I'm interested in what the feeling on the forum is regarding the Hamilton-Kobayashi. If rolls had been reversed and Lewis had knocked out Kamui in the exact same circumstances would the stewards have been so quick to dismiss it and not even investigate it?
I'd say in the end... It's racing and these things happen. I'm just glad that Hamilton came out of that unscathed. It could have quite easily have resulted in injury. I do believe that if the roles were reversed then there would be a barrage of criticism of Hamilton. Kobayashi really wasn't going to make anything stick right there and should have maybe filed in... but it's racing... These things happen.
I think Hamilton made a very basic mistake by assuming Kobayashi wasn't there. If he didn't retire from the race, I think he'd get a drive through penalty. Kobayashi can't be blamed for the incident. He could have braked early if he wanted to, but he didn't do anything wrong by staying there. He stayed to the left and Hamilton turned into him. I am very upset at Whitmarsh and Hamilton blaming Kobayashi for what was a very silly mistake by Hamilton. I don't think it matters about whether the roles were reversed. The guy who made the mistake paid for it.
With the roles as they were there's still a barrage of criticism of Hamilton! But he does get into a lot of scrapes.
The amount of arrogance he has in them situations he deserves to go out. It would have been the same, or Kobayashi would have got the penalty. The amount of conspiracy theories that go on here is just ******ed.
As pointed out by Nikki Lauda, Hamilton could easily have avoided the incident by using his mirrors and not pulling in to the left like he did. What annoys me is that Hamilton is always too quick to blame someone else, so naturally he will always attract a lot of criticism.
Personally I think it was a racing incident, but since a reprimand was given in qualifying to Hamilton for an overtake from behind with contact I'm extremely surprised the stewards d dint at the very least take a second look.
I think its, Hamilton's Fault Videos - Hamilton and Kobayashi crash in 2011 Belgium GP http://www.formula1onlive.com/2011/08/videos-hamilton-and-kobayashi-crash-in.html
The inconsistency in opinion is bizarre. When Hamilton and Button came together, Hamilton was deemed to not have a right to be there, Button clearly didn't see him and was within his rights to take the line. Hamilton takes the line and it's his mistake for not looking in his mirrors. Opinion on who is in the wrong can seem to be applied depending on how Hamilton is involved. Hamilton/Button you can argue the spray made visibility hard, and I would agree that Hamilton shouldn't have been there... But today, you really can't pin it on Hamilton. Two drivers hit... End of... But as usual, people want their pound of flesh.
Kamui was just fighting a position he was never going to get around the outside, he should have slotted in and tried to get him somewhere else. However Lewis should have stayed in the middle, given Kamui the space and turned right. An interesting point was that Lewis had his DRS active but didn't deploy KERS, if he did then we would have no incident. At the end of the day its motor racing, looking at Jensons pace today I think Lewis would have won today, but he needs to stop putting himself in these situations. Championship is over or sure and its all about second place now.
Did they ever show the incident onboard with Kobayashi? That'd probably be the best way to look at it.
It was a racing incident. Hamilton should of looked in his mirrors and at the same time Kobi could of braked earlier as Hamilton was ahead of him when they approached the corner and Kobi wouldnt been able to pull off anyway sort of overtaking move.
But equally Kobayashi could have avoided the incident by pulling back. It was a racing incident, same thing that happened in Canada with Hamilton and Button. Only then the Hamilton bashers were saying it was his own fault, and now they say it was as well hmmmmm double standards... Also did anyone notice Button make the same move on Massa that Hamilton made on Maldonado in Q2 and because Massa didn't turn into Button it was commentated as a good move, whereas the difference yesterday was that Maldonado turned into Hamilton and suddenly Hamilton is too blame (by the Hamilton hate
The argument that Koba should've backed out is annoying, he was already on the brakes when Hamilton jinked across, unless Kamui's got a parachute he can deploy he's got no way of reigning it back in. Before the braking zone they were wheel-to-wheel, Hamilton broke slightly later and edged ahead, but should've know Kobayashi was close. Bhaji: Personally I didn't blame Hamilton for Canada, it was an aggressive move but it was just unfortunate Button couldn't see him. Today's move was more similar to Vettel pulling across Webber in Istanbul, and you're right, the inconsistency in opinion is bizarre because everybody (Horner excepted, who made a clumsy attempt at diplomacy and almost insinuated it was Webber's fault) seemed to blame Vettel for that, whilst there are a few people here blaming Kobayashi.
My opinions. If you dont like them thats your problem. He caused his own crash. Why is it every time he is in an accident (most races) its never his fault, when that was a similar move to Maldonado yesterday. Both are racing incidents. If it was the other way round all the Hamilton fanboys would have been saying the **** that came out of Senna's mouth about if you dont go for a gap your no longer a racing driver. Why is it different for Kobayashi?
I suppose the difference is as you mentioned, the spray. But also in Canada Hamilton drove into a closing gap, while today Hamilton and Kobayashi were alongside each other before Hamilton drifted over to the left.
I think the argument is not that he should have braked as Hamilton moved over because yeah unless he had a parachute no way he could have braked in time, the argument is more Koba shouldn't have been in that position at that part of the track, there was no way he was going to get past him and must of known at some point Hamilton was going to move across. Fault on both drivers part, just frustrating when one driver comes off worse than another but hey ho. Nothing can be done about it now, just hope Kobi learns to be more careful of trying to get past drivers on the outside, and Hamilton remembers to use his mirrors more!!!
