Why didn't LH stay is his car

Why didn't LH stay is his car

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Discussion

AKA8

Original Poster:

1,741 posts

228 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
How come LH got out of his car yesterday? Surely he would have been better to wait for a lift from the tractor (as was the case at the Nurburgring).

Couldn't he have argued that he was stopped in a dangerous place and could thus be moved? After all, they only have gravel traps for this reason.

AKA8

Original Poster:

1,741 posts

228 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
By the way, I know that they don't have gravel traps so that people can re-enter races! Forgive the mis-wording

Piglet

6,250 posts

256 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
I didn't see the N'burgring race but my understanding is that at N'burg the race was red flagged and as LH had been shifted out of the gravel trap and was running at the time of the red he could take the re-start. I don't think there is provision in F1 for endurance racing type "outside assistance" to be used.

Chrisgr31

13,487 posts

256 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
I think the OP is right in that they are allowed outside assistance if they are in a place of danger, and the Marshalls did attempt to push the car in China but it was beached too much for them. So I'd guess he was told to get out!

1

2,729 posts

237 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
When he finally got out of the car there were no marshalls there, they had all been ushered away by their chief marshall.

I think he just got pissed off with trying to explain it to them. It should be all done by numbers like at my local Chinese; 36 = Get the tractor to pull me out.

ViperDave

5,530 posts

254 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
It looked like they did try to push him out eventually but it got to the point that even if they did he would be last so may as well catch an early flight

Edited by ViperDave on Monday 8th October 12:12

rubystone

11,254 posts

260 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
1 said:
It should be all done by numbers like at my local Chinese; 36 = Get the tractor to pull me out.
hehe

flemke

22,865 posts

238 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
AKA8 said:
How come LH got out of his car yesterday? Surely he would have been better to wait for a lift from the tractor (as was the case at the Nurburgring).

Couldn't he have argued that he was stopped in a dangerous place and could thus be moved? After all, they only have gravel traps for this reason.
The fact that at the 'ring he got back into the race despite having been lifted by the crane was quite controversial within the sport. It was entirely legal, but many felt that it should not have been. It had not happened before, but Hamilton was clever enough to realise that it was possible at the time.

As a result, a few weeks later the FIA changed the rule. Now, even if your car is in a dangerous position and you have kept the engine ticking over, if you are lifted by the crane, your race is over.

motormania

1,143 posts

254 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
That's what I was going to say Flemke.

What's your take on all the BS flying around about it being a fix - it's hard to accept, despite the clear evidence of Lewis' rear tyres? Why would McLaren leave a car on track with tyres that were worn down so much with the knowledge that they could have got Lewis out again, albeit behind a couple of cars and still win the championship!!?

This all seems crazy...

Casino

120 posts

221 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
1 said:
When he finally got out of the car there were no marshalls there, they had all been ushered away by their chief marshall.

I think he just got pissed off with trying to explain it to them. It should be all done by numbers like at my local Chinese; 36 = Get the tractor to pull me out.
In that case, would we have seen a... Chinese Takeaway ?

Casino

120 posts

221 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
Actually what really creases my sides is that on the (dare I mention) itv site
they have a section entitled The Gravel Trap with a picture of a beeched McLaren.

They can update the image now.

chrisbr68

4,277 posts

249 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
flemke said:
AKA8 said:
How come LH got out of his car yesterday? Surely he would have been better to wait for a lift from the tractor (as was the case at the Nurburgring).

Couldn't he have argued that he was stopped in a dangerous place and could thus be moved? After all, they only have gravel traps for this reason.
The fact that at the 'ring he got back into the race despite having been lifted by the crane was quite controversial within the sport. It was entirely legal, but many felt that it should not have been. It had not happened before, but Hamilton was clever enough to realise that it was possible at the time.

As a result, a few weeks later the FIA changed the rule. Now, even if your car is in a dangerous position and you have kept the engine ticking over, if you are lifted by the crane, your race is over.
I thought Schumacher pulled this stunt once before - albeit not with a crane but being pushed by marshalls?

I think this rule should be ditched altogether though - if you need external help you should be out of the race - dangerous place or not shouldnt have an impact on if you have to retire or not IMO. I dont really see what it has to do with it!

1

2,729 posts

237 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
motormania said:
That's what I was going to say Flemke.

What's your take on all the BS flying around about it being a fix - it's hard to accept, despite the clear evidence of Lewis' rear tyres? Why would McLaren leave a car on track with tyres that were worn down so much with the knowledge that they could have got Lewis out again, albeit behind a couple of cars and still win the championship!!?

This all seems crazy...
I can see why they would want to wait as long as possible but it did seem a little odd that they did not bring him in when he was losing over 5 seconds a lap.

However it would have all worked out perfectly had he not slid off. No one else seemed to have a problem driving into the pits and he knew how bad his tyres were.

flemke

22,865 posts

238 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
motormania said:
That's what I was going to say Flemke.

What's your take on all the BS flying around about it being a fix - it's hard to accept, despite the clear evidence of Lewis' rear tyres? Why would McLaren leave a car on track with tyres that were worn down so much with the knowledge that they could have got Lewis out again, albeit behind a couple of cars and still win the championship!!?

This all seems crazy...
Not only crazy, but laughable.
What possible motive would McLaren have for wanting to compromise Hamilton so badly? Would Hamilton have had nothing to say about it?
This imagined conspiracy - are Mercedes and the royal family of Bahrain, who together own 70% of McLaren, in on it?
How about all the other teams - are they agreed all to lie down and let the two Ferraris and two McLarens run over them in Brazil, which this conspiracy would require, if it were a fact?

If I were you, I wouldn't waste much time contemplating it. There must be better things to do - including watching paint dry.


Dennis made it clear yesterday what was their thinking about bringing in Hamilton. It is quoted in an above post in this thread. One may agree or disagree, but it is credible.
Lewis made a tiny, understandable mistake, of failing to adjust mentally for the much more slippery surface of the access road. Small mistake. Easy to make. Impossible to allow for. End of.

Cheers.

jellison

12,803 posts

278 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
If the car can't move under it's own steam it is GAME over - at least that has been corrected as flemke sez and would not happen in any other level of racing.

mchammer89

3,127 posts

214 months

Monday 8th October 2007
quotequote all
Casino said:
1 said:
When he finally got out of the car there were no marshalls there, they had all been ushered away by their chief marshall.

I think he just got pissed off with trying to explain it to them. It should be all done by numbers like at my local Chinese; 36 = Get the tractor to pull me out.
In that case, would we have seen a... Chinese Takeaway ?
rofl