I'm going to start out this thread by saying that I love a good aggressive start to a race and think a good game of "To the wall/grass Chicken" is not only exciting to watch but is also totally legitimate. Vettel and Button get real close to an off when you see it from the onboard: [video=youtube;wvcbKZpZqws]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvcbKZpZqws&NR=1[/video] Two thoughts on this though. 1. With the Championship close to being sewn up, I'm not sure why Vettel felt that he needed to squeeze Button so hard. Better to win the title from second or third than from a gravel trap. Button backing out saved what could have been a trip to the kitty litter for the pair of them. 2. Had that same move been executed by Schumacher or Hamilton, might the stewards and general public looked at it in a much dimmer light? Think of how Schumacher has been grilled over the years for similar moves. I personally have NO problem with it. This is F1, not a nice civilized game of crown green bowling. I watch it to be excited, to be entertained, to leap out of my seat when things get hairy. But I do think that every instance needs to be regarded similarly. If there had been a penalty for the start though... It would have been a terrible thing. It would be almost getting to the point of saying that everybody has to file in to the first corner. So what do you guys think... Should that have even gone to the stewards office or is it about time the drivers were allowed to really go for it again without fear of a penalty for "racing"?
they can't really penalise this anymore, cause they let it go too often. last race, webber did the same to hamilton at the start, and he would have been on the grass, if there had been any. the only reason he backed out before button did was cos in singapore there is a wall.
True... Though Webber didn't squeeze Hamilton as close, he had room to maneuver if I remember rightly. It just buggered* Hamilton was all. I'm just not sure that those incidents need to go to the stewards office at all, no matter who is involved. *Not literally.
I was surprised Vettel tried it on, simply for the repercussions if it went wrong! I think taking out your only title rival into the first corner at Suzuka sounds familiar from somewhere. I think Vettel is keen to distance himself from the Schumacher/Senna school of driving, so blocking Button as aggressively as that surprised me. Still, this is racing, in the moment he has to make what he deems to be the best call, and if he doesn't try to defend at all then he's not racing. As there was no collision, I don't think you can penalise Vettel, and Button won the race so he clearly wasn't too disadvantaged by the incident. Had they come together, I think Vettel would be guilty of causing an avoidable accident, and should have been penalised.
and in Monza, three abreast with Alonso on the grass. it seems it happens all the time but do it at any other time in the race and you get a penalty, unless the stewards aren't looking
I like a good start too, but I do feel that they all need talking to because eventually there is going to one allmighty smash! I was felt it was worthy of looking at (in reall time) but in the replay couldnt really except that a pnealty was warranted! I noted that Button said that next time he would keep his foot in it - interesting!
He's not as bad, compared to last year. Jenson's restarts are just as slow as before, to dangerous congestion.
In Monza, the tarmac narrowed quite drastically though and it was quite a brave move on the part of Alonso. Had he not gotten the room he needed, he may have been doing a bit of rallycross.
Vettel always squeezes anybody who gets a better start than he does. He was so busy trying to run his team-mate off the road in Spain that Alonso got past the both of them. It was no great to surprise to see him do it again, and Button sensibly backed out.
I don't know what I want to say about this other than saying well done to Button who after the race while being asked about it by BBC insisting on "letting it go and move on". Shows how big of a man he is. Everyone could learn from his attitude. I don't think it was too bad, I like such aggressive driving, but I hope everyone remember this next time someone else does the same thing.
As a driver who's career was pretty much written off only a few years ago... He has matured in to very competent and accomplished racer. A true late bloomer! Can't knock him one bit.
I'll be betting on Jenson to win the WDC next year as an outside bet since the bookies will always put Alonso and Lewis above him. *fingers crossed for good odds*
I, personally, only felt that it was worth looking after seeing the repercussions of Liuzzi being forced onto the grass @ Monza. Luckily, Jenson has far better control and sense of when he can keep putting power through his rear tyres and let it go, to get his revenge later on. All's well that end's well )
At the time I remember thinking 'Vettel should get a drive through for that'. I have since revised my opinion back to it being too close to call. Technically, JB didn't look quite far enough forward but this whole 'squeezing' onto the grass isn't going to end well in other cases in the future.
It would of been a brave call from the stewards to give Vettel a penalty, however I do think they should of given him a reprimand to try and stop Vettel from doing it.
Nothing wrong with Vettel's start. He made a constant move to the inside. He had made his intentions clear to Jenson that the gap was closing. Jenson should not have stuck his nose there.
I don't like it, tbh, a bit of moving around, ok, but trying to force someone off track, which is what is happening, is not on. Trouble is they can't suddenly put the foot down now, they'll only stop it when someone gets hurt or killed. Allsaints makes a valid point though, Vettel didn't suddenly change direction to push Button off a la' Schumacher at Monza, it was a steady move to the right and Button should've seen that he was moving into an ever decreasing gap.
