2008 Montreal Grand Prix

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Metar
WTF are you smoking? :odd:

The red light, as unusual and confusing as it is, is a necessary safety-precaution to prevent drivers getting out of the pits and sneak into the middle of the safety-car procession. In a track like Montreal, the pit-lane cuts through the last chicane and the first two corners, so a fast stop will see the driver exiting about exactly where the non-stopping cars will be.

And yes, the FIA can perfectly expect the drivers to be "Mr. Perfect", simply because they're the best. They're the elite, some of the fastest single-seater drivers worldwide - something like a red light shouldn't be too difficult to follow?
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I'm just stressed that I failed my History and Add Maths exam, and your not helping either. :grumpy:

But I don't see why stopping there would be adequate. I mean, the exit was clearly better than the one a few years ago. (where they would exit on the right, straight into the racing line into the 1st turn) There was at least some room for the drivers to be aware of the situation and its not as if they are kindergarteners. They are race drivers and they know what to do at a time like that! Then again, the red light does exists for a reason....... But why close the exit when the pit lane is open? They might as well close the entire pit lane until the safety car comes in and make the pit lane 100% open. I'm just baffled at how the FIA runs the rules, one day it was okay to do that, then the next they gave you a 10 place grid penalty. Can't they ever agree to any rules at all? Like other motor sports?
 
Muzaffar Musa
But why close the exit when the pit lane is open?
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I explained that a few posts above. Montreal has a strange pit exit and the red light under safety car conditions was to allow the snake of cars to go past so drivers don’t race to merge as far up the queue as they can, which can be potentially dangerous with such a big speed differential.
 
I'm glad to see people posting in this thread aren't as cretinous as the people on the Formula 1 facebook group. At least people here seem to know what they're talking about!

Philly
I'm confused as to why the team should be the one to tell him the light is red. He is the driver and should be watching where his car is going. Especially if there are cars stopped at said red light in front of him.

Sounds like the classic case of somebody shunting somebody at a light while changing CDs. Maybe the FIA should make the steering wheels a little less complicated.
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I actually agree with this comment. I think it's unfortunate that Hamilton crashed and also that he took out Kimi, but at the end of the day it was an accident, and there isn't a racing driver alive who hasn't messed up at some point or had a "D'OH" moment. Nico Rosberg had his exactly the same way, in the same place, so it wasn't like Hamilton was just being dim, they were obviously just a little too focused on what would happen after the pit lane opened and neglected to realise what would happen before it opened!

It's entirely possible that both Lewis and Nico were checking their mirrors for other cars behind them (of which there were a few), or adjusting settings on their steering wheels.

Looking at the TV footage, the first time I looked for the lights it was actually the blue flashing lights to signify overtaking traffic that I saw first - they seemed a lot more prominent than the red ones. Maybe in the heat of the moment he mistook those for green?

GTA_Phreak
Great overtake by Massa !!!!
If he can do that again, then it's Massa fans +1 :dopey:
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I agree, that was brilliant opportunism by Massa, and he did the same thing to Trulli at the first corner as well if I remember correctly when Glock messed up and held Jarno up. Massa isn't the most consistant fella but he does know how to race when it matters. I can't believe how far back he came from in that move at the hairpin!
 
Muzaffar Musa
They are race drivers and they know what to do at a time like that!
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On top of what Blake said - they are race-drivers, and get paid to win, score, finish high. They're not paid to be polite and safe. You can't trust a race-driver to wait politely for others to pass before he merges into traffic - that second or two he saved there could very well make the difference for him between a podium and regular points or, as we have seen perfectly today, between a potential podium and no points:

Had Alonso exited the pits without the red light, he would have come out ahead of Heidfeld - and as a result, would've been able to continue at his own pace, possibly achieving enough of a gap to end up 3rd. (Though at the same time, without that red light, Kimi, Hamilton and Rosberg would still have been ahead of him)
 
homeforsummer
I agree, that was brilliant opportunism by Massa, and he did the same thing to Trulli at the first corner as well if I remember correctly when Glock messed up and held Jarno up. Massa isn't the most consistant fella but he does know how to race when it matters. I can't believe how far back he came from in that move at the hairpin!
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Yup, and he was on the grass too and still somehow managed to get the best traction off the corner.
Quick reactions and amazing car control, - it's the sort of move that makes a few boring races bearable.
 
Do you race?
Question: who, if anyone, parked it in the Wall of Champions this year?
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James Allen told us that Button has done it. He said it as though he thought Button was or will be a Champion. God I hate that bloke. Only 10 or so more races of him though.
 
homeforsummer
I'm glad to see people posting in this thread aren't as cretinous as the people on the Formula 1 facebook group.
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Really?!? Could've fooled me... it's been fanboy central here since the race finished.

Blake
Yes you are. ;) Apart from the fact that it was avoidable, think what would have happened if Lewis was first in the queue… He may just have driven straight through a red-light and got DQ’d.
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He wouldn't have taken anyone with him, though.

mipuumal
The most irrelevant thing ever posted?
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After a <50mph crash in North America, you posted something about a speeding indiscretion in Europe. How is that more relevant than what Bee posted?

James Allen
Ron Dennis confirmed to me that the team told Lewis to watch out for the pit lane exit light being red, but his mind was on the fact that a slow stop had meant both Raikkonen and Kubica had got in front of him and he was set to rejoin third.
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There we are then: it was Hamilton's mistake, and the penalty is warrented.

As for those who think Hamilton should retire at this very instant, or those who think that he should've gotten away scot-free, well, tough.
 
Sureshot
James Allen told us that Button has done it. He said it as though he thought Button was or will be a Champion. God I hate that bloke. Only 10 or so more races of him though.
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Button has done it, but so has Liuzzi, Schumacher and Villeneuve and a whole host of others. I guess Allen has no idea who they are on account of the fact that they're not English.
 
Isn't Murray Walker doing the commentary anymore? Or is this James Allen American?
 
Ron Dennis
it had been a difficult situation for Hamilton - who had just dropped from first to third at his pit stop and was concentrating on Raikkonen and Robert Kubica racing side by side down the pit lane in front of him.
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Then surely he'd realise THEYRE SLOWING DOWN :grumpy:
 
I think that part of the problem was that McLaren's pit is right down at the end of the pit lane, i bet Lewis was still accelerating as he got to the point of no return. Given a longer run up to the stop line he would have had longer to spot what was happening with Kimi and Kubica.
 
Blake
I explained that a few posts above. Montreal has a strange pit exit and the red light under safety car conditions was to allow the snake of cars to go past so drivers don’t race to merge as far up the queue as they can, which can be potentially dangerous with such a big speed differential.
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Okay then, I didn't realized about the pit position at Montreal. Yeah, maybe I was quick to judge about the accident and really had no clue about the pit lane exit. :dunce: Oh well, at least I learned something today. 👍

Roo
There we are then: it was Hamilton's mistake, and the penalty is warrented.

As for those who think Hamilton should retire at this very instant, or those who think that he should've gotten away scot-free, well, tough.
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After all the discussion going on, I am forced to agree that indeed it was Hamiltons fault. :indiff:

TheCracker
I think that part of the problem was that McLaren's pit is right down at the end of the pit lane, i bet Lewis was still accelerating as he got to the point of no return. Given a longer run up to the stop line he would have had longer to spot what was happening with Kimi and Kubica.
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Spoken like a true racer. 👍 I think Hamilton has been spoon fed enough and should just start realizing he is not the best anymore. I mean even when Mclaren told him about it, he didn't even notice it until it was too late...... Bah, its not something that even a rookie should do, let alone a top class driver like him. :guilty:
 
Great race by Kubica. That pass by Massa was great too. Bad mistake by Hamilton. It will be interesting to see what he'll do in 2 weeks.
 
I can't wait to see what Hamilton will do next... he's self-destructing nicely. From sleeping on the grid at Bahrain and rear-ending Alonso, to rear-ending Raikonnen at Montreal, I'm enjoying every minute. He is his own nemesis and I think he needs his eyes checked. Although it's impossible to see with your head up your a$$!
Magny-cours is off to a fine start already with a 10 spot penalty for Lewis! Metar, which is it, fan-boy or bloody idiot? Perhaps it wasn't a classic ram but the excessive wheelspin after the fact (Alonso v. Heidfeld @ Monaco) was a sign of Alonso's frustration with Nick. However, if you want to resort to name calling, fine... it's what any child would do. Carry on, kid.:)
 
TheCracker
I think that part of the problem was that McLaren's pit is right down at the end of the pit lane, i bet Lewis was still accelerating as he got to the point of no return. Given a longer run up to the stop line he would have had longer to spot what was happening with Kimi and Kubica.
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Incorrect. Among Hamilton, Raikkonen, and Kubica, Hamilton's pitbox was first. You can actually see a picture on the ITV article just posted that shows Kubica and Raikkonen heading on through as Hamilton sits at his pitbox.
 
Studentdriver
Incorrect. Among Hamilton, Raikkonen, and Kubica, Hamilton's pitbox was first. You can actually see a picture on the ITV article just posted that shows Kubica and Raikkonen heading on through as Hamilton sits at his pitbox.
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Eh? What was incorrect about his statement? The McLaren garage is at the end of the pitlane...

Edit: Oh I see, how odd, why is the McLaren garage in the middle? I thought they were placed according to position in last year's constructors championship? (In which they lost all their points, so were last).
 
mustang245
I can't wait to see what Hamilton will do next... he's self-destructing nicely. From sleeping on the grid at Bahrain and rear-ending Alonso, to rear-ending Raikonnen at Montreal, I'm enjoying every minute. He is his own nemesis and I think he needs his eyes checked. Although it's impossible to see with your head up your a$$!
Magny-cours is off to a fine start already with a 10 spot penalty for Lewis! Metar, which is it, fan-boy or bloody idiot? Perhaps it wasn't a classic ram but the excessive wheelspin after the fact (Alonso v. Heidfeld @ Monaco) was a sign of Alonso's frustration with Nick. However, if you want to resort to name calling, fine... it's what any child would do. Carry on, kid.:)
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Alonso will fall before Hamilton does.
 
Ardius
Eh? What was incorrect about his statement? The McLaren garage is at the end of the pitlane...

Edit: Oh I see, how odd, why is the McLaren garage in the middle? I thought they were placed according to position in last year's constructors championship? (In which they lost all their points, so were last).
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The smaller garages tend to smaller as they are filled by the smaller teams, but Mclaren have half the popularion of Woking with them so they get upgraded to some of the bigger pit garages at some GPs.
 
mustang245
Perhaps it wasn't a classic ram but the excessive wheelspin after the fact (Alonso v. Heidfeld @ Monaco) was a sign of Alonso's frustration with Nick.
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No, it's a sign of frustration at having your wing stuck inside another guy's sidepod, and having someone else's wing stuck inside your diffusor. He attempted to free himself - and Nick - as quickly as possible, not cause further damage to anyone.

It's hard enough supporting Alonso as it is - you don't need to start showing him in a bad light.
 

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