajpat]

Ferrari just needs to find the pace to get onto the front row in qualifying so as to get away from any problems lower down during the race. Having said that, I dont believe that 'race central" would have spotted Hamiltons move if Alonso had not asked the guys on the pit wall to check it out.

[crewskas]

I agree with most of you that the best thing to do, is to be the best in the following races...
But I also want Ferrari to keep vowing about what happened...
It's already the 5th time that Hamster escapes a punishment (because this punishment was a joke). They should give him a stop-go penalty.
How much more, are we gonna have from this???
These types of things judge the titles...

[Grinsomx]

imo it's the only thing we can do, chew it up and improve to hit them back where it hurts the most. getting more points than them every time starting in silverstone.
yes, the race was a farce once the sc came into play, yes the punishment was way too light but what are we going to do?
drag this one race along for the rest of the year or when the fia hearing would take place? it's hardly going to change anything...
beat them on track, get the points and show them we dont need biased stewards helping us forward.

[Red Rocket]

Ferrari just needs to put this behind them and maximum focus on the developing the car and team.

For some reason up to now Hamilton has been lucky to get away with quite a few things (Australia, Malaysia, Canada, and Valencia) eventually things will start to turn on him I just hope it will be sooner then later.

[MMREDDY]

We all knew that Mc laren is going to introduce its big update for silver stone. I fear that can we beat them. As we are just only on par with them till now.

Are we bringing any updates to silver stone?

[Brakefade]

I voted for the last option, but if this happens one more time Ferrari should seriously move to Le Mans. Let's see how well F1 survives without the prancing horse.

[mad_ani]

Lewis was right when he said Alonso should just concentrate on his own race, Alonso's dislike for Lewis really does seem to rattle Alonso more than it does Lewis.

Totally agree with that one...His race engineer was asking him to calm down and not worry about the events, but he insited on it...

Also towards the end of the race, Alonso seems to defend a lot less.. A very different circumstance in Monaco where he didnt defend MS...and he didnt cover up when Kobayashi over took him in Valencia

He seemed more rattled by the events in contrast to Massa who lost out more than heavily...but a more measured reaction from the Brazilian

[NJB13]

Also towards the end of the race, Alonso seems to defend a lot less.. A very different circumstance in Monaco where he didnt defend MS...and he didnt cover up when Kobayashi over took him in Valencia

Can't agree with this. You are comparing a car on 1 lap old super-softs to a car that has run nearly a complete race on primes. Of course Koby could take that corner faster on a tighter line. I think Alonso showed cool to not throw it away and spin - which could very easily have happened with any sort of rush of blood.

[mad_ani]

Can't agree with this. You are comparing a car on 1 lap old super-softs to a car that has run nearly a complete race on primes. Of course Koby could take that corner faster on a tighter line. I think Alonso showed cool to not throw it away and spin - which could very easily have happened with any sort of rush of blood.

Yes, the difference was between the tires....but Ferrari was the faster of the two and Alonso could have defended...where Kobayyashi took the inside line....something similar to Monaco when MS dived in (illegal and debatable move)
Maybe the tires... or maybe the drivers are tired by the end of the race and naturally the concentration levels are down....

[NJB13]

Yes, the difference was between the tires....but Ferrari was the faster of the two and Alonso could have defended...where Kobayyashi took the inside line....something similar to Monaco when MS dived in (illegal and debatable move)
Maybe the tires... or maybe the drivers are tired by the end of the race and naturally the concentration levels are down....

Well there definitely were a lot of things on their minds as you say. But, also, the race pace of Koby car was really good (in this race at least), remember for a very sizable part of the race Jammy Bufoon couldn't pass him, and his tyres weren't as old as Koby's at that time in the race....