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Given the raw pace of his car I wouldn't be surprised if Vettel finishes in the top 5-6 in the race, maybe even better if a safety car comes at the right time or there are mixed conditions, but the championship really is looking like an uphill climb for him now. It's pretty much going to take a Hamilton DNF now to bring him back into it.

travbrad wrote:

It's pretty much going to take a Hamilton DNF now...

With Verstappen starting directly behind him on the grid, that's always a possibility.

Results for the final Formula 1 race from Sepang:
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula- ... ormation-2

1 Max Verstappen, Red Bull / Renault - 94.5s, 317 kph
2 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 94.5s, 321 kph
3 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull / Renault - 94.8s, 317 kph
4 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 94.1s, 333 kph
5 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 95.3s, 296 kph, 311 kph
6 Sergio Perez, Force India / Mercedes - 95.6s, 321 kph
7 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren / Honda - 95.9s, 315 kph
8 Lance Stroll, Williams / Mercedes - 96.6s, 325 kph
9 Felipe Massa, Williams / Mercedes - 96.9s, 323 kph
10 Esteban Ocon, Force India / Mercedes - 97.1s, 325 kph
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren / Honda - 96.5s, 316 kph
12 Kevin Magnussen, Haas / Ferrari - 97.2s, 318 kph
13 Romain Grosjean, Haas / Ferrari - 95.8s, 304 kph, 331 kph
14 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso / Renault - 97.2s, 317 kph
15 Jolyon Palmer, Renault - 97.2s, 319 kph
16 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault - 94.3, 320 kph
17 Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber / Ferrari - 96.4s, 303 kph
18 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber / Ferrari - 96.6s, 307 kph
DNF Carlos Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso / Renault
DNF Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

Nice to see someone else win for a change.

Mercedes pace seemed to be missing in Malaysia all weekend but I wonder how much temperatures, tires, and all those fast corners played a part. Might need to wait till Suzuka (if it's actually dry) to get a clearer picture of whether Mercedes is really being out-developed or if it's just track/conditions specific.

I hope the Ferrari's and Red Bulls don't break down and perhaps we'll get some fighting for first place.
Last race was already a lot better than Singapore.

Japanese Grand Prix qualifying and practice lap times (Q3/Q2/Q1/P3/P2/P1):
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula- ... rmation-26

87.3 / 87.8 / 89.0 / 89.1 / 108.7 / 89.4 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 308 kph
87.8 / 88.2 / 89.4 / 89.4 / ------- / 89.2 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 306 kph
88.3 / 88.9 / 89.5 / 90.0 / ------- / 89.5 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull / Renault - 301 kph
88.3 / 88.7 / 89.2 / 89.9 / ------- / 90.8 Max Verstappen, Red Bull / Renault - 297 kph
89.1 / 89.2 / 90.1 / 90.1 / 109.5 / 90.9 Esteban Ocon, Force India / Mercedes - 304 kph
87.7 / 88.5 / 89.3 / 89.1 / ------- / 90.2 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 308 kph - 5 spot penalty for new gearbox
89.3 / 89.3 / 89.7 / 90.6 / 111.3 / 91.5 Sergio Perez, Force India / Mercedes - 308 kph
89.5 / 89.7 / 90.4 / 90.8 / 112.1 / 91.9 Felipe Massa, Williams / Mercedes - 301 kph
------ / 89.8 / 90.7 / 90.8 / ------- / 91.2 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren / Honda - 296 kph
88.5 / 89.1 / 89.2 / 94.0 / ------- / 89.6 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 312 kph - 5 spot penalty for new gearbox
------ / 89.9 / 90.3 / 90.3 / ------- / 91.0 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault - 296 kph
------ / 90.0 / 90.8 / 91.0 / ------- / 91.2 Kevin Magnussen, Haas / Ferrari - 300 kph
------ / ------ / 90.8 / 91.5 / ------- / 91.0 Romain Grosjean, Haas / Ferrari - 297 kph
------ / ------ / 91.3 / 91.4 / ------- / 92.5 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso / Renault - 296 kph
------ / ------ / 91.4 / 91.0 / 112.3 / 91.6 Lance Stroll, Williams / Mercedes - 301 kph
------ / ------ / 91.6 / 92.6 / ------- / 93.4 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber / Ferrari - 299 kph
------ / ------ / 91.9 / 92.7 / ------- / 92.9 Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber / Ferrari - 297 kph
------ / 90.0 / 90.5 / 90.8 / ------- / 91.8 Jolyon Palmer, Renault - 297 kph - 20 spot penalty for new power unit
------ / 90.4 / 90.6 / 90.8 / ------- / 92.3 Carlos Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso / Renault - 295 kph - 20 spot penalty for new power unit
90.7 / 89.7 / 90.5 / 90.4 / ------- / 91.2 Fernando Alonso, McLaren / Honda - 298 kph - 35 spot penalty for new power unit

Results from Suzuka:
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula- ... ication-26

1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 93.8s, 306 kph
2 Max Verstappen, Red Bull / Renault - 93.7s, 305 kph
3 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull / Renault - 93.7s, 308 kph
4 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 93.1s, 313 kph
5 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 93.2s, 313 kph
6 Esteban Ocon, Force India / Mercedes - 94.8s, 312 kph
7 Sergio Perez, Force India / Mercedes - 95.6s, 312 kph
8 Kevin Magnussen, Haas / Ferrari - 95.3s, 307 kph
9 Romain Grosjean, Haas / Ferrari - 95.3s, 311 kph
10 Felipe Massa, Williams / Mercedes - 95.9s, 306 kph
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren / Honda - 95.1s, 307 kph
12 Jolyon Palmer, Renault - 94.1s, 301 kph
13 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso / Renault - 94.5s, 307 kph
14 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren / Honda - 93.7s, 300 kph
15 Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber / Ferrari - 96.4s, 294 kph
DNF Lance Stroll, Williams / Mercedes - 95.5s, 301 kph
DNF Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
DNF Marcus Ericsson, Sauber / Ferrari
DNF Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
DNF Carlos Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso / Renault

In silly season news, Jolyon Palmer has driven in his last race for Renault. Carlos Sainz, Jr. will replace him in the remaining four races (United States, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi). Back at Toro Rosso, Pierre Gasly will replace Sainz and Daniil Kvyat will be back in the ride that Gasly had taken for the past two races.

http://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-o ... ifications
Drivers' standings after sixteen of twenty races:
306 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - eight wins
247 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - four wins, 2 DNF
234 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - two wins. 1 DNF
192 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull / Renault - one win, 3 DNFs
148 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - four podiums. 4 DNFs
111 Max Verstappen, Red Bull / Renault - one win, 7 DNFs
82 Sergio Perez, Force India / Mercedes - best finish: 4th, 2 DNF
65 Esteban Ocon, Force India / Mercedes - best finish: 5th
48 Carlos Sainz Jr., Toro Rosso / Renault - best finish: 4th, 6 DNFs
34 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault - best finish: 6th (three times), 5 DNFs
34 Felipe Massa, Williams / Mercedes - best finish: 6th (twice), 2 DNFs
32 Lance Stroll, Williams / Mercedes - one podium, 5 DNFs
28 Romain Grosjean, Haas / Ferrari - best finish: 6th, 3 DNFs
15 Kevin Magnussen, Haas / Ferrari - best finish: 7th, 4 DNFs
13 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren / Honda - best finish: 7th(twice), 5 DNFs
10 Fernando Alonso, McLaren / Honda - best finish: 6th, 10 DNFs
8 Jolyon Palmer, Renault - best finish: 6th, 5 DNFs
5 Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 8th, 2 DNFs
4 Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso / Renault - best finish: 9th (twice), 5 DNFs
0 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 11th (twice), 6 DNFs
0 Antonio Giovinazzi, Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 12th, 1 DNF
0 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso / Renault - best finish: 13th
0 Jenson Button, McLaren / Honda - 1 DNF
0 Paul Di Resta, Williams / Mercedes - 1 DNF


Constructors' standings after sixteen of twenty races:
540 Mercedes - 10 wins, 1 DNF
395 Ferrari - 4 wins, 6 DNFs
303 Red Bull / Renault - 2 wins, 10 DNFs
147 Force India / Mercedes - best finish: 4th, 2 DNF
66 Williams / Mercedes - 1 podium, 8 DNFs
52 Toro Rosso / Renault - best finish: 4th, 11 DNFs
43 Haas / Ferrari - best finish: 6th, 7 DNFs
42 Renault - best finish: 6th(3x), 10 DNFs
23 McLaren / Honda - best finish: 6th, 16 DNFs
5 Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 8th, 10 DNFs

No Gasly for the U.S. Grand Prix. Which driver will Toro Rosso choose?
https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2017/10/ ... nt-3778921

They've updated the story, it's Brendon Hartley from WEC.

I was dismayed to read that NBCSN has lost Formula 1 to the Mickey Mouse empire effective at the end of this season.
http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/f1-will ... -2018.html

United States Grand Prix qualifying and practice lap times (Q3/Q2/Q1/P3/P2/P1):
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula- ... rmation-35

93.1 / 93.4 / 94.8 / 94.5 / 94.7 / 96.3 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 331 kph (205½ mph)
93.3 / 94.1 / 95.4 / 94.6 / 95.2 / 96.9 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 326 kph
93.6 / 93.8 / 95.3 / 94.7 / 95.3 / 97.0 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 329 kph
93.6 / 94.5 / 96.0 / 95.7 / 95.5 / 99.4 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull / Renault - 322 kph
93.6 / 93.8 / 95.6 / 94.8 / 95.5 / 97.6 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 325 kph
94.6 / 95.1 / 95.8 / 96.0 / 96.5 / 97.8 Esteban Ocon, Force India / Mercedes - 329 kph
94.9 / 94.9 / 95.5 / 95.7 / 96.5 / 98.1 Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault - 321 kph
95.0 / 95.0 / 95.7 / 96.2 / 96.3 / DNF Fernando Alonso, McLaren / Honda - 311 kph
95.1 / 94.8 / 96.4 / 95.8 / 96.5 / 97.9 Sergio Perez, Force India / Mercedes - 331 kph
------ / 95.2 / 95.6 / 95.3 / 96.5 / 97.6 Felipe Massa, Williams / Mercedes - 326 kph
------ / 95.5 / 96.1 / 98.5 / 96.8 / ----- Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso / Renault - 320 kph
------ / 95.9 / 96.8 / 97.9 / 98.4 / 99.3 Romain Grosjean, Haas / Ferrari - 324 kph
------ / ----- / 96.8 / 97.3 / 98.3 /100.4 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber / Ferrari - 322 kph
------ / ----- / 97.2 / 97.8 / 98.2 / ----- Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber / Ferrari - 323 kph
------ / ----- / 96.9 / 96.1 / 97.8 / 98.5 Lance Stroll, Williams / Mercedes - 324 kph - 3 spot penalty for running Grosjean off the track in Q1
93.7 / 94.7 / 94.9 / 95.1 / 95.1 / 97.3 Max Verstappen, Red Bull / Renault - 323 kph - 15 spot penalty for new engine
------ / ----- / 97.4 / 97.3 / 94.3 / 98.4 Kevin Magnussen, Haas / Ferrari - 324 kph - 3 spot penalty for blocking Perez in Q1
------ / DNF / 95.7 / 95.6 / 96.5 / 98.9 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault - 320 kph - 20 spot penalty for new engine
------ / ----- / 96.9 / 96.8 / 98.0 / 99.3 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso / Renault - 320 kph - 25 spot penalty for Kvyat's new engine
------ / 95.6 / 96.3 / 96.6 / 97.5 / 97.4 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren / Honda - 315 kph - 30 spot penalty for new engine

I shudder to think what Max Verstappen could do with a Mercedes. Drive of the season so far.

well that last sector/finish/podium sure was a nailbiter

Captain Ned wrote:

I shudder to think what Max Verstappen could do with a Mercedes. Drive of the season so far.

Just lost concentration though. All 4 wheels off the track, 5 s penalty and back 1 place.

Edit: looks clear on the stills. The crappy way they managed the situation though, to let him go to the pre-podium room and throw him out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQoinjfCDOg ... I think he knew, though, it's theatre for the media/fans (he's not even wearing the podium hat).

Seems that Jos Verstappen, Horner, Webber ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2z8abO5WpQ ) etc. all think that it's a bad decision for some reason.

Niki Lauda also said it was a stupid decision because he thought it was clear Max only went further inside to avoid a collision with Kimi, not for the overtake per se

Topinio wrote:

Captain Ned wrote:

I shudder to think what Max Verstappen could do with a Mercedes. Drive of the season so far.

Just lost concentration though. All 4 wheels off the track, 5 s penalty and back 1 place.

Yet despite half a dozen other people doing so none of them got a penalty. Did any of them gain enough time to come out ahead at a pitstop or an otherwise similar advantage?

It does feel like a decision made in haste just because of the podium ceremony, rather than them having looked at all of the facts.

The FIA's web server apparently remains unrepaired in the past sixteen hours, but here's the finishing order from Austin:
https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula- ... ication-35
1 Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes - 98.8s, 336 kph
2 Sebastian Vettel - Ferrari - 97.8s, 334 kph
3 Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari - 98.8s, 333 kph
4 Max Verstappen - Red Bull / Renault - 98.1s, 337 kph - 5 second penalty for passing on the shoulder cost him a podium.
5 Valtteri Bottas - Mercedes - 97.8s, 325 kph
6 Esteban Ocon - Force India / Mercedes - 100.5s, 330 kph
7 Carlos Sainz Jr - Renault - 100.5s, 328 kph
8 Sergio Perez - Force India / Mercedes - 100.9s, 335 kph
9 Felipe Massa - Williams / Mercedes - 100.1s, 341 kph (212 mph)
10 Daniil Kvyat - Toro Rosso / Renault - 101.0s, 325 kph
11 Lance Stroll - Williams / Mercedes - 99.7s, 331 kph
12 Stoffel Vandoorne - McLaren / Honda - 100.3s, 324 kph
13 Brendon Hartley - Toro Rosso / Renault - 100.0s, 326 kph
14 Romain Grosjean - Haas / Ferrari - 101.3s, 321 kph
15 Marcus Ericsson - Sauber / Ferrari - 101.0s, 328 kph
16 Kevin Magnussen - Haas / Ferrari - 97.9s, 306 kph
DNF Fernando Alonso - McLaren / Honda
DNF Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull / Renault
DNF Pascal Wehrlein - Sauber / Ferrari
DNF Nico Hulkenberg - Renault

Topinio wrote:

Captain Ned wrote:

I shudder to think what Max Verstappen could do with a Mercedes. Drive of the season so far.

Just lost concentration though. All 4 wheels off the track, 5 s penalty and back 1 place.

Edit: looks clear on the stills. The crappy way they managed the situation though, to let him go to the pre-podium room and throw him out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQoinjfCDOg ... I think he knew, though, it's theatre for the media/fans (he's not even wearing the podium hat).

Seems that Jos Verstappen, Horner, Webber ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2z8abO5WpQ ) etc. all think that it's a bad decision for some reason.

"The crappy way" was being inconsistent(for whatever reason) in their reaction to leaving the track(for whatever reason). And it seems(https://twitter.com/fia) that most of the(twittering) world thinks it is a bad decision.

EndlessWaves wrote:

Topinio wrote:

Captain Ned wrote:

I shudder to think what Max Verstappen could do with a Mercedes. Drive of the season so far.

Just lost concentration though. All 4 wheels off the track, 5 s penalty and back 1 place.

Yet despite half a dozen other people doing so none of them got a penalty. Did any of them gain enough time to come out ahead at a pitstop or an otherwise similar advantage?

It does feel like a decision made in haste just because of the podium ceremony, rather than them having looked at all of the facts.

If there was a wall there he could not have made the pass. That sums it up for me.

As far as Max having the drive of the season I'd have to say poppycock to that. Vettel started last in Malaysia and finished 4th.

Verstappen's penalty for overtaking Raikkonen with all four wheels off the track was: Fair

https://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/10/23/354437/

http://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-o ... ifications
Drivers' standings after seventeen of twenty races:
331 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - nine wins
265 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - four wins, 2 DNF
244 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - two wins. 1 DNF
192 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull / Renault - one win, 4 DNFs
163 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - five podiums. 4 DNFs
123 Max Verstappen, Red Bull / Renault - one win, 7 DNFs
86 Sergio Perez, Force India / Mercedes - best finish: 4th, 2 DNF
73 Esteban Ocon, Force India / Mercedes - best finish: 5th
54 Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault & Toro Rosso - best finish: 4th, 6 DNFs
36 Felipe Massa, Williams / Mercedes - best finish: 6th (twice), 2 DNFs
34 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault - best finish: 6th (three times), 6 DNFs
32 Lance Stroll, Williams / Mercedes - one podium, 5 DNFs
28 Romain Grosjean, Haas / Ferrari - best finish: 6th, 3 DNFs
15 Kevin Magnussen, Haas / Ferrari - best finish: 7th, 4 DNFs
13 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren / Honda - best finish: 7th(twice), 5 DNFs
10 Fernando Alonso, McLaren / Honda - best finish: 6th, 11 DNFs
8 Jolyon Palmer, Renault - best finish: 6th, 5 DNFs
5 Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 8th, 3 DNFs
5 Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso / Renault - best finish: 9th (twice), 5 DNFs
0 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 11th (twice), 6 DNFs
0 Antonio Giovinazzi, Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 12th, 1 DNF
0 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso / Renault - best finish: 13th
0 Jenson Button, McLaren / Honda - 1 DNF
0 Paul Di Resta, Williams / Mercedes - 1 DNF


Constructors' standings after seventeen of twenty races:
575 Mercedes - 11 wins, 1 DNF
428 Ferrari - 4 wins, 6 DNFs
315 Red Bull / Renault - 2 wins, 11 DNFs
159 Force India / Mercedes - best finish: 4th, 2 DNF
68 Williams / Mercedes - 1 podium, 8 DNFs
53 Toro Rosso / Renault - best finish: 4th, 11 DNFs
43 Haas / Ferrari - best finish: 6th, 7 DNFs
48 Renault - best finish: 6th(3x), 11 DNFs
23 McLaren / Honda - best finish: 6th, 17 DNFs
5 Sauber / Ferrari - best finish: 8th, 11 DNFs


Mercedes won the constructor's championship this past weekend. Lewis Hamilton has all but locked up the driver's championship as well. If Hamilton didn't turn another lap this season, Vettel would still need to win two of the final three races and finish no worse than second place in the last one. If Vettel won all three remaining races, Hamilton would need to score just one 5th place or some other combination to get 10 points in the final three races.

End User wrote:

Verstappen's penalty for overtaking Raikkonen with all four wheels off the track was: Fair

https://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/10/23/354437/

Fair according to 70% of 579(2017-10-23) voters on f1fanatic, the rules, Räikkönen, Hamilton, ea. : Yes


Fair according to 99,999% of the people on the official FIA social media
https://twitter.com/fia/status/922210353123119106
https://twitter.com/fia/status/922353577934323713
https://twitter.com/fia/status/922357281718702081
Niki Lauda, "I fully disagree, this is completely wrong this decision, because racing drives should be able to race. He did nothing wrong." "We destroy the sport like this, with this decision"
Nico Rosberg, https://twitter.com/nico_rosberg/status ... 7773573120
Alex Wurz, https://twitter.com/alex_wurz/status/922202170367336448
Johnny Herbert, https://twitter.com/johnnyherbertf1/sta ... 2630845440
Mario Andretti, https://twitter.com/MarioAndretti/statu ... 5566464000
Arie Luyendyk, https://twitter.com/ArieLuyendyk/status ... 9088542720
And on and on... : No

Ferrari International Assistance didn't rule in favour of F1.

As for the drivers, I think they are hypocrites if they condemn this action, that's why I only linked former F1/Indy drivers.
Lewis exceeded the track on his pole lap. But of course, Lewis has a unique skill to get the rulebook rewritten. Remember when he failed to overtake Max at Suzuka and the rules were rewritten to ban defending a corner? Which was cancelled a few races later because it was rash and hasty.

"If you no longer go for a gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver"

D@ Br@b($)! wrote:

End User wrote:

Verstappen's penalty for overtaking Raikkonen with all four wheels off the track was: Fair

https://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/10/23/354437/

Fair according to 70% of 579(2017-10-23) voters on f1fanatic, the rules, Räikkönen, Hamilton, ea. : Yes


Fair according to 99,999% of the people on the official FIA social media
https://twitter.com/fia/status/922210353123119106
https://twitter.com/fia/status/922353577934323713
https://twitter.com/fia/status/922357281718702081
Niki Lauda, "I fully disagree, this is completely wrong this decision, because racing drives should be able to race. He did nothing wrong." "We destroy the sport like this, with this decision"
Nico Rosberg, https://twitter.com/nico_rosberg/status ... 7773573120
Alex Wurz, https://twitter.com/alex_wurz/status/922202170367336448
Johnny Herbert, https://twitter.com/johnnyherbertf1/sta ... 2630845440
Mario Andretti, https://twitter.com/MarioAndretti/statu ... 5566464000
Arie Luyendyk, https://twitter.com/ArieLuyendyk/status ... 9088542720
And on and on... : No

Ferrari International Assistance didn't rule in favour of F1.

As for the drivers, I think they are hypocrites if they condemn this action, that's why I only linked former F1/Indy drivers.
Lewis exceeded the track on his pole lap. But of course, Lewis has a unique skill to get the rulebook rewritten. Remember when he failed to overtake Max at Suzuka and the rules were rewritten to ban defending a corner? Which was cancelled a few races later because it was rash and hasty.

"If you no longer go for a gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver"

I regularly race on that track in iRacing. It is the polar opposite of a track like Mosport where stepping over the white line puts you on the grass. Without the physical penalty of running off the track the stewards have to lay down the law. Max clearly demonstrated that cutting that corner gives a driver a massive advantage.

This decision is done and dusted, but going forwards Charlies, the stewards and the FIA need to be consistent.

Get rid of the "gaining an advantage" part of the rule - just make it all 4 wheels over the line = automatic 5 second penalty. Obviously if forced off the track by another driver then the other driver gets the penalty for forcing someone off the track. It's simple, it's consistent.

They are meant to be the best drivers in the world and yet they have difficulty keeping their cars on the track? I don't think so. They seem to manage well enough in Monaco, Singapore and places like the Wall of Champions in Montreal. If you turned up at an outdoor karting track and kept going that far off the track they'd toss you out!

I don't want drivers ending up in hospital, or even missing races after crashing heavily. The run off areas are safer for everyone, but there needs to be a penalty for being out there.

This! Especially the last bit.

I f*****g hate track limits, either enforce everywhere, or don’t enforce anywhere. That’s why I like old school American tracks

https://twitter.com/MFranchitti/status/ ... 6265622528

"Don't turn it off!"

https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/statu ... 08/video/1

Thanks for that, I hadn't seen it linked to elsewhere and was hoping that they would release it.

I love the GT R. AMG really knows how to make a turbocharged engine sound good.

Hey Max, keep your eyes peeled for the new curbs in Mexico:

https://blackflag.jalopnik.com/f1-insta ... socialflow