I was reading a race report from a print mag - apparently the rule was changed. If a driver (kimi) opened the door briefly, and then closed it as the other driver (Ricciardo) put at least a front wheel there, tough noodles for the guy getting passed. So apparently that is why RIC was not penalized. Kimi briefly opened the door and the stewards went by the book. Not sure I see it that way, or care that much, but I thought that was a strange ruling, so there you go...

It seems pretty bizarre to me that you can put a wing end plate or front tire next to a guy's rear tire, even when there is nowhere close to enough room for a car, and expect the lead car to concede a corner. How is the lead guy supposed to see this in his mirror while braking and navigating a corner? If crap like this becomes the norm, I will tune out. That is beyond ridiculous. I guess all these whining prima donna drivers have finally got what they wanted.

I think it's more about opening and closing the door, i.e. 1 move to defend or something like that. But I agree with you either way, that was not a cool move, it might have put Kimi in a barrier, and it opens the door for a lot of similar ones...Bring on Canada ;-)

Pass on Kimi happened at Mirabeau. The normal line for that turn is for the drivers to drift to the right upon approach (to miss the hump in the road) and then jut to the left to get the angle for the turn. Ricciardo nosed (sorry for the pun :D) his way in and pushed Kimi wide. That is dangerous in that turn because he could have speared Kimi's side pod and left fluid going down the hill or worse yet, launched when the tires touched. As Kimi said, That's not very nice... and not very safe.

^^^excellent!

While looking through the various web sites for Canada F1 news, I ran across this detailed radio exchange from Monaco... so:

Chat transmissions between the Mercedes pitwall and Lewis Hamilton have been released confirming that the world champion had a hand in making the decision to pit for fresh tyres which ultimately cost him victory in the Monaco Grand Prix, as we reported after the race. in Monte Carlo.

Here is the transcript with the conversation going on between Hamilton’s engineer Peter Bonnington:

PB: “So, just a reminder, you are in your Safety Car… Virtual Safety Car. Virtual Safety Car. So look at your dash, look at the boards. Keep positive. Stay positive. And you are staying out.”

PB: “So we are staying out and you are just staying positive.”

PB: “Okay, Lewis, a Safety Car has been deployed.”

LH: “Are you sure it’s the best thing to stay out?”

PB: “Nope, we will be boxing the end of the lap. Boxing the end of the lap. So just stay positive. Stay positive. We are going to go +1 ½ turns for the option tyre unless you tell us different.”

PB: “Okay Lewis, just give us pit confirm.”

PB: “Okay, so we are now staying out. Staying out. Staying out. Just confirm on the radio.”

LH: “Guys, that’s not good. These tyres have lost all their temperature. Everyone is going to be on options now.”

PB: “Okay. Copy, copy. Box, box. Box, box.”

PB: “So, cancel brake magic. Cancel the brake magic.”

PB: “Caution on pit entry.”

PB: “RS modes. RS modes.”

PB: “So, cancel RS. Watch the line on pit exit.”

LH: “What’s happened guys? Guys, what’s happened?”

PB: “Okay, Lewis, so we got caught behind. So we’re just getting a look now, just having a look now. Just reviewing the video. So stick the brake warming on, let’s get some temperature into these brakes.”

PB: “Okay, Lewis. So we have lost the marshalling system so we may need to do something to override DRS.”

LH: “I’ve lost this race, haven’t I?”

PB: “Not if they lose all their tyre temp. They’re on the prime tyre. You’ve got very good options on the car at the moment.”

LH: “How many laps left?”

PB: “We’ve got 13 laps remaining.”

Pretty interesting...



Original Content on GrandPrix247.com

Yeah, he was certainly in on that SNAFU. Why would they think that his gap back to Nico would still be there after the safety car bunched the field. Dumb and dumber.