Belgian GP: Stewards’ ruling in full
Filed Under: F1 News
Lewis Hamilton was stripped of his victory in Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday after stewards deemed the McLaren driver to have gained an advantage by cutting a chicane during a scrap with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.
The stewards dealt Hamilton with a 25 second time penalty which was enough to gift the win to Felipe Massa.
Below is the statement from the stewards explaining their verdict.
From: The stewards of the meeting
To: The team manager, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
The stewards, having received a report from the Race Director and having met with the drivers and team managers involved, have considered the following matter, determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor and impose the penalty referred to.
No./driver: 22, Lewis Hamilton
Time: 15:21:33
Facts: Cut the chicane and gained an advantage
Offence: Breach of Article 30.3(a) of the 2008 FIA Formula 1 sporting regulations and Appendix L chapter 4 Article 2 (go) of the International Sporting Code.
Penalty: Drive-through penalty (Article 16.3 (a)), since this is being applied at the end of the race, 25 seconds will be added to the driver’s elapsed race time.
FIA Stewards of the Meeting
Received by: Lewis Hamilton, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
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Stewart | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
Let me tell you something you already know…Formula 1 is rigged!
Robert Warren | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
Why dont the FIA just cancel the remaining 5 GP’s and hand the trophy to Ferrari again. And then next year change the rules so that Ferrari are the only team allowed to race with wheels on their cars.
I cannot be bothered to watch this rigged s**t anymore.
LarryLandy | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
Another absolute disgrace from the FIA!
I love F1 but, with this obvious bias, must consider whether I should continue to (indirectly) support the FIA.
I bet, if you look at all past incidents, you will find all similar incidents have been judged ‘fair’ (which I believe it was) and, if the boot was on the other foot, who believes a penalty would have been imposed against Ferrari?
FellowF1er | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
I think you British folks call it sh**e… Darned good end to the race, too bad a few things had to happen. Kovalainen slipped a few spots (and had that drive-through penalty earlier), Kubica did fine compared to his practice and quali, I could go on but just wanted to say again that Lewis must be peeved.
Nigel | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
If you stop watching it,they will have to listen.
Mark | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
What a load of crap. Lewis was almost in front going into the last chicane, gave the position back and took him into the next corner. What about the williams that caused all that crap during the next lap? If the FIA are dealing out punishment like this maybe he should be banned for life! Go off and f*** some Nazis Max Mosley. Bastard!
sebastien | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
i dont think that a few fans not watching formula one for a bit is going to effect the decision made. i dont think lewis is going to win and if he does he will need to be driving a red car (if you know what im saying). if my memory serves me well i recall a time when ferrari didnt get there own way and stamped their feet untill the FIA changed there decision. they threatened to leave the sport anf go to america to race but the FIA didnt want to lose the fans. if mclaren was to threaten to leave that way change things. if ferrari can run over one of there own and not even get a slap on the wrist while mclaren cut a corner stick to the rules and still get penalised whats the point of mclaren competing. stewards decision sucks everyone knows it.
Ryan | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
I can’t understand how they came to this clearly wrong decision. Hamilton was going 6 kph slower then Kimi as they when over the start line and Kimi was fully ahead. But still they deem that was not good enough. The rules state that Hamilton must give back the place after cutting the corner, and he did. What more must he do! Maybe he should just paint his car red.
Daizy | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
The stewards, having received a report from the Race Director and having met with the drivers and team managers involved, have considered the following matter, determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor and impose the penalty referred to.
Who is the Race Director ? Is this not Charlie Whiting. Then did Ron not ask him that if what they did was ok and he said yes all looked ok to him?
zero | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
After the boring race at Valencia this brilliantly exciting GP restored my faith in F1, I am shocked by the decision, perhaps the FIA should try soapbox races! Also I couldn’t believe it when I saw Bernie Ecclestone reprimand a mechanic on the grid for not showing his pass!! The FIA have got to big for their boots, maybe Mclaren should pull out of F1.I’m switching to watching A1!!
MRay | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
FIA will not allow Hamilton to win a championship and you all know why - and it is not because of his driving skill! They are racing racist!
The move Hamilton made was illegal however according to the rule (as far as I can understand it), he must give me position back - he did! What else do you want him to do? Please someone explain this to me?
I’m just pis?? off!
I love racing (all racing) especially F1 however I considering leaving the sport and boycotting it for a year! I know that I am just one person but it’s one less person watching the sports, the ads, buying services for the sponsors!
This sucks!
MRay
Dav | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
Hamilton deserved to be penalized….He was behind Raikonen when he took the short cut and he should let him pass completely and not half the car length…obviously he gained an advantage here…to all you British, don’t be a sour grapes…
nigel 2008 | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
lewis won far square i think?and maney fans would agree,there was no contact lewis gave the postion back then took it back by being a pro driver,last race near serious accident in pit lane and nothing work that out head up lewis you are champion
Racehound | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
ive watched it over and over, and i reckon he knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to straight line the chicane!! They had both braked down to a speed where it would have been easily possible for Hamilton to have fallen back in line behind the Ferrari, and follow Raikkonen thru BOTH turns!!! Instead, Hamilton decided to straight line the chicane and emerged in the lead, and still on the power, but knowing he was going to have to let Raikkonen back into the lead…which he then did only by letting Raikkonen out-accelerate him on the run to the next turn……(.When Hamilton straight lined the chicane, he completely missed 1 corner of the track, an offence which cost Ayrton Senna the `90 drivers title, after the tangle with Prost, when he got going again but rejoined the circuit just past the chicane where he had gone off!!! I think he was disqualified from the race after he won it, so got 0 points and Prosty won the title!!) I cant see that Raikkonen forced him off the track, as Hamilton COULD have just braked and then followed him round the 2nd part of the chicane…..(.this incident is almost the same as the move he pulled on Vettel in Germany, although that was at a much higher speed and was clearly dangerous.)..the stewards decided hes gained an unfair advantage in this case, whereas Senna was disqualified for the same thing in 90!!?? Never consistent, and always contoversial should be the FIAs motto!!!
Scholia | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
I’m disgusted by the decision because it looks so unfair and irrational, judging by what we all saw at the time. The fact that so many other decisions seem to go against McLaren and/or in favor of Ferrari makes it look like institutional bias. It does make me wonder why we bother supporting F1….
milan | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
FIA = Ferrari International Assistance
And FIA done her job perfect.
Dreamer_uk | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
Not sure what camera you were watching but hamilton was acually behind as he went for the overtake into corner 1. kimi even moved twice to try and stop him. and just to mute the point a little more hamilton had been able to close the 1.9sec gap in under half a lap kimi just wasn’t confident in the conditions.
The ruling sucks not because it was hamilton but because if just giving back the place isn’t enough for the stewards what is? thats the biggest issue. The winning of the race is a real shame but it’s the issus it raises that is more important. (along with the perception that ferarri can do no wrong)
Andy | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
Sorry ‘Dav’ but if he passed behind the Ferrari before overtaking how did he only give ‘half a car length’…. that would mean that he physically ran into him.. which is ironically what Kimi tried to do at the previous chicane….
Craig | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
Hi ,Not a Mclaren fan just a F1 fan,
I have writen to press@fiacommunications.com
And put my disgust to them,I thought about trying to do it from Farrari but Im not that IT literate,I reckon we should all have a go and use Fan power against them
CR
Al | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
The FIA are a bunch of w*****s who have their heads too firmly lodged up Ferraris backside. Their lack of consistancy in decisions goes beyond belief, if I was a member of the ferrari team my face would be as red as one of their cars over this.
Paul | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
Agree , any right minded person would see its fixed
An ex F1 Fan | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
If we had had the “other” Bright red car driver from years ago Mr Sh……. this would have never happened. He would have taken Lewis out several corners before.I’ve had it with F1 its too biased in Ferrari’s favour.When you read comment from the likes of Dav it show how a lot of people must be blind or biased, or just talk sh–. Stewards included. By the way does FIA mean
“Ferrari International Arselickers”
Paul | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
Not only did hamilton let raikkonen go back past, hamilton actually went round the back of him and past on the inside of the next corner, so not only did he not gain advantage he got past the long way round, perhaps it was hamiltons fault that kimi stuffed it in the tyres.LOL. Still hamilton will be champion and then he can say up yours to all of them!!!!!!!