Congratulations Robert Kubica!

[alpineranger]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: alpineranger
I like how Kimi is a class act when it comes down to these sorts of things, time and time again. If this had happened to Piquet or Senna or Schumacher they would not have had such a calm and measured reaction.

Agreed. That little incident would have come to blows with any of those other drivers.

I remember a number of years ago at Spa, Schumacher was leading the Belgian Grand Prix in a torrential downpour and as he came around a corner David Coulthard, who was travelling much slower-I think he had a problem and was nursing it back to the pits, moved over into the racing line and Schumacher couldn't avoid him, hell, you could barely see him in the spray and he plowed into the back of him. Both cars managed to limp back to the pits and when Schumacher got out of the car he stormed straight down to the McLaren garage but was held back by a few mechanics.

Even better was that race in the early 80's when Salazar took out Piquet. Thinking about that karate kick gets me every time.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwOG3gWvJ7g

There are some angles here that show you why the light was red. The track was not clear to merge. The light is big, bright, and red.

Some of these angles were not shown on the Fox broadcast.

 

[LTC8K6]

Keep in mind that had Kimi not been there, Hamilton would have blown the red light and been disqualified anyway.

Either way, he was done.

 

[getbush]

In my uninformed mind I just can't see why there needs to be a light. If people exiting stay on their side of the white line and people on the track stay on theirs, where is the issue? How is it significantly different from green flag pit stops to where these drivers could not handle merging? It seems as though the speed differential would be even less during yellow flag conditions, but certainly not any higher.
I guess I'm missing something.

 

[LTC8K6]

The red light is to make sure you join the end of the line of cars. IIRC, you are not allowed to join in the middle of the pack, but must wait for the end of the line to go by.

 

[LTC8K6]

Since lapped cars are allowed around the SC after the line has formed up, there is no need for you to try to hurry up and merge into the line of cars. If the SC passes you and that puts you a lap down, you will be allowed to make it up. So, the red light is used and you follow the rules, and everything is more organized and safer.

I remember the chaos that would ensue in years past when a SC was deployed. It was crazy.