Official F1/Motorsport thread

[Kieran76]

At first I thought is slightly dodgy but then I thought it just too risky. Anything could have happened to MS and if someone did hit him and he had to change parts does that mean he would have to start further back?

[Richard.John]

It wouldn't be the first time though for Schumacher. Six years ago in Austria, he got ****ed at the start/first corner then drove back onto the track and parked it in an attempt to force a red flag and restart. It didn't work that day but it was still quite blatant.

Eyebrows were raised then, so its understandable considering the importance of P1 at Monaco. FA should just go for it as he has nothing to lose if they both end up in the armco.

[Kieran76]

Does anyone know the rules if he had been hit and had to repair a rear wing for example? We all know his track record for cheating in the race, Hill and Villenueve, but to cheat in qualifying is new ground fof the man. Good to see DC in the top 10 at last.

[Richard.John]

I Just had a look at the replay and he quite clearly straightend his wheels after correcting the slide, making no attmept to take the corner on the inside and just parked it by the barrier on the outside.

I think it was simply a case of 'oh dear, what have I done, silly me'.

IMO he knew what he was doing but how do they prove it as surely he would be guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute. Do the FIA and Bernie want another scandal?

[jim g]

I think the teams thiink he did on purpose.

Normally in a press conference when he is on pole Schumacher is the epitome of confidence, happiness and thanks to his team, but today, no, he was sheepish and body langhuage was all wrong. And, as his teams radio is encrypted we couldn't hear the chatter when he was stationary.

Yes, this will get ugly.

[ryodi]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5023004.stm

Schumacher stripped of pole so both Ferraris are on the back of the grid.

[Richard.John]

It will be interesting to see how MS reacts to this as once again he has been accused of cheating, but this time the stewards have agreed. Will they appeal, and if so are they prepared to face even heavier punishment if the lose, considering the championship fight? Will he now rethink his plans for next year? And will the other drivers ask him to step down as head of the GPDA?

[Kieran76]

Seems a bit of a hasty decision to me. The stewards have now effectivley ruined the race. Alonso will scamper off from the start and we will watch a procession. How come Fisichella gets moved back only three places for ****ing up DC's fastest lap and MS gets moved back 20 odd places? That doesn't seem fair or consistent to me.

[Ish]

Excellent work Schumacher. The most entertaining thing in F1 for a long time

[Kieran76]

Go DC go, great drive my man DC, and he wore a cape on the steps. great stuff. Also respect to Kimi going straight to his yacht.

[Richard.John]

Poor DC, I bet he was cringing having to wear that silly cape. Once again, business as usual from Fernando. The WDC is on course.

LOL Kimi and the yacht. Maybe he was on the phone to Jean Todt about next year. IMO he should leave, as Mclaren haven't been able to deliver him the title so why not take a chance with post MS Ferrari.

[VR46]

Must have really hit Schumacher hard to know everyone hated him after his qualifying stunt, deliberate or not, virtually every other team was complaining to the FIA, can't see Flavio employing him next year now, so either he stays as a driver at Ferrari alongside Kimi or takes a back-room role.

The drop to back of the grid was harsh though, why not just cancel his fastest time and let him use the second one to determine his grid position.

[Richard.John]

Yes but I assume that as the stewards deemed it deliberate, he had to pay a heavy penalty. TBH he was lucky to survive qualy and not get sent home on Sat night.

Something that irritates me more is the total lack of credit that Fernando receives in regards to his postition in the standings and his overall career/driving style. Certainly not on this froum, but on others that I view it's either he romped home because he had the best car or he was lucky as he rivals fell away. The guy just can't win. He has 64 points from a possible 70, which I believe is a new record, more in fact than at this point in the season last year, and Monaco was also his 15th consecutive podium.

He cannot have 'lucked' into being the current WDC and an odds on favourite for this year as well without being an exceptional driver. The stats don't lie.

77 races
56 finishes
30 podiums
46 points finishes
12 wins
12 Poles

OK rant over......

[Darwock]

I don't buy it at all, seems like the press are jumping on it as an opportunity to get F1 back in the papers - Schuey was offline where he stopped and while he was admittedly a distraction I didn't seen any evidence from Alonso's onboard footage that he had actually backed off (so surely he should be the one getting penalised!)

[Richard.John]

FA did back off as he was about 3 or 4 10ths up on the splits but finished the lap in P2. Not much in it but his lap was clearly ruined as he had to slow down through Rascasse.