F1 » Herbert: Massa criticism very unfair

Hmm Mark.. I like the fuel to fire bit!!

Thats when I stopped watching races after the chicane fisco with Hamilton. I'm a Brit but NOT a Hamilton fan...surprisingly enough I've always been a Heidfeld fan so I can be objective here. Now Hamilton DID slow and let Kimi back through on the straight, that is what the rules dictate that he had to do. To penalise a driver when he follows the rules is NOT acceptable. They tweaked the rules AFTER that race but you can't make a driver accountable for rules made AFTER an event. I don't care which driver it was but at that point the FIA stewarding process lost all credibility to me.

What a great interview with Johnnie. I miss the Herb.

As for the whole Massa Hamilton 'who did what to whom' mallarchy - come on folks! Both drove great seasons in a hard fought championship. And that means that both made mistakes, and both displayed moments - shall we say - where their sportsmanship was gravely lacking. And which champion hasn't done that when it was a really close fight? (It's easy to be sporting when there's no real competition, of course.)

I was astounded by the progress Massa made this season. He started with two DNFs (which were entirely his fault) and retired for no fault of his own in two races where he almost certainly would have won, and still he nearly did it!

oh, I just noticed the confusion... I am a different mark! Shall change my name in the future!

Sorry!

@Minardimatt - I agree that that ruling was a bit nefarious however I also believe that if Hamilton had stayed on the track and completed the corner he would not have been in a position to pass Kimi where he did. I am sure he would have passed him after Eau Rouge though.

Mark I totally agree.... I wasn't disagreeing with that at all.
I was just stating that you race by the rules you are given. I may well believe that Hamilton gained an advantage but he played by the rules that were in place that time... whether we agree with that rule is immaterial. The point I was making was that he did everything he should have done (and that numerous other drivers have done when put in the exactly same situation at other races and never been penalised), by giving the position back on the straight. I believe the rule tweak after was needed but not to be enforced in retrospect of actions taken BEFORE the tweak... see my point?

I think F1 insiders think that we have short memories. The only reason Massa was as close in points to Hamilton was because of unfair penalties that favored, have always favored, and will always favor Ferrari.

I think Lucas' attack on Bernie will put an end to the Ferrari favourtism rumours. I am not a fan of any 1 driver or team. 08, 09 were not decisive victories by anybody Nailbiters for sure! more fun to watch than Schui winning everything! I can't wait!

@ Minardimatt - I see your point but I don't believe that the rule states how to undo the unfair advantage. Mclaren apparently were not positive either as they decided to check with Charlie if everything was in order. It is too bad that Charlie gave an answer that did not agree with the stewards. Definetely a bit of a grey area. In any case I am glad that the championship was not decided by this ruling.

In my opinion the Bourdais - Massa incident in Japan was the biggest travesty that the stewards commited in 2008.

Mark: every ruling the stewards made in 08 was a travesty! We need professional Stewards. 2 EX F1 Drivers, 1 old school 1 new 1 well respected "somebody". Massa at Fuji: avoidable contact, Min, drive thru. and THEN Sea bass takes the Pen? AS for SPA? Hami had Kimis butt! He's just Young! He will learn Patience. but IMO that makes up for Montreal IMO

"had Kimi's but!" The only reason he had been close to Kimi was because he cut the chicane. Button, DC, Fisi, Massa, Kubica and Ferdi came on the record and said that lulu gained an advantage, and would not had been in the position to overtake Kimi before that corner. I might have happened the corner or after since he was faster  at that point of the race, but in that particular instance he had no business being on Kimi's tail.  The only people that don't want to consent with that assessments are blind  lulu followers. I've said it before and I say it again - I don't want any advantage as a result of somebody cutting the chicane be it Kimi or lulu. The refs decision was justified.