Perhaps, but that's not an excuse for a rule change half way through an F1 season.

Especially when the reasons for it are, IMO, rather dodgy.

 

1. MASSA Ferrari
2. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari
3. ALONSO Renault
4. FISICHELLA Renault
5. HEIDFELD BMW
6. BUTTON Honda
7. RAIKKONEN McLaren
8. KUBICA BMW
9. WEBBER Williams
10. KLIEN Red Bull
11. DE LA ROSA McLaren
12. TRULLI Toyota
13. BARRICHELLO Honda
14. ROSBERG Williams
15. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota*
16. COULTHARD Red Bull
17. SPEED Toro Rosso
18. LIUZZI Toro Rosso
19. MONTEIRO Midland
20. YAMAMOTO Super Aguri
21. SATO Super Aguri
22. ALBERS Midland*

*engine penalty

Ferrari walkover I suspect. BMW did good.

 

I disagree with it completely.
However if they wanted to ban it a far more sensible way would have been to announce it would be banned from next season rather than hamstring a successful team just for being successful. If they want to do that then go the route of adding penalty weights because of wins as per touring cars (something else I personally disagree with)

 

Wasn't it a member of the Schumacher family?

 

So where are all the "there's no overtaking in F1" whingers?

I need a lie down after that.

 

If you read the judgement it clearly states that the device had a secondary function, and that had a bearing on the aerodynamics (front wing I believe). Renault have taken it on the chin because they know they are in the wrong. Bending the rules is what F1 is all about, and they've done well to go this long so fair play to them.

Glad Alonso reversed the trend and put 2 points on Schumi this weekend. A nice tense race with lots of action. Kimi's horrific luck continues to aflict him, and it's now no longer a surprise to see him taken out of a grand prix. I'm starting to believe he'll never be a champion as his luck has always been shocking.

I wasn't impressed though, by Massa's antics of reducing the gap from himself to Alonso in the closing laps, so that if Schumi got past he could snatch 1st place from Massa too. It shows the cynical way in which Ferrari work, only "letting" a driver win, so long as the other one can't take the place from him. It's sad.

I can see the reason for it at this stage in the championship, but by that stage of a GP the decision should be made to let Felipe get on with it and stop faffing about and make himself, the team and the sport look bad by dawdling along on his last lap to let his team mate catch up.

 

Bada - I'm sure Renault would have swapped Fisi and Alonso over if they had been in the same situation, in fact they did at Hockenheim and then it wasn't even for the lead.

 

I would have thought the more obvious way to ban it.. would be to declare it as a moveable ballast.. since that has to be secured to the car. From previous things I had read from people in F1 (honda actually).. they had looked at moveable weights - including liquid.. but again illegal.

 

who actually thinks Ferrari doesn't get the rules changed by the FIA "mid season" to help them win?

remember Michelin tyre story.. when they were "declared" illegal after Hungary.. and now this damper?

the damper is quite clever.. both the flexi wings and these wheel covers by Ferrari are taking the mickey

 

It's all about the way it's done though, and Ferrari specialise in doing it the wrong way. At a certain point in the race the decision must be made to let the man in front stroll away and get on with winning. Not hanging around like a paedo outside a school for his team mate to catch up.