Button made a major boo-boo throwing away 3 points like that. Who knows what will happen next race? Better to get the points now by coasting past the chequered flag and take your chances even with a 10-place penalty at quali next race.

I was thinking that since the hydraulic system had shut down, it wouldn't be possible for him to coast to the finish line. If it's stuck in a gear, and neutral can't be selected, the car might not roll. But, I do agree, he should have made it to the finish to collect the points. Perhaps a front starting position is more important for the sponsors.

Re: Formula 1, Renault, and Alonso...Wow!
 

I always thought the French-dominated FIA "tweaks" the rules to the advantage French teams/manufacturers.

Same with LeMans...

And WRC...

He did lose the 3 points but had he crossed the finish line then he would have been stuck with a duff engine at the next race or having to change the engine out and taking a 10 car penality.

Now he can put a new engine in the car and race hard the next time out. Its a tough call either way.

I heard the commentators say he was told by radio to stop before crossing the line to save the 10-place penalty. Remember,he was driving a fair distance with the engine on fire, almost took JV (I think)with the oil slick. Looking at the footage, I'm sure he could have coasted past the flag. Dumb, imo.

Again, who knows what will happen next race? I'll take any points I can get. F1 points do not come easy.

Legion, I thought I was the only one on this board who noticed that about the FIA. :)

That's one of the best things about F1 -- it's complicated.

Ok, the engine blows. Cross the line or stop before hand?

If you cross you get 3 points.
If you collect the points, you get a 10 place penalty on the next grid.
3 points are hard to come by in F1.
How would those points affect the present standings, given today's point totals?
What would the sponsors perfer, the points or the grid position?
What are your chances of qualifying above 8 at the next venue? (I personally think that I'd rather be 11 than 10 or 9. If you are 11, you can change your fuel strategy).
How well is the car suited for qualifying at the next venue, can you take pole again? (I'd give up 3 points in a heartbeat for pole at the next race).
How well is the next track suited for passing, if you decide on the points instead?

Those and about 10 or 20 other considerations that I haven't thought of.

You have 2 or 3 seconds to decide.

Gotta say.. Renault is humbling Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Honda...
Peugeot and Citroen have swept the Rally scene...

I wish they'd translate their obvious engineering talent into some sportier models appropriate to the US market and come back to these shores! Meantime, some of those pocket rockets would be fun... The mid engines Clio V6 would do, a 206 RC as well...

I was there on the day. Great race, the new V8s sound fantastic. You forget how frikken fast these things go and how much corner speed they can carry..... the car that caused the saftey in the first half dozen laps went in right in front of our platform at T9&10. Didnt realise at the time he had lost his left side on the wall and couldnt brake. He went across the kitty litter and into the tyre wall like a missile. A big hit, but all the safety systems worked.

What a great event. I had to take Monday off. I wasnt very well.

Just rewatched the past 20 laps. You are correct. Alonso had a 4-5 second jump on Kimi when the split came in for the 1st segment.

It looks like alonso was driving his heart out and Kimi was napping.

I stand corrected but still hate Flavio. :D

I respect Flavio for one reason only - he got to make a baby with HEIDI KLUM !

The rumor is that Honda think they will have a shot at victory at Monza, a track without too many corners that puts premium on top speed and motor power ! Thay are betting the bank on a fresh motor there and 10 points. Honda are after a victory, not the championship... Renault's team principal said that in their position he'd have done the same thing...

That 10 places rule is dumb... 2 GP engines rule was dumb... It cost a lot more in terms of engineering than letting them use one motor per race, this is F! after all, not an endurance competition !