Drivers: Hamilton's Spa penalty was harsh

SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS

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Thursday 11th September 2008

Although Lewis Hamilton's rivals reckon the McLaren driver's Belgian GP was harsh, some still feel the rules are the rules.

Hamilton was stripped of his victory in last Sunday's Belgian GP after he was deemed to have gained an advantage by cutting a chicane.

In his battle with Kimi Raikkonen for the lead, Hamilton cut a chicane putting him in front of Raikkonen on the track. However, the McLaren driver yielded the position only to pass Raikkonen at the very next corner.

As a result the race stewards ruled that he had gained a speed advantage by cutting the chicane and subsequently slapped him with a 25-second retrospective drive-through penalty.

The stewards' ruling has caused a great deal of uproar with McLaren lodging an appeal with the FIA.

And even Hamilton's reckon it was harsh call, although they do believe the rules are the rules.

"I think it is very clear, the rules are clear," said Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais. "Maybe the penalty is very hard but he has made the same mistake twice, he did in Magny-Cours and he did it in Spa.

"I don't really understand why there is such a mess around it, there is a rule book and everyone has to obey the same thing. The penalty is rough but it is up to you to give the position back."

This is a sentiment echoed by Toyota's Jarno Trulli. "I agree the penalty was quite big but I am not a steward. But it is also clear he got an advantage," he said.

"The rules are very clear, if you cut the chicane you get the advantage you have to drop it and lose advantage, in Lewis' case he should not attack in the first corner that is it.

"This last chicane, they have a lot of run off area they give you more chance to attack because in case of mistake you won't end up in wall or gravel. We have more chance to overtake."

Williams driver Nico Rosberg added: "He did have an advantage because he would not so close if he had not cut the chicane but the penalty was a bit harsh as it did not have a big result in the end result. But it won't stop us from trying to attack definitely."

Your Comments

hamiltonto

"Planet F1 = Planet LH, what a shame, next will be a MTV show THE HAMILTONS, not a surprise, allways the same. 20 drivers out of 22 (hamilton think diferent and his 'pet' sorry team mate is not aloud to talk under the dictatorial regime) said that LH clearly got an advantage, so that is the end to it, we can we have an opinion but THEY KNOW WHAT IS WHAT!!!!!!!!! "

1c3mn

"great job pf1...you're really showing your true colors with the headline you used. these drivers all agree that hamilton broke the rules, yet you decided to talk about the penalty instead. very objective!"

deepwater330

"The headline to this article, "Drivers: Hamilton's Spa penalty was harsh" is misleading and disingenuous. The drivers in the press conference did indeed say that; BUT, to a man they also added and agreed that advantage had been gained and that Hamilton had transgressed the rules. The main thrust of all the whingers about this issue is that Hamilton didn't transgress the rules. The drivers disagree."

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