rare mistake leaves Schumaccher on pole

[victormeldrew]

A last lap mistake from MS, having already having set a pole position lap, slows Alonso and prevents him from taking pole. Sportsmanship?

[CommanderJameson]

When asked if Schumacher's non-accident was deliberate or not...

Flavio Briatore said:

I dunno, this is the way Ferrari manage...

And he had a face like thunder.

[peanutjb]

It was all a bit convenient really wasn't it. I admit it probably was a genuine mistake, but he didn't seem to mind!

Peter

[staceyb]

Bit deliberate, did you see how much he blushed when Schumacher was asked what happened.

[nightdriver]

It wouldn't suprise me one bit if that was deliberate. A very odd place to have a crash and it didn't look as though he locked up until right at the end of the corner.
I'm sure the telemetary will tell the truth.

[CommanderJameson]

Renault's team management has taken it up with the race director.

I think Schumacher's time will be allowed to stand - and that if it had been, say, Jenson Button instead, it'd be a different story.

[GetCarter]

Mistake my ar5e.

[Muff Driver]

Not very sporting of MS sure that was no mistake.

[nerf]

i'd be amazed if he did it on purpose. but you only lose your good name once and, for me, that was lost years ago.

always nice to have a bit of controv though. really looking forward to the race. would like to see webber take the lead when MS and FA have a tangle at the first chicane

edited to add, i'd be amazed because surely ferrari couldnt possibly think they would get away with such a thing???

>> Edited by nerf on Saturday 27th May 14:35

[LongQ]

Mistake possible - then quick thinking and kill the engine?

It would be a shame if it doesn't startup tomorrow - or are they allowed to make changes and fix things if it 'broke down' in qualifying?

[ApexClipper]

The first thing I thought when I saw that was, "Hmm I wonder if that was deliberate?"

I can't make my mind up whether it was deliberate or not. Watching the in-car footage, it does look like he suffered from some understeer, and wasn't that the same spot where Massa kissed the wall earlier in the sessions?

To be honest, I doubt very much we'll ever know for sure, as the telemetry will only tell part of the story.

[team underdog]

Completely deliberate. He saw he wasnt gonna improve his time and so attempted to have an "incident". Irony is that he botched the fake incident - from in car it actually looked like he TRIED to lose it but actually it wasnt that easy to spin/half spin or whatever. Remember the fake spin at the British GP a couple years ago when first qualy results were reversed for the one lap second qualy? Rain was predicted for the end of that session so he "spun" on his lap and was conveniently near the back so as to go out early in the next session. He was the only one to fake an incident that day, every other driver just coasted.

If anyone thinks he made an honest mistake then you need to follow the sport a lot closer...

Flav and every other team knew what they did, as did Fernando in the press conference. This one will roll on for some time i think.

[number 7]

Cheating barsteward. He was so embarassed during the press conf. that he wasn't sure of the name of the last corner, or even whether an earlier time he set was the day before or that morning. Flav. was not happy - and he knows how the German works, having cheated their way to his first title together at Benetton.

7.

[CommanderJameson]

The FIA Rules said:

116) If, in the opinion of the stewards, a driver deliberately stops on the circuit or impedes another driver in any way during the qualifying practice session his times will be cancelled.

That's fairly unequivocal.

[Trackside]

ApexClipper said:

The first thing I thought when I saw that was, "Hmm I wonder if that was deliberate?"

Yep, me too. It's a shame really that so many people think that of someone who should be revered as a great sportsman of his era...

Rather convenient though, wasn't it?

[victormeldrew]

Trackside said:

ApexClipper said: The first thing I thought when I saw that was, "Hmm I wonder if that was deliberate?" Yep, me too. It's a shame really that so many people think that of someone who should be revered as a great sportsman of his era... Rather convenient though, wasn't it?

He is a great talent undoubtedly, but a great sportsman? I think he's proved the contrary in the past.

[Andy M]

I'm a big Schumacher fan, but he - and Ferrari - are guilty as sin on this one

Alonso's a bit bland for my liking, and Briatore a bit too smarmy, but I hope they teach them a lesson tomorrow.

[The Wiz]

Renault are probably just pissed off that they din't think to do the same.

[minghis]

I've just watched my recording of qually - and I am absolutely convinced the hun did it on purpose. He's not stupid - he knew exactly what he was doing. A driver of his standard cock it up on the penultimate corner on a street circuit knowing his closest rival is behind him....

[GetCarter]

You'll never see a better bit of parking, that's for sure.