Fantastic race, unbelievable finish and a glimmer of hope for F1's return to the US in 2010! It doesn't get much better than that!!!!

 

I generally don't watch the post-race proceedings. What have you heard about a possible return of the USGP?

 

It wasn't post-race. Actually, if I recall it correctly, during the pre-race the Speed boys said that the return was discussed during one of the all-teams meetings this weekend. Also, on the grid, Peter asked Bernie what was was happening with the US and the possibility of a return in 2010. Bernie didn't really give any details said there were discussions (read: negotiations) going one with 3 or so locations in the US and that "he really didn't know about" 2010.

 

A return of the USGP would be fantastic news - as long as they keep it as far away from Tony George as possible.

Damn - this is a quote from the formula1.com:
The manoeuvre between Hamilton and Raikkonen at the chicane on lap 42 is currently under investigation by the race stewards.

If they take this away from Hamilton the FIA will blow away what little credibility it had, at least for me. Yes, Hamilton beat Kimi to the chicane, straight-lined it but allowed Raikkonen to take his position back. As I understand it, those are the rules . . . unless of course Ferrari is forcing the FIA to bend over yet again.

 

F1-live is reporting (without details) that Hamilton has been stripped of the win, and Massa and Heidfeld moved up. Sounds like a DQ for Hamilton.

Not sure why, though.

 

They gave him a 25 sec penalty for gaining competitive advantage when he cut the chicane, and moved him back to 3rd behind Heidfeld.

 

Spa is always a thrilling race! The circuit is daunting and a real test of driving skill and the weather is a constant variable adding to the excitement!

Those last three fever-pitched laps had me hanging upside down from the ceiling!

I felt really bad for Raikkonen... he drove such a stellar race!

The boys of F1 really delivered on this one... What a finish to an exciting race! ...It left me breathless!

 

FIA bent over (now we REALLY know what FIA stands for)
and we all know who was standing behind them

gawd - I'm almost speechless.

 

I've never really understood the process or the relationship between the stewards and others. Ron Dennis said he asked Charlie Whiting about it; "Of course Charlie can only give an opinion because he is not the stewards, but he gave the opinion that we had probably complied." The stewards make the call.

McLaren informed the Spa stewards of their intent to appeal but, "McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh admits that it’s not entirely clear what will happen with the team’s attempt to appeal Lewis Hamilton’s Spa penalty.

In theory such decisions cannot be appealed, as set down under Article 152 of the sporting code. The 25sec penalty is, after all, a post-race substitute for a drive-through – which clearly cannot be altered retrospectively."

Also, "... the result will now remain provisional until a hearing of the International Court of Appeal."

 

I'm probably in the minority here, but I found some of the other stuff more entertaining than these politics.

How 'bout the unexpected (at least to me) running order up until the rain started? Or the Toro Rossos both finishing in the points.....and Bourdais nearly ending up on the podium? Or Heidfeld cutting through the field like butter when he decided to put on intermediates with only 2 laps to go? ETC!

 

He cut the chicane, we all saw it, he then let Raikkonen re-pass him. Where the crap is/was the competitive advantage? Forgive me, but I find this just mind boggling.

 

Yes, It was all very interesting, and I was really excited about the potential finish for Sebastian Bordeaux . . . and it's those things that we should all be talking about . . . were it not for the FIA.

 

I cannot believe this. Hamilton made a mistake and put himself back where he would have been had he not made the mistake and the continued racing. Pure crap.

 

I keep finding myself less and less of an F1 fan. It has become a big joke. There's a triple standard: the FIA's treatment of Ferrari, their treatment of McLaren, and then everyone else. I'm neither a McLaren nor a Ferrari fan but the favoritism against the former and for the latter is not so subtle. I've grown tired of the politics that have nothing to do with motorsport. It's not a sport, it's a silly game. No wonder Vegas laughs at the thought of betting on it.

At this point I could care less if the USGP returns (and I attended '03-'07), because I will not redirect vacation funds from my other race trips to attend F1, which would rather the fans stay home anyway. I'll stick with ALMS and Speed World Challenge. I get much more satisfaction from them as a fan & they know what it means to be fan-friendly.

Besides, Valencia was a huge bore. Is that what we have to look forward to as F1 goes to new venues.

 

*Boo! Hiss*
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/9/8334.html

 

When Hamilton cut the corner to avoid a collision, Hobbs, et al, made the comment "you can't do that...," as if he were talking to the drivers. And then Lewis lifted, let Kimi by. Shows it right on the tape, and the commentators agreed. How can they say otherwise?

My only consolation is that Kimi crashed out and didn't get to pretend that he won instead.

It will be interesting to see how the appeal plays out. These are the days of the "instant replay," after all. And it will be interesting to see what the TV boys have to say next weekend.

 

Just looking at the rules and looking from both sides ...
If he had followed the racing line he would not have been as close as a short lift. ???

OR ... the FIA wants to do anything to keep the series close ???

 

I have to agree with COR BLMY as to the advantage gained. I don't agree with the descision made by FIA. This was racing and it was good to see Formula 1 so exciting again, lets face it this sport was starting to get a little dull. This year has been fun again.

Hopefully FIA won't screw it up completely.

 

Becky had to work yesterday, so we recorded the race, and watched it when she got home. We were beside ourselves in misery when Kimi spun.

Freaked when Fred seemed to give up a 4th place on the closing laps for wets, instead of just tippy-toeing around the last lap. Then stormed out and reclaimed his place. He's good in the wet.

And after the race, on a hunch, Becky looked at F1.com, and saw Hamilton's penalty.

OOOoooooo what a race! Gotta love Spa.

 

Here's another analysis: http://www.fastmachines.com/f1/ferra...vention-again/

"Ferrari Benefit From FIA Intervention Again

Written by George Katinger · September 8, 2008


Whoda thunk it. Lewis Hamilton wins the Belgian GP in a wet, sliding, mixed up closing two laps, only to be screwed by the FIA and gets demoted to third place. Massa “wins” and Nick Heidfeld benefits by inheriting second place.

The race at Spa Francorchamp is noted for its unpredictable weather, which can dump rain on all or parts of the course at a moments notice. The opening laps and closing laps were affected by the rain. But there was no greater effect on the outcome than the race steward’s clumsy and obvious effort to hand yet another win to Ferrari.

The stewards claimed that Hamilton gained an unfair racing advantage on the penultimate lap, at the bus stop chicane, by cutting the chicane in a passing attempt on Kimi Raikonnen.

Hamilton did in fact cut the chicane, but he was in effect driven off the road by Raikonnen. After coming through the chicane Hamilton was in front of Raikonnen but gave the position back as he knew he must. He repassed Raikonnen by avoiding Kimi’s obvious block and out braking him into the turn one hairpin.

I have tried to be objective in casting my opinion of the incident and here’s how I see it. Hamilton was on a charge, coming down the straight to the bus stop chicane and attempted an outside pass. That part is incontrovertible. Where differences of opinion may form is whether Kimi drove him off the track or if Hamilton had an opportunity to brake and fall back in behind Kimi without cutting the chicane.

There is some doubt, given the damp and wet conditions that Lewis could have braked and not cut the chicane. The McLaren was well beside the Ferrari entering the corner. Surely Kimi was under no obligation to make room for the McLaren (and he didn’t), so cutting the chicane was the only sensible option. Granted he came out ahead of the Ferrari but allowed Kimi to repass. In any other race between two other cars (none named Ferrari!) this would be an accepted maneuver, without penalty to either driver.

Alan Donnelly, Max Mosley’s hand picked supervisor of the stewards at all races, has a lot to answer to over this travesty of racing injustice. Just like the lack of penalty added to Massa’s time due to his unsafe exit into pit lane at the Valencia race, this too should not have earned a penalty. Why? The driver most impacted by the controversy self destructed (Kimi) and could not benefit from any imposed penalty. So why impose one at all?
Anyone who has watched F1 for any length of time knows the answer to that question. The Ferrari Intervention Association is there specifically to assist and abet the Scuderia whenever required.

McLaren have promised to appeal the decision but we all know the outcome of that effort, don’t we?"

 

I don't believe that you are in the minority... I concur and I'm sure so do many of the others, the Belgian GP had alot going for it!

It had all of the above that you stated, plus... The weather being a spoiler, the challenge of the circuit itself, and what about the last 3 laps!!

Like I said, it had me hanging upside down from the ceiling with exitement!

 

Geowit, the article you posted summed up the situation exactly. Thanks for passing it on.

Gromit801--it was indeed a weird maneuver to go in for wets. Other than self-destructing like Kimi did, there wasn't much of a downside to continuing like everyone else. He may well have lost a podium because of their strategy. Perhaps they thought others would pit, too. But in the last 3 laps???

 

I agree that all the racing in the last 2-3 laps was great.
But... a major part of that excitement was the actual racing taking place between Kimi and Lewis. The outcome should not be decided by a political hack.

 

As I understand the root of the stewards issue:

Hamilton cut the chicane, and got an advantage. He did fall back a bit and tuck in behind Kimi, and was able to slipstream to make the pass. The stewards felt Hamilton STILL maintained an advantage because of the way he tucked in behind. I seem to recall something in the rules about relinquishing the place for one or two corners, which LuHam did not do.

As far as Kimi "pushing" LuHam off the track, that's what happens with wet tracks. You could also say if LuHam had not chosen that corner to attack on a wet track, the whole incident wouldn't have happened.

 

Yup, and I was just saying there was plenty of action DURING the race, so there's plenty of positive stuff to focus on. I'm less interested in who wins anyway than I am in all the goings on between GO and STOP.

Anyway, I absolutely agree that outcomes (regardless of venue or subject) shouldn't be decided by politics or preferential treatment. Is that what happened this time? To tell the truth, I've agreed with the stewards most of the time, no matter who they were penalizing, but this one doesn't smell so good.