Bahrain GP Thread will contain Practice, Qualifying and Race spoilers

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :



The Bahrain International Circuit will host the fourth round of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship. Designed by Hermann Tilke, BIC made its F1 debut in 2004 and was the first circuit in the Middle East to do so. The grand prix has never been won by anyone from beyond the first two rows but neither has it been particularly favourable to drivers on pole – only three times in seven runnings has the pole-sitter gone on to win the race. It has, however, been a circuit that rewards a strong car with six out of the seven races being won by the team that has gone on to win the Constructors' Championship. The one exception being 2010 – though eventual Champions Red Bull Racing were leading the race comfortably until a faulty spark plug caused Sebastian Vettel to fall back.

For 2012, F1 is going back to the 5.4km Grand Prix Circuit configuration as used in 2009, rather than the 6.3km Endurance Circuit on which it raced in 2010. The revision to the earlier layout cuts out a large slow-speed sector of the track, bringing down the number of corners to 15 from 24. One peculiarity of racing in the desert is the amount of dust on the circuit. Bahrain sees a great deal of track-evolution over the weekend as cars clean the racing line. Another factor with the dust is the amount of attention teams pay to air filtration and monitoring engine wear – ingress of sand or dust into the engine is potentially catastrophic.

The circuit itself is very smooth and doesn't have the harsh kerbs seen elsewhere, meaning teams can set ride-heights low but still attack apexes aggressively. This is a heavy braking circuit and calls for unusually high levels of brake cooling. Managing that and providing the right level of traction on the evolving surface are both key technical issues. McLaren go into this race holding a lead in both championships but Bahrain has not been a race at which they have prospered in the past, having neither a victory nor a pole position at BIC.

Length of lap:
5.412km
Lap record
1:30.252 (Michael Schumacher Ferrari, 2004)
Start line/finish line offset
0.246km
Total number of race laps
57
Total race distance
308.238km
Pitlane speed limits
60km/h during practice;
100km/h during race

CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2010

The Bahrain Grand Prix will revert to using the 15-corner Grand Prix Circuit configuration last used in 2009 rather than the Endurance Circuit configuration used in 2010.

There have been no changes to the Grand Prix Circuit since 2009.


Fast Facts
► The Bahrain International Circuit is located in Sakhir, near the west coast of the island, some 30km south of the capital Manama. The circuit covers 170 hectares and area also boasts an air force base, a palace, a nature reserve and the main campus of the University of Bahrain.
► Fernando Alonso is the most successful driver in Bahrain with three victories from the seven races held at the circuit. Felipe Massa has two victories, Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher both have one victory each.
► Four times in the seven runnings of the Bahrain Grand Prix the winner in the desert has gone on to claim the F1 Drivers' World Championship at the end of the season. Only twice has the defending World Champion won the race.
► The Bahrain International Circuit has two main pit complexes and six potential layouts. Alongside the Grand Prix and Endurance layouts, there is an Inner Circuit, Outer Circuit, Paddock Circuit (as used in the Australian V8 touring car series) and a Flat Oval. It also incorporates a drag strip.

► The surface of the track is made of Graywacke aggregate, shipped from a quarry in Shropshire, England. Graywacke is a type of sandstone prized by racing circuits for offering a high level of grip. Yas Marina, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix uses the same aggregate in its circuit construction.
► The Bahrain International Circuit was the first F1 track to be awarded the FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award. The award recognises excellent safety and medical facilities, the training and professionalism of marshals and the high overall standards of technology require to maintain the circuit at this level of excellence. The Bahraini circuit received the award in 2007. ► Both GP2 and GP2 Asia have been frequent visitors to this track. Before his F1 victory in China, Nico Rosberg's previous single-seater victories were here in Bahrain at the final races of the first GP2 season. Uniquely for that season the Bahrain rounds were a standalone event rather than F1 support races. Rosberg won both the feature and sprint races and became the first driver to win both during the same GP2 meeting. In doing so he clinched the inaugural GP2 title. Other Bahrain GP2 winners now racing in F1 are Romain Grosjean, Kamui Kobayashi, Sergio Pérez and Charles Pic.
► Michael Schumacher's lap record stil stands from the original 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix. Three of the first four races of 2012 take place at tracks with a lap record set by Schumacher in 2004.
► Located near the coast in a region predominantly flat, racing at BIC can be affected when the wind changes direction. When headwinds and tailwinds swap on the long straights cars can suffer from seventh gears that are either too short or too long.

Race Stewards

GARRY CONNELLY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, FIA INSTITUTE; DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MOTOR SPORT SAFETY; F1 AND WTCC STEWARD; FIA WORLD MOTOR SPORT COUNCIL MEMBER
Garry Connelly has been involved in motor sport since the late 1960s. A long-time rally competitor, Connelly was instrumental in bringing the World Rally Championship to Australia in 1988 and served as Chairman of the Organising Committee, Board member and Clerk of Course of Rally Australia until December 2002. He has been an FIA Steward and FIA Observer since 1989, covering the FIA's World Rally Championship, World Touring Car Championship and Formula One Championship. He is a director of the Australian Institute of Motor Sport Safety and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

EMANUELE PIRRO
FORMER F1 DRIVER AND FIVE-TIMES LE MANS WINNER
During a motor sport career that has spanned almost 40 years, Emanuele Pirro has achieved a huge amount of success, most notably in sportcar racing, with five Le Mans wins, victory at the Daytona 24 Hours and two wins at the Sebring 12 Hours. In addition he has won the German and Italian Touring Car championships (the latter twice) and has twice been American Le Mans Series Champion. Pirro enjoyed a three-season Formula 1 career from 1989 to 1991, firstly with Benetton and then for Scuderia Italia. He subsequently spent four years as a test driver for McLaren. Pirro's debut as an FIA Steward came at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and like his fellow stewards this weekend, he officiated at the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix.

SILVIA BELLOT
GRADUATE OF THE FIA TRAINEE STEWARD PROGRAMME
Silvia Bellot began marshalling in 2001 at the age of 16. Bellot has been Permanent Chairman of Stewards for the European F3 Open and Spanish Endurance Championships, as well as Permanent Steward of the GT Open International and Andorra Ice Championships, among other national series. A native of Barcelona, Bellot has sat on the stewards' panel at a wide range of championships, including the World Rally Championship, GP2, GP3, BMW Europe, DTM and World Series by Renault. In 2001, she started her collaboration with Catalunya's automobile club, the RACC, and in 2008 she joined the Spanish Assembly and the Circuit de Catalunya officials' committee. A year later, Bellot took part in the FIA trainee stewards' program for GP2 and F1. In 2011 she sat as a steward at the Turkish and Italian Grands Prix.

Source: FIA official site

[SteveG]

Brundle has just calculated that Hamilton has lost SEVENTEEN seconds in the pits !!

[Critical_mass]

he was yesterday, so i imagine he will be today.

[mystiroakey]

only seventeen- more like about 5 minutes this season- mclarean need a new crew- what is going on

[owen10ozzy]

Again!! You have to be joking. Unbelievable!

[Critical_mass]

Thats just pits though the 17 seconds. Take into account hte traffic he was stuck in as a result. it'll be more than that.

[Critical_mass]

what... jenson put for puncture. odd odd race.

[Critical_mass]

oh god! we're going to have to put up with the finger arent we!

[Mad for Chelsea]

that was really embarassing from McLaren, how can you screw up that much? Ridiculous! Feel sorry for Lewis, who didn't do much wrong on track today, but had his race completely ruined. At least he managed to grab a few points, could be important at the end of the year.

Grosjean looks delighted, and why shouldn't he? Excellent race for the Lotus boys.

[Critical_mass]

Grosjean and Kimi did superb! Good on them!

[Belgarion of Riva]

How can one team be so incompetent with pit stops? Last week it was Button, this week its Hamilton.

Ridiculous

[SteveG]

And what about the start - how on earth did Vettel pull out that gap in the first lap !! I just don't understand it. Thought we'd left all that behind last season. Mcalren had better get their act together. Red Bull and Lotus left them standing on the track for race pace. As for the pit stops - well the circus really did come to town !

[Gregers]

Brilliant from Vettel, Kimi, Roman and Paul this week

[mystiroakey]

How can one team be so incompetent with pit stops? Last week it was Button, this week its Hamilton.

Ridiculous

hamilton has had problems every race- button has also had problems in 2..

its ridiculas.. Mcalrean are the top team as well. questions need answers and quick

[Fernando]

Guys don't avoid the swear filter please

[Guest]

Okay, I've calmed down a bit after another embarrasing, incompetent display from that so called professional british outfit known as McLaren. When did you last win a constructors title???......yes we all know the answer to that one. Brundle needs a new calculator......17 seconds, please do me a favour! Let's just say Hamilton is not reaching for the pen to sign that contract in a hurry, far from it. Not only is the car suddenly uncompetitive, the two drivers have to put up with consistantly underperforming and incompetent pit crews but also pit stop strategies that leave me thinking that a new born baby could perform this job more effectively.

Absolutely shocking day, went into the weekend leading both titles and leave it leading the 'lets make a idiot of ourselves title' that Lotus took last time out in China. Unbelievable that 'finger' is leading the WDC, sensational turnaround but not suprising when you have Newey in the background. The guy that deserve the most credit is Alonso, this guy is world class. To be equal pts with Button in that Ferrari is out of this world, he's seen four different winners with no clear driver dominating and he must be thinking all his christmases' have come at once. Superb.

[monty junior]

I like how of all the replies since the race has finished everyone has just moaned about Mclaren and not even mentioned Vettel winning the race.

Well done Seb, especially on here, many have been making moronic assumptions that he wasn't really much good. Well that sure answered it, finished almost 40 seconds ahead of Webber, Vettel my DOTD.

Loved seeing Kimi drive through the field, especially having an each way bet on him i was looking at a nice amount of money when he was attacking Vettel. The Lotus for me was the best car on track today, what a leap forward from the end of last year.

Special mention to Paul Di Resta, what an outstanding drive, finished ahead of Alonso,Hamilton,Massa and Shumacher in a dud car and once again way ahead of his teamate. This is the guy who will fill Schumacher's drive when he retires, great job.

[Gregers]

The always fun Gregers' awards:

Driver of the Day Candidates:

1) Sebastian Vettel - Back to his imperious best, drove a stunning race and led basically from start to ginish.

2) Kimi Raikkonen - Wow, just wow. What a drive from Kimi coming through the field. He's not "lost it" as so many people were predicting.

3) Roman Grosjean - As with Kimi, Roman was stunning today. He had an epic start and drove his own race. I get the feeling that the Frenchman will have a good few more podium finishes this year.

4) Paul di Resta - Paul has really learnt when to fight and when to save tires/fuel. Was unlucky to lose out to Rosberg but 6th in the Force India after the troubles this week. Take a bow son.

5) Michael Schumacher - Yes, Schumi gets on the list. Got himself through the field from 22nd to score a point. Had quali gone better who knows.

Winner: Paul di Resta. For the above and managing a 2 stop strategy.

---
Turkey of the Day:

The McLaren Pit team

Can it really be anyone else?

Notable mention to Rosberg for driving two drivers off the track

[Critical_mass]

Vettel may have been 40 seconds ahead of webber, but wasnt that far ahead of the Lotus'. Vettel, for me isnt the DOTD. Id say either Kimi or Grosjean.

Vettel did do well, but im not convinced RB are back, i personally will have to see how they are in Spain.

As for Mclaren sudden loss of performance, again i'll have to see how they do in Spain. Some tracks and conditions suit some cars and not others.

Any word on Rosberg and if he was penalised or not?

[dyrewolfe]

Can't argue with your choices Gregers. Nice post.


Well, anyone who still thinks F1 is boring and predictable needs to remove their heads from their backsides. After an incident and action-filled race, we have our 4th different winner in as many races, a new championship leader and yet more dark horses who could have a bearing on the title race.

Fairly standard race for Red Bull. Vettel does what he tends to do when starting from pole and left the McLarens eating his dust. Looked in trouble for a few laps after Kimi charged him down, but did just enough to hold him off. Webber had a bit of a nothing race...started 4th and finished there. Four races and four 4th places. Should paint his name on that grid position.

Dear oh deary me...what can we say about McLaren? Hamilton surprisingly unable to hold on to Vettel's coat tails at the start and Button having another poor start and getting swamped initially before clawing his way back. Looked like they'd have to settle for another decent points haul...until the pit stops.

Honestly the McLaren pit crew should have been wearing clown costumes, complete with oversized shoes, silly wigs and red noses. TWO botched pit stops out of 3 for Hamilton utterly ruined his race...the SAME problem both occasions. His 8th place finish will be no consolation at all.

Button's misery was completed by a puncture in the closing laps, followed by a call to retire with a suspected broken exhaust. McLaren will be glad of the 3 week break to try and improve both the car and practice their pit stop drills...and maybe sort out some new wheel nuts while they're at it.

On to Lot...er...Renault. Drive Of The Day has to go to the Iceman, starting 11th and rocketing up the field, along with his team mate, eventually passing Grosjean and briefly challenging Vettel for the lead. Congrats to both for their podium finishes - Grosjean's first in F1 and Kimi's first since his comeback. Only took him 4 races...Schumacher's been waiting 2 years! On this kind of form Lotus could make it a 4-horse title race.

Kind of a nothing race for Nico Rosberg too, starting where he finished. Contributed to the thrills and spills though by running both Hamilton and Alonso off the track, getting his just desserts by them both getting past regardless. :P Decent race for Schumacher, finishing 10th after starting 22nd. His complaints about the tyre afterwards suggest the Mercedes failed to challenge for more points due to heavy tyre wear.

Second-greatest drive of the day goes to Paul Di Resta. Starting 10th, he was in the top 6 for most of the race and even briefly led, until Vettel completed his pit stop. His 6th place equals his best ever placing. Team mate Hulkenberg failed to make much impact.

More damage limitation for Ferrari, although both Alonso and Massa looked quite racy at times. 7th for Nando and 9th for Felipe are at least improvements on where they started (9th and 14th respectively).

Disappointing race for Sauber after their recent promising performances, both Perez and Kobayashi finsihing out of the points. Both Toro Rossos were also anonymous throughout the race.

An absolute nightmare for Williams with both Senna and Maldonado retiring near the end.

Despite all the excitement, as a McLaren fan I hope things turn out VERY differently in 3 weeks' time in Spain.

[dyrewolfe]

Vettel may have been 40 seconds ahead of webber, but wasnt that far ahead of the Lotus'. Vettel, for me isnt the DOTD. Id say either Kimi or Grosjean.

Vettel did do well, but im not convinced RB are back, i personally will have to see how they are in Spain.

As for Mclaren sudden loss of performance, again i'll have to see how they do in Spain. Some tracks and conditions suit some cars and not others.

Any word on Rosberg and if he was penalised or not?

The stewards decided not to take any action on any of the incidents.

[Fernando]

Any word on Rosberg and if he was penalised or not?

Wasn't penalized

The stewards looked into the matter and decided that because Rosberg had moved to the right to defend his position in a 'constant and continuous straight line manner' and because Hamilton was not alongside Rosberg as he began that move that the German did nothing wrong.

The stewards added: "Had a significant portion of Car 4 (Hamilton) been alongside that of Car 8 (Rosberg) whilst Car 4 still remained within the confines of the track, then the actions of Car 8 may not be considered legitimate."

[monty junior]

Vettel may have been 40 seconds ahead of webber, but wasnt that far ahead of the Lotus'. Vettel, for me isnt the DOTD. Id say either Kimi or Grosjean.

Vettel did do well, but im not convinced RB are back, i personally will have to see how they are in Spain.

As for Mclaren sudden loss of performance, again i'll have to see how they do in Spain. Some tracks and conditions suit some cars and not others.

Any word on Rosberg and if he was penalised or not?

So surely by those comparisons Vettel did a significantly better job than the Lotus drivers considering they were 7 seconds a part pointing to them having the better race car. Vettel also didn't have any new tyres for the race, go on... just give him some credit.

[Critical_mass]

Im not, not giving him credit. He did well and if RB have turned things around then thats some serious fast work and is proof how much hard work they're putting it.

Im just not jumping the gun and saying RB are back, thats not unreasonable is it? :-/

But then, THIS race at least, am more impressed with Lotus.

[monty junior]

No i was arguing that Vettel did a fantastic job as he was 40 seconds ahead of Webber and won the race, then you countered it by saying that the Lotus driver's were more impressive despite having plenty of new tyres and imo a faster car on the day.

[Critical_mass]

I thought the Lotus packaged looked more impressive today from the word go and yes Lotus appeared to have the faster car hence my "impressive" comment. Comparing them today to the previous races, they look to have taken a step forward with the car.... but again to clarify that they'll have to continue as they were today in the next race.

Vettel did what he normally does lead from the front and managed to build a cushion. He did well to keep Kimi behind. But from what i recall they both came in for the last pit at the same time. So vettel did have fresh tyres, as did Kimi.

[Alessandro Ciambella]

Right then... This is not Hamilton Bashing... But...

Rosberg has been found not guilty for not pushing Hamilton off the track because Hamilton was never alongside him. Rosberg was taking a drastic, defensive inside line. This is the official steward ruling.

If thats the case then Hamilton, like in Spa 2008, left the track to complete an overtake. This is illegal and I would like to know why this is so different to 2008. Hamilton cheated to make the overtake with a four wheels off the track. He should of given the position back.

Why have the stewards let Hamilton off? Surely he has cheated and deserves a 10 place grid penalty next race.

[Critical_mass]

Didnt Vettel do the same in Melbourne last year and wasnt punished. I wouldnt have said it was a defensive inside line as they werent that close to the next corner, both lewis and rosberg moved to the outside just after coming out of the previous corner.

It could be argued that Lewis went to that side as Rosberg pushed him wide (im not saying Rosberg wasnt entitled to), but Lewis had the speed and the only way was for him to go round him to avoid crashing.

I didnt think much of the rosberg / hamilton incident, its racing - i saw the same thing happen in the GP2 race - no punishment there to either drivers.

But then Rosberg tried it again with Alonso. Rosberg could have been seen to have been driving dangerously.

Note, nothing was said by lewis immediately after over the radio, or after the race. But we heard Alonso commenting on it.

[Fernando]

Right then... This is not Hamilton Bashing... But...

Rosberg has been found not guilty for not pushing Hamilton off the track because Hamilton was never alongside him. Rosberg was taking a drastic, defensive inside line. This is the official steward ruling.

If thats the case then Hamilton, like in Spa 2008, left the track to complete an overtake. This is illegal and I would like to know why this is so different to 2008. Hamilton cheated to make the overtake with a four wheels off the track. He should of given the position back.

Why have the stewards let Hamilton off? Surely he has cheated and deserves a 10 place grid penalty next race.

Id expect there was no penalty for Hamilton as he was taking avoiding action from Nico after Nico came over late so tbh it seems sensible enough.

[Mad for Chelsea]

CM, I would guess Hamilton wouldn't have minded being shunted off the track so much as he got past anyway, whereas Alonso didn't. I actually thought it was great awareness from Hamilton to realise he could still go through with it, something that seemed to escape Alonso.

As for Rosberg, sure he pushed it a bit, but isn't that what we want to see? Wheel to wheel racing with drivers trying hard to defend/gain position? If there's no harm done then surely no penalty is the sensible decision.

[Alessandro Ciambella]

@Fernando

Avoiding action? But he was never alongside him according to the stewards. Why couldn't he switch direction like he did to Kimi at Spa 2008 when he gave back the position?

@CM

Vettel & Button turn 4 Aus 2011. Vettel had already completed the pass before he left the track. Plus, in a drivers meeting before the race, drivers were told they could run off the track in turn 4. It was poorly communicated to drivers and audience. I believe one of the Torro Rossos did the same as well.

[Fernando]

@Fernando

Avoiding action? But he was never alongside him according to the stewards. Why couldn't he switch direction like he did to Kimi at Spa 2008 when he gave back the position?

Also you have the highly significant point that Hamilton didn't actually overtake off the track he stayed side by side off the track then both moved back on track and Hamilton took the inside line.

[Alessandro Ciambella]

So he gained no advantage by leaving the track?

[Alessandro Ciambella]

Just watched it again Fernando. He leaves the track behind Rosberg as the stewards said, then he rejoins the track again and the camera angle shows he is at least a front wing ahead.

[Critical_mass]

CM, I would guess Hamilton wouldn't have minded being shunted off the track so much as he got past anyway, whereas Alonso didn't. I actually thought it was great awareness from Hamilton to realise he could still go through with it, something that seemed to escape Alonso.

As for Rosberg, sure he pushed it a bit, but isn't that what we want to see? Wheel to wheel racing with drivers trying hard to defend/gain position? If there's no harm done then surely no penalty is the sensible decision.

No im sure Lewis wouldnt have minded and i agree its part of the specticle of racing. Too many punishments are handed up willy nilly and it spoils the racing.

[Fernando]

Just watched it again Fernando. He leaves the track behind Rosberg as the stewards said, then he rejoins the track again and the camera angle shows he is at least a front wing ahead.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17808396 stop it @ 0.20 and he's not ahead and has all 4 tyres on the track

[dyrewolfe]

Just watched it again Fernando. He leaves the track behind Rosberg as the stewards said, then he rejoins the track again and the camera angle shows he is at least a front wing ahead.

You might want to take that up with the stewards then. Or maybe since you're such an expert, you should apply to become one.

Are you just annoyed that your beloved Senor Diaz wasn't able to overtake when Rosberg did the same thing to him?

[Critical_mass]

Blatant lying by AC. why do you try minipulate circumstances, especially when there's video haha. [confused]

The Alonso / rosberg incident looked worse than the Lewis / Rosberg one. Rosberg was a little naughty there on both occassions. But no harm was done.

THough i do feel, if Lewis had done exactly the same thing on not one but two occassions, i wouldnt be suprised to see him being penalised. AC would be sending out the lynch mob to ensure it happens. Though Rosberg does it to Lewis and its Lewis still in the wrong -

[Alessandro Ciambella]

If I am honest, I, like Señor Diaz thought Nico Rosberg was in the wrong. It looked like he was running both drivers off the road.

Now, the stewards deemed it legal because at no point was either driver alongside Rosberg. Thus meant he could take a drastic inside line and by the letter of the law his move was legal.

But if Rosberg was in the right then I am sorry but Hamilton is in the wrong. Lewis Hamilton left the track to gain an unfair advantage and keep his momentum. What was Rosberg to do? Take a defensive line off the track?

The White line was crossed. If it was a wall then Hamiltons race would have been over. He left the track and gained an advantage. Surely he must give the place back.

At least Alonso respected the rules despite being run off. He respected the rules and decided not to take advantage. His racing integrity can never be questioned.

Alonso has already commented on twitter of his surprise in the stewards decision. He thinks there will be some interested overtaking manoeuvres. They have set a dangerous precedence.

[Critical_mass]

So first you say Rosberg was in the wrong. But then say lewis was in the wrong.

If as youve said, Rosberg was in the wrong and ran Lewis off the road, then what choice did lewis have, given that he had the momentum and passed Rosberg????

So i ask, regardless what the stewards said - as i did think Rosberg would have got punished, though certainly with the lewis incident i didnt see much of a problem, do you think Rosberg was in the right or in the wrong?

[Alessandro Ciambella]

I said that I feel Rosberg was in the wrong in both occasions.

The stewards say Rosberg was in the right. If that is the case then Hamilton should of given the place back. If Alonso did the same I would expect him to give the place back as well.

[Critical_mass]

ah sorry, i misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying rosberg was wrong but then lewis was in the wrong.

as i said previous i saw this exact same move in GP2, in the same place, same scenario where the faster moving driver overtook on the outside of the track after being pushed out and nothing was said in regards to stewards.

I feel Rosberg was slightly naughty, but i dont want penalities to ruin races either.

[Alessandro Ciambella]

Credit where it's due, it was a brave manoeuvre from Hamilton. It reminded me of Vettel on Alonso at Monza last year.

Personally, I think now the stewards have not done their job properly here and there will be more passes like this. It will bring excitement but also the element of danger.

I'm with you about penalties. I don't like them. But if drivers break the rules then there is no alternative.

[Belgarion of Riva]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17808396

How Rosberg escaped a penalty for both moves is unbelievable. He wasn't on the racing line, and it looked more like road rage than F1 racing.

Alessandro, LH took avoiding action and overtook him on the track. What is wrong with you?

How can you despise someone so much that even when he is forced off a track you still blame him.

[Alessandro Ciambella]

@BofR

How can you turn your biased blind eye away from the fact that Lewis Hamilton was BEHIND Rosberg before he went on his off road escapade!? He used his momentum to draw alongside Rosberg in an area not classified as the track.

Should Rosberg have taken a defensive position off the track? Hamilton took his momentum out of the track limits to achieve the overtake.

If Rosbergs move was deemed legal (which as I said I disagree with) then Hamiltons move is surely illegal.

To put it another way, if that was a wall instead of a run off zone then Hamilton would not of done it.

[mystiroakey]

rosberg escaped punishement- because they couldnt be bothered, there was no effective gain. hamilton did nothing wrong

[Fernando]

Alessandro go find the rule that says you can't gain an advantage by going off track please and post the link to it

Also can you find the the rule on crossing the white line into/exiting the pits

[Alessandro Ciambella]

It's not just me Fernando. Even the great one is agreeing with me: -

After learning Rosberg would not be punished, Alonso wrote on Twitter: "I think you are going to have fun in future races! You can defend position as you want and you can overtake outside the track! Enjoy! ))"

That sums up this whole story. Professional F1 role model and double WDC agrees with me Thank you Alonso!

Señor Diaz is also bamboozled by over taking outside the track and the fact that it is not being punished.

[Critical_mass]

Anyway, if hamilton was in the wrong as a result of rosberg being in the right, WHY wasnt HE punished. But they didnt, so he cant have been in the wrong.

We all know Lewis is gauranteed to be punished when in the wrong, based on past experience ey.

If Alonso had pulled the same move on Rosberg, im damn sure he wouldnt have said the above.

[dyrewolfe]

Good point there CM.

Ciabatta would have been praising Senor Diaz's skill and bravery at outwitting such a blatant piece of dangerous driving by Rosberg.

At the end of the day, the stewards took no action against Hamilton, Rosberg or Alonso, so at least they were consistent (which in itself is a nice change).

[Critical_mass]

Exactly DW.

The consistancy was a refreshing change.

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