2011 Monaco Grand Prix Discussion Thread

[Enforcer]

What a load of arse. At least Hamilton didn't manage to ruin Kobayashi though.

Anyway I'm going to defend Hamilton for actually trying to RACE. All these penalties are stupid if you ask me, all he is trying to do is overtake!! What do you all want him to do just sit behind everyone??

At St. Devote during a pointless restart behind an unreliable rookie potentially getting his first F1 points, then yeah, sitting behind would be good.

I'm sorry but no. Hamilton was well alongside Maldonado there when Maldonando turned in and obviously didn't know he was there. If he gets penalised/DQ'd/grid penalised for Canada then nobody may as well try to overtake if you ask me.

I said a while ago that I was a little concerned about penalties for misjudging overtakes oversanitising the sport. My reaction at the time was that he was came from too far back to expect to get through unscathed, but I'd need to see that again. My dislike for Lewis may be colouring that view.

[ADx_Wales]

I would like to see the BBC Sports department coming up with some ABC Wide World of Sports style jackets for all their in-front-of camera presenters to wear, so we dont have to deal with any of Eddie Jordan's dress "sense".

[WeirdKerr]

Dear bbc please send trinny and susannah to eddie jordans house.........

[Jonouchi]

Hm. BBC are reporting that Kamui is under investigation along with Sutil; if they do give him a time penalty though, surely it would have to go hand-in-hand with one for Lewis, unless they deem that Kobayashi hitting Sutil then caused him to fall back and cause the pile-up? I'm guessing his 5th is safe, especially since it's going to be harsh to take from him after Sauber's weekend...

[ADx_Wales]

The worst they can do is add 25 seconds to not only Hamilton's time, but if Kobayashi is to get a time penalty too, then its not going to make a difference.

[FMecha]

Well I noticed that Williams posted it's first 2 points this race. (according to Formula1.com)

[Ferrim]

I'm with James1978 in this one. The move at Massa was Lewis' fault, but the attempts at Schumacher and Maldonado were properly done. Both of them suddenly turned in and they collided. I can understand Maldonado's move, probably his only "mistake" of the weekend (Williams really needed SOME points, not a DNF, so why make it innecesarily hard when Hamilton was nearly alongside; but I can't be too hard on Pastor, he drove a great race). On the other hand Schumacher knew his tyres were shot and Hamilton was there for a number of laps, and he's way more experienced.

So for me, the move on Massa is Lewis' fault, the move on Maldonado is not fully Lewis' fault, and the move on Schumacher was certainly not Lewis' fault (if they had made heavier contact I mean). Tell me if there was any other I missed, please.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Well I noticed that Williams posted it's first 2 points this race. (according to Formula1.com)

Well it would have been far more if the Reverend hadn't been hit by Lewis, though it was just as much his own fault for turning in like that.

[Londoner]

Well I noticed that Williams posted it's first 2 points this race. (according to Formula1.com)

It should have been more. Bathplug you Hamilton.

[LionZoo]

Hm. BBC are reporting that Kamui is under investigation along with Sutil

If they knock him back into reject status it's pitchforks at dawn.

[FullMetalJack]

The worst they can do is add 25 seconds to not only Hamilton's time, but if Kobayashi is to get a time penalty too, then its not going to make a difference.

Either way Kamui still enjoys unrejectification

[Ed24]

Hm. BBC are reporting that Kamui is under investigation along with Sutil

If they knock him back into reject status it's pitchforks at dawn.

Unless they don't penalise Lewis, he'll still be 5th, as there were only lapped cars behind them.

[patrick]

Vettel got so lucky this weekend, who cares about that "make your own luck", he really did get very lucky

[tc3j3r]

"You make your own luck" is one of my least favourite quotations of all time, it's complete nonsense. With the dreadul anticlimax of qualifying and another dreadful anticlimax in the race (thanks to a bathplug retared rule) and several terrible accidents that should bring Monaco's place on the calendar into serious question, in spite of all the drama I don't think it's being too strong to label this weekend a farce.

[LionZoo]

Vettel got so lucky this weekend, who cares about that "make your own luck", he really did get very lucky

Have to agree here. Profiting off the crashes of two drivers bringing out red flags is not making your own luck.

[ADx_Wales]

LOLMG.

HAmilton throwing the race card on the table!!!

[Warren Hughes]

Shame about an anticlimactic finish, but a classic race. Gutted for Pastor, his accident was 100% Hamilton's fault in my view. But there's no doubt that he's now shown that he's worthy of a place in F1. And almost certain unrejectification for Kobayashi, very well deserved.

[pablo_h]

Hamliton's head is not screwed on straight right now. He's lost it for some reason this weekend (not just the qual comments, not just the race, but the after race comments).

[patrick]

LOLMG.

HAmilton throwing the race card on the table!!!

I truly don't believe he was being serious, but he's certainly quite pissed off.
@pitflaps on twitter

(Sound of Ron Dennis banging his head on a shiny Mclaren desk) #bbcf1

[Londoner]

LOLMG.

HAmilton throwing the race card on the table!!!

WTH! What did he say?

[DemocalypseNow]

Hamilton goes on tour.

[ADx_Wales]

Its taken him 5 years to play the race card, maybe the talent has run out.

[patrick]

LOLMG.

HAmilton throwing the race card on the table!!!

WTH! What did he say?

Lee Mc: "Why do you think you end up in front of the stewards so often?"
Lewis: "I dunno.. maybe it's cuz I'm black... as Ali G would say"
Lee: "..."

pretty much what was said.

[mario]

Just wondering about an after effect from the Massa-Lewis collision. Now, Massa did clip the back of Webber's car with his nose, I believe - were there any signs of damage to Webber's car? I think that Massa struck the rear wheel from the overhead shot, so I doubt there is any damage, but could anybody confirm that?

LOLMG.

HAmilton throwing the race card on the table!!!

WTH! What did he say?

Same here - I've no idea what he said, but what ever it was, it must have been pretty hot headed.

[pablo_h]

When people say "doing a webber" from now on, they are going to have to clarify whether they mean Webber 2010 (like hamilton right now ) or Webber China 2011

[Klon]

Lee Mc: "Why do you think you end up in front of the stewards so often?"
Lewis: "I dunno.. maybe it's cuz I'm black... as Ali G would say"
Lee: "..."

Well, I think he was just trying to be "down with the cool kids", so people don't notice his bad driving today (and his lack of character, but that's a different story for a different day).

[eytl]

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm going to step in and defend Vettel here.

Yes he was helped by the red flag in Q3 but he went out and got the job done with his first run with a lap that was almost 0.5s faster than anyone else.

Here, although Red Bull's first stops were both bungled, they saw Button had gone onto options and put both cars onto primes. That was a masterstroke because it fulfilled the tyre rules immediately, and always gave them more flexibility on strategy thereafter. Button's second stop to go onto yet more options only increased the aces in Red Bull's hand. Then to keep nursing those tyres for so long was simply brilliant by Vettel. For all the predictions that his tyres were about to fall off the cliff, we'll never know, will we? Strategically, Vettel did what pre-race I thought Button would have done. I thought Button would try to one-stop because of the track position advantages which in the end Vettel demonstrated.

I don't like Vettel much after last year but you just have to say that he's doing everything absolutely spot-on, and fortune is favouring him as well.

[Dan B]

LOLMG.

HAmilton throwing the race card on the table!!!

WTH! What did he say?

Lee Mc: "Why do you think you end up in front of the stewards so often?"
Lewis: "I dunno.. maybe it's cuz I'm black... as Ali G would say"
Lee: "..."

pretty much what was said.

No Hamilton, you appeared before the stewards because you drove worse than Jean-Denis Deletraz.

[The Passenger]

Lee Mc: "Why do you think you end up in front of the stewards so often?"
Lewis: "I dunno.. maybe it's cuz I'm black... as Ali G would say"
Lee: "..."

Ali G, huh? I remember when that character was still somewhat relevant ten years ago...

But yeah, looks like Lewis was just making a terrible joke there. Almost as terrible as his driving today.

[patrick]

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm going to step in and defend Vettel here.

Yes he was helped by the red flag in Q3 but he went out and got the job done with his first run with a lap that was almost 0.5s faster than anyone else.

Here, although Red Bull's first stops were both bungled, they saw Button had gone onto options and put both cars onto primes. That was a masterstroke because it fulfilled the tyre rules immediately, and always gave them more flexibility on strategy thereafter. Button's second stop to go onto yet more options only increased the aces in Red Bull's hand. Then to keep nursing those tyres for so long was simply brilliant by Vettel. For all the predictions that his tyres were about to fall off the cliff, we'll never know, will we? Strategically, Vettel did what pre-race I thought Button would have done. I thought Button would try to one-stop because of the track position advantages which in the end Vettel demonstrated.

I don't like Vettel much after last year but you just have to say that he's doing everything absolutely spot-on, and fortune is favouring him as well.

Oh I agree that his racing was fantastic, I meant no detriment to his drive but it was handed to him on a plate. The difference between the good and the great is who takes advantage of that, and Vettel - and RBR - took advantage of the situations with great talent.

[LukeB]

Well, I think he was just trying to be "down with the cool kids", so people don't notice his bad driving today (and his lack of character, but that's a different story for a different day).

I'm sure it was meant to be a joke, I doubt the stewards who are just doing their job are laughing at being accused of bigotry though.

[LionZoo]

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm going to step in and defend Vettel here.

Yes he was helped by the red flag in Q3 but he went out and got the job done with his first run with a lap that was almost 0.5s faster than anyone else.

Here, although Red Bull's first stops were both bungled, they saw Button had gone onto options and put both cars onto primes. That was a masterstroke because it fulfilled the tyre rules immediately, and always gave them more flexibility on strategy thereafter. Button's second stop to go onto yet more options only increased the aces in Red Bull's hand. Then to keep nursing those tyres for so long was simply brilliant by Vettel. For all the predictions that his tyres were about to fall off the cliff, we'll never know, will we? Strategically, Vettel did what pre-race I thought Button would have done. I thought Button would try to one-stop because of the track position advantages which in the end Vettel demonstrated.

I don't like Vettel much after last year but you just have to say that he's doing everything absolutely spot-on, and fortune is favouring him as well.

Vettel did what he had to be perfectly. However, it isn't often these days where we see two red flags in one weekend. Yes he put himself to benefit from any aces that were coming his way, but you have to say that he got quite a few aces this weekend.

[pablo_h]

What Hamilton said was meant to be a joke sure, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and not flat out say he's pulling the race card.

Problem is he's been whining about everything this weekend, so was being in a non joking mood and is wasn't said in a joking matter, there was a bit of venom behind that. He is just frustrated, not just because of this weekend, but because how the season has gone.
Like I said, this weekend he hasn't had his head straight at all, in his comments or driving and someone needs to address that with him.

[Warren Hughes]

Just seen the press conference, Vettel saying it was his decision to stay out on a 1-stop, overruling the pitwall. In which case, all credit to him for a great call.

[patrick]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula ... 590330.stm

UK only most likely

[pablo_h]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13590330.stm

UK only most likely

Doesn't matter.

expat shield proxy is free.
Install that and BBC.co.uk streams and video is viewable.

Works fine for me for qual when I want the five feed, works fine for practice, pre race and the after race forum, also any other features. Blows during the race though, probably because so many others are using proxy and it gets overloaded. In that case there's heaps of others streaming BBC, like on epl or many other "football" or sports streaming sites if you want to avoid the ad breaks on onehd in australia.
Had to watch the race on some random stream, but watching the forum just fine right now from perth WA

[ADx_Wales]

I know Lee Mckenzie's reaction of "..." is kinda obvious, but its the sexiest "..." I've ever heard.

[Ed24]

Watch it on YouTube while you can!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD8T8_JR4Mw&feature=youtu.be

[jpm]

Hamilton still believes Massa blocked him in quali, and blames everyone but himslef for his own misgivings. Frankly mate, you just aren't as good as you think you are.

[Ferrim]

Hamilton's post-race comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD8T8_JR4Mw