I found Lewis slowing up Seb cleaver, irritating but clever as Jenson was never really catching Seb enough before then as Seb was more or less worrying about Alonso. I was expecting at one point that he was going to pit at the same time as Seb and Alonso to slow them up again as it was working so well.
It was a great move by Seb on Button. All this "four wheels" crap has been annoying me all weekend, unless a driver cuts the corner it isn't really important, if you can find the grip out there you deserve the benefit. I stuck up for Hamilton in Bahrain before anyone calls me a fanboy or whatever. If the FIA don't want people running out there they should put some gravel down; problem solved. It's much harder to drive fast crashing over the kerbs and astro turf than it is on a billiard-table-flat piece of tarmac, that's why I've always backed drivers running wide at places like Ascari. Also Button also put two wheels outside the all important white line too, so he hardly gave Vettel plenty of room. Solid drive from Alonso, he's starting to get on my nerves a bit but he's driving better than anyone else right now so fair play to him. Good to see Button driving well again, I said McLaren wouldn't score a podium in the next three races so I'm having to eat my words a bit. They're still not up with Red Bull and Ferrari in my opinion but the upgrades seem to be effective, Hamilton's pace was strong as well. I feel their title challenge is over now though, Lewis is 62 points off Alonso, the way Alonso's going he won't even drop that many. Raikkonen's move on di Resta early on was brilliant, brilliant racing from both of them. Another race where they could've challenged for the win if they'd qualified better and got their strategy right.
I do actually feel sorry for Silver, a lone RBR fan in a sea of McLaren fans. EDIT: Forgot Abglo is an RBR fan too.
Right, getting off topic, but would any of you put Fernando Alonso in the top 5 all time greatest drivers?
When I said it to JPF I was chastised by the mods, and rightly so; this isn't General Chat. But I do get your point
The question is would Vettel have passed him if he had stayed on the track. The answer to which is no. That said i expect him to get away with it. Like Raikkonen in spa.
No but thats because I'd like to see his whole career first. He's on course for top 5 but thats as far as I'd go.
Ok, point taken, Kyle. Yes, Alonso is head-and-shoulders above the rest this season. One of the top 5 all-time, I don't know: it's one of those unanswerables. Lauda doffed his cap, that says a lot.
At the risk of re-opening old wounds, I seem to remember this was all thrashed out at length at Spa in 2008. A certain Lewis Hamilton was penalised not merely for overtaking Kimi Raikkonen by cutting the Bus Stop chicane, but for failing to sufficiently cede the place back afterwards. There were those of that thought that Raikkonen gave Hamilton no choices other than to leave the track or crash but that apparently wasn't sufficient defence. A clear and specific rule was established: the offending driver has to give up the place gained and allow the other driver one corner in the lead before resuming an attempt to overtake. If we are to have consistency with that case, then Vettel is surely going to be penalised: not only did he overtake whilst off the track, he made no attempt at all to give the place back. Lack of space is no defence but in any case, Button certainly gave Vettel more space than Raikkonen did Hamilton.
Button 100% gave Vettel enough room to stay on track. Don't think Vettel really had any intention to even try to stay on track and just accelerated off the track to get passed Button.
Any news from the stewards yet? I would expect a reprimand for Vettel, as it's only his first offence this season i think.
He's very close, if he gets the 3rd title this year you would be hard pressed to find anybody who would argue that claim.
