For many years now, there has been talk of a breakaway series from Formula One. The majority of teams do feel that a self regulated sport would prove fairer to all teams. The main argument is the blatant bias towards Ferrari.
Many will argue that there is no bias towards Ferrari. But ask yourself this, why is it only Ferrari that do not want to leave the security of the FIA?
Over the last few Grand Prix, we have seen Lewis Hamilton handed a ten place grid penalty for accidently hitting Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton failed to see a red light, and when trying to avoid hitting anyone, found there was not enough room.
I asked myself immediately, what the hell was Raikkonen doing sitting NEXT to another car in the pits? Hamilton said that nothing would have happened if Raikkonen was not sitting next to Robert Kubica.
To make matters worse, Kubica was the lead car in the pits, therefore he had the right to take the lead position. Raikkonen should have lined up behind him.
Hamilton was handed his penalty, but the FIA said that no action would be taken against Raikkonen. Many casted their minds back to Monaco. Raikkonen ruined Adrian Sutil race by breaking on a damp patch. He lost control of the car, and hit Sutil.
No action was taken against Raikkonen, even though he ruined another driver's race. Hamilton not only ruined Kimi's race, but his own too. Yet he was handed a very harsh penalty.
Then in Magny Cours, Hamilton started 13th due to his penalty. He made a steady start, and at turn seven, successfully passed Sebastien Vettel's Toro Rosso. When he had passed him, he hit the marbles and slid across the next kerb.
Hamilton was given a drive-through penalty. This ruined his race, and dropped him further down the field. The rules state that you can receive a drive-through, ten second stop-and-go, or a ten place grid drop, if you cut a corner and pass a car while doing so. NOT if you run wide and accidentally cut a corner after completing the move. Disgraceful.
Another note. The rules state that the black flag with an orange circle must be shown if a piece of the car is damaged and could cause significant damage to another car if it disembarks form the car. When the flag is shown, the car is hauled into the pits and the team must make necessary repairs to the car.
Raikkonens broken exhaust comes under this rule, but of course, the FIA said nothing. Disgraceful.
I can see why all the other teams want a breakaway series, and Ferarri don't.
Prior to this, Heikki Kovalainen was given a five place grid penalty for blocking Mark Webber in the second qualifying session. This was highly controversial as he in fact got out of Webber's way, and it was Kazuki Nakajima that blocked him.
Webber then went on to set a fast lap and make it to the next session. Despite this, Kovalainen was handed the penalty.
Now we learn that Ferrari are taking advantage of the new free engine rule. They are the first top team to do so. Coincidence? I don't think so.
If the Ferrari bias could end, then yes, I would support a breakaway group, because I am sick of Ferrari getting it all their way.
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3 months ago
Its a disgrace ... Nothing but ... Hang on, actually ... Its an embarrassment ... F1 is the laughing stock of motor racing right now ! It is now glaringly obvious that the FIA are favouring Ferrari and guiding them to the championship ... No one else stands a chance ... You search of google for "F1 Blog" and everyone you find will have a section of the Ferrari favouritism ... Its a joke and I dont know how much more I can take.
from 3 months ago
f1 blog has been hilarious as of late. imagine the fia seeing all of this. they must be so pissed they cant give us a ten race penalty lol.
from 3 months ago
Ha ha ... We would be BANNED for life !
3 months ago
Does Formula 1 have its problems? Absolutely ( the least of which being that Max Mosely is still with the FIA). However, a rival series would send Grand Prix racing into a downward spiral akin to what the Open Wheel Split did to American Indycar racing. As an F1 enthusiast, I don't see how splitting a series could do any good. I certainly have questioned the stewards calls at times, but another series would only damage Grand Prix racing.
from 3 months ago
well, a split would probably kill it, but the bias is doing that all by itself.
3 months ago
What about the A1 competition? It's more about the driver skill because the cars are supposed to be all the same.
from 3 months ago
A1 is very good. I wish F1 was a lot fairer.
3 months ago
A1 is terrible ... I really cant get on board with that sport ... Just doesnt float my boat.
from 3 months ago
well that's your view Ben, maybe a day at brands hatch would change ur mind eh? lol
from 3 months ago
Maybe but not likely ... I have tried watching it numerous times ... Just cant get on man
3 months ago
In my view, Hamilton's error in Montreal was much stupider than Raikkonen's in Monaco. The Sutil crash was a racing error on wet track - and almost every driver made some mistake or other that day. Hamilton's crash, on the other hand, was far more easily avoidable with a little more attention! And let's nto forget that he made a similar-ish mistake earlier in the season by crashing into the back of Alonso (and it was proved that Alonso didn't brake-test Lewis, too) - so it seems that Lewis needs to pay more attention to what's in front of him sometimes!
There's no rule against cars running two-abreast at the end of the pitlane. It happens all the time.
from 3 months ago
Just to support Carl's point here, in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix, Button in the BAR was running side-by-side with either Webber or Pizzonia in the Williams BMW and neither of them got a penalty of any sort that I know of.
Side by side in the pitlane is allowed if there is enough room.
As well, Lewis may be amazing, but he does have his flaws, and if that means that he has to be penalized, then so be it. He's only in his second year and he's been likened to become a world champion. That's putting too much on his shoulders!
from 3 months ago
people don't get this, the track was bone dry at that point. he managed to brake on the one damp patch left.
the incident with alonso was totally unavoidable. the front wing broke off, which gave the car a sudden burst of speed. no-one could have avoided that. On ITV1 last sunday, alex wurz showed how much the drivers have to do when driving down the pits. he said that the majority of the drivers realised that something like this would happen at somepoint.
cars can run alongside each other in the pits, but they MUST be in single file as they exit the pit lane. basic safety rule really.
from 3 months ago
Is there really a rule about exiting the pitlane in single file? My apologies if there is -- I wasn't aware of it. It would seem strange to me, though, since no one has ever been penalised (or even investigated or wrist-slapped) for it.
3 months ago
Michael, this is a good analysis. A breakaway faction does make sense to some teams. But as it is, we have very few teams competing, so it would sort of be like, F1 being more of a backyard race competiion rather than a world event if that happens. Also, the money involved is huge, I don't think so, business can support 2 F1 race championships.
3 months ago
Poor article, your conclusions are conjecture and slanderous.
from 3 months ago
it is so obvious that your are a ferrari fan. you can't accept the facts. sad act.
from 3 months ago
Paulie ! Good to see you all over the place !
Conjecture and slander is what Motorsports journalism is all about ... actually sports coverage in general touches the light fantastic most of the time eh?
3 months ago
Listen I will give you a free piece of advice. Take your time, don't try and write about every topic. Take some time to learn more about the topic you are writing about and form your own opinions.
3 months ago
Paul why dont you just Go away . You dont even put your point of view on this subject forward , you just slate Michael because of your bitterness on the last article .
You have merely made these comments here to stoke up the argument , just because you know that you was getting slaughtered on the last article . Your a childish person . and do not give people advice you cretin , your the one who needs advice . you still can write an article , i wonder why the hell that seems to be .
carry on and you will probably get reported and hopefully kicked off the site , we are sick of you .
from 3 months ago
C'mon Mark ! Paulie is what the internet is all about ... what Bleacher Report is all about.
It's not about right or wrong, is or isn't, it's about letting loose the hounds.
If anything, Paulie will make us better. Better research, better knowledge, better awareness ... better writers.
It's like sitting in a bar ... sorry, pub ... and making a point. Somewhere in the room is a differing view and a debate ensues and on the walk home you're dismissing the dissent by re-considering and re-enforcing YOUR opinion.
Next week your argument will be stronger and better for the debate.
3 months ago
LJ i can see your point . But Paul Has Just Gone Way Over the mark . Im guessing you havent seen his comments on other articles . we have tried being nice to him , we have tried having a sound debate with him , but all he wants to do is demean other peoples work without actually writing anything of his own .
he calls peoples work poor and says he is better than experienced people on this site but at the end of it , doesnt show us his skill or how good he is . do you agree that is wrong ?
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