Official FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2012

[Urlik]

The problem that netted Vettel a 20 second penalty was he passed Button by leaving the confines of the track. What Vettel needed to do is once he returned to track was slow down and let Button come equal to him again(acknowledging that he gained an advantage and subsequently relinquished it) and then race on...Vettel would have likely passed him within 2 corners.

Maybe but I personally don't think so, but if there was 3 laps left in the race the stewards would have only made him give the spot back to Button and take 3rd, not move him all the way back to 5th like they did.

[capsaicin]

Maybe but I personally don't think so, but if there was 3 laps left in the race the stewards would have only made him give the spot back to Button and take 3rd, not move him all the way back to 5th like they did.

Timed penalties can work during a race. Afterward, they're pretty worthless. I think everyone would rather see set position penalties after the checkered flag.

[Double-V]

Timed penalties can work during a race. Afterward, they're pretty worthless. I think everyone would rather see set position penalties after the checkered flag.

The problem is that the rules don't allow positions to be docked, just time to be added. 20 seconds is the lightest penalty that can be given post-race. As I mentioned before, same issue with Schumacher in Monaco. The stewards doled out the lightest penalty they could because he had violated a rule, even if it was a horribly written and unclear one by the safety car pulling off, having the safety car line before the start/finish line, and the green flags coming out.

Perhaps they need to be able to adjust positions in this case - simply swap two places. Vettel deserved the penalty. There is absolutely no evidence to the contrary. It's just that the rules, as the are written, levied a too-harsh penalty that can materially affect the championship.

That said, Red Bull should have known the outcome instantly, and made Vettel give the position back right away. Race control should also have acted faster. They could have made the call before the end of the race quite easily.

[Hawk]

Agreed. Button himself said, Vettel was faster than me at the end and would have definitely passed me before the finish line, he just did it illegally and got penalized accordingly. You could tell on the podium that Vettel was already resigned to the fact he'd get docked and Button wasn't kicking up too much of a fuss because he knew the case was a slam dunk.

[Double-V]

I like the new format for the interviews on the podium. It's more spontaneous, less of a waste of time, and lacks the stuffy feel of the press room. Lauda was all ears when Vettel was talking. Bwahahahahaha.

[kfzmeister]

Apparently, the engine mapping that the teams claim the RB is illegally using, is actually a form of "traction control"

This adds an interesting angle to the pass that Vettel made on Button. Even if Button's tires were wearing, it was pretty impressive how Vettel bolted on the painted surface of the track!

To add to the whole mapping issue, it is McLaren that is pressing the issue. And they were doing so before the German GP!!

[kfzmeister]

I like the new format for the interviews on the podium. It's more spontaneous, less of a waste of time, and lacks the stuffy feel of the press room. Lauda was all ears when Vettel was talking. Bwahahahahaha.

As a German, i'm gonna say that Lauda is an idiot. His whole approach is studid. Why would you bring up the whole European economy when interviewing the winner?? Dumbass!

[dubsix]

I like the new format for the interviews on the podium.

I like it as this could mean the end of the cardboard backed interview jackets mclaren uses haha. Hopefully it will get some more off the cuff comments as drivers won't have much of a cool down period before the questions.. they just need a serious interviewer instead of ex F1 champs.

[gizmopop]

Man I just noticed that Alonso is almost outdoing Mclaren in the Constructors Championship by himself, he accounts for 154 of Ferrari's 177 points...Mclaren has 160 points total.

[Oliver@triplezoom]

Man I just noticed that Alonso is almost outdoing Mclaren in the Constructors Championship by himself, he accounts for 154 of Ferrari's 177 points...Mclaren has 160 points total.

Well, duh. His teammate is Massa.

[nickthaskater]

Well, duh. His teammate is Massa.

The point being that one driver is out-performing two "superstar" drivers.

I like the new format for the interviews on the podium. It's more spontaneous, less of a waste of time, and lacks the stuffy feel of the press room. Lauda was all ears when Vettel was talking. Bwahahahahaha.

If that was your attempt at a joke, that's pretty low.

[Double-V]

If that was your attempt at a joke, that's pretty low.

Too soon? It was 1976, after all!

[nickthaskater]

Too soon? It was 1976, after all!

Given that he was nearly killed and grossly disfigured as a result of it, there will never be a time where it's appropriate to joke about, IMO. He's a very controversial person, but I have immense respect for the balls it took for him to come back after an incident like that, let alone to do so as soon as he did.

[Professor Gascan]

I forget which race it was, but it was at least as late as Canada where the FIA came out and said that if the overtaking car had any part next to the car ahead, the car ahead had to yield the corner.

I'd love to see that rule. That's pretty ridiculous. That would mean all I'd have to do is jam my nose up the inside of any corner (even if a pass is completley impossible) and you have to move out of the way for me? How is that racing?

The clarification actually came from the FIA right before the British GP. Notice how they state that it can be done on a straight or before any braking area, but no mention of corner exit.

Whiting said that "any driver defending his position on a straight and before any braking area may use the full width of the track during his first move provided no significant portion of the car attempting to pass is alongside his. Whilst defending in this way the driver may not leave the track without justifiable reason."

To further clarify the situation he later added: "For the avoidance of doubt, if any part of the front wing of the car attempting to pass is alongside the rear wheel of the car in front this will be deemed to be a 'significant portion'."

[kfzmeister]

Kimi tripping over fence as he's leaving German GP. Lmao!!

[dubsix]

damn, that looks like it's gonna hurt!

[gizmopop]

Kimi tripping over fence as he's leaving German GP. Lmao!!

The Flying Finn!?

[24vEngineer]

Kimi tripping over fence as he's leaving German GP. Lmao!!

Thats why Kimi is at lotus...all the alcohol he can drink after the race!

[kfzmeister]

Nice video of all the action from the German GP onboard.

[24vEngineer]

Cool video! I loved when Hamilton passed Vettel.

[Mk1Racer]

Great video. But why are the Red Bulls giving up 7-8 kph to everyone else at the end of the back 'straight'? They're really getting no advantage from DRS.

[kfzmeister]

Great video. But why are the Red Bulls giving up 7-8 kph to everyone else at the end of the back 'straight'? They're really getting no advantage from DRS.

They don't have the blown diffusor anymore to help them blast around the circuit, especially fast corners. That's where they used to make all their time. Not sure why they set up their gearing so low now. Even the Macca was hitting the rev limiter. Ferrari must have had their gearing dialed in just right...

[Professor Gascan]

Great video. But why are the Red Bulls giving up 7-8 kph to everyone else at the end of the back 'straight'? They're really getting no advantage from DRS.

They don't have the blown diffusor anymore to help them blast around the circuit, especially fast corners. That's where they used to make all their time. Not sure why they set up their gearing so low now. Even the Macca was hitting the rev limiter. Ferrari must have had their gearing dialed in just right...

It isn't the gearing that's really killing the Red Bulls, it's the fact that they set their car up with high downforce for cornering speed at the cost of straight line speed. They're drag limited. The Red Bulls pretty much need to win from the front or work the clear track/pit stop undercut to get past people. This is considering equal tire condition, obviously once the Pirellis start going off they can get past.

[kfzmeister]

It isn't the gearing that's really killing the Red Bulls, it's the fact that they set their car up with high downforce for cornering speed at the cost of straight line speed. They're drag limited. The Red Bulls pretty much need to win from the front or work the clear track/pit stop undercut to get past people. This is considering equal tire condition, obviously once the Pirellis start going off they can get past.

It sure sounds to me like that RB is hitting the rev limiter whereas others don't seem to have that issue. Also, if the downforce on that car is set too high, you will not hit the limiter. That's definitely gearing.

[nickthaskater]

It sure sounds to me like that RB is hitting the rev limiter whereas others don't seem to have that issue. Also, if the downforce on that car is set too high, you will not hit the limiter. That's definitely gearing.

Word. The RBR is tapping the limiter at 308-309 Km/h whereas the McLarens and Ferraris were tapping the limiter at 318-319 Km/h. Huge difference, and the sound of all 3 reaching their limit was pretty clear; definitely no drag limitations there.