Zitat Watson: Hamilton Need To Decide IF He’s A Driver Or Hip-Hop Star[/size] Date: 2nd June 2013 at 4:00 pm |
Former F1 star John Watson believes that Lewis Hamilton has too much freedom at Mercedes.
The Brit switched from McLaren over the winter, and has since talked about the increased levels of independence he has in his new surroundings.
Hamilton’s decision to take his pet dog, Roscoe, to various races has been met with a flurry of media interest, but Watson believes his actions are unsafe and not befitting of a professional racer: [size=110]“There is no place for a dog in the F1 paddock,” he said.
“For one thing, it is not fair on the animal. It might be in luxurious surroundings, but an engine firing up is like a firecracker or bomb going off for a dog. It’s not right.
“It just shows that Mercedes are bending over too far to please Lewis. There is absolutely no way McLaren would have allowed it. Lewis wanted more freedom from McLaren and he has got that, but it can go too far the other way.
“Lewis has to decide if he wants to be an F1 driver or a hip-hop star. At the end of the day, you have got to respect the job that you are doing.
“He went to Mercedes with the reputation of being the man who would get the job done. Niki Lauda took the credit for getting him in there.
“Niki is a experienced former driver who won three world titles. You don’t do that just being quite nice and he should be there trying to help Lewis work his way through the problems and point out what Mercedes expect from him.
“If your life was on the line and it was all down to one lap, you would back Lewis over Nico every time. But it is just not happening for him at the minute and he needs to start working out why.”
Zitat von Olgai cant believe there is no foul play either! in reality all this, plus everyday dirty games in real life make my stomach nauseous!
I'm starting to get the feeling that Ross brawn interpreted a rule (testing) and tried walk a very, very fine line in exploiting it to his advantage. He has a history of taking these types of risks. Think back to the double decker diffuser. A risky interpretation that conferred an advantage.
When this finally goes to the tribunal for review: we are month(s) from a decision. Mercedes will surely have gained valuable data from the test because it sounds like they were in charge of running the cars. Not Pirelli. Which the rules say should have occurred. And Mercedes won't see punishment for several GP's.
The Monaco Grand Prix Stewards raised in their report to the FIA an issue concerning a tyre testing session carried out by Pirelli with the participation of Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in Barcelona on 15-17 May 2013[1].
The FIA requested clarifications from Pirelli and Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in this respect.
The FIA also asked questions to Scuderia Ferrari Team, which took part in a tyre testing with Pirelli in Barcelona on 23-24 April 2013.
The FIA requested all the other F1 Teams to provide the FIA with information they may have regarding any tests carried out by Pirelli during the 2013 season.
In the light of all the replies received and in view of the information gathered during this inquiry, the President of the FIA, acting as the FIA prosecuting body, has decided:
To close the case as regard to Scuderia Ferrari Team considering that its participation in a tyre testing organized by Pirelli in Barcelona on 23-24 April 2013 using for this purpose a 2011 car is not deemed to contravene the applicable FIA rules.
To bring the case concerning the tyre testing session carried out by Pirelli and Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in Barcelona on 15-17 May 2013 before the FIA International Tribunal because it results from the inquiry that the conditions of this testing may constitute a breach of the applicable FIA rules.
The FIA International Tribunal is called upon to make a decision in compliance with the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.
[1] The Stewards' report follows the protests made by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari Team on the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 concerning its participation in the Barcelona tests (15-17 May 2013).
Seems Ferrari also concerned by investigations !!!!! FIA investigating Ferrari as well as Mercedes over tests ESPN Staff June 1, 2013 « Pirelli envisages more private tests | Monaco was just a blip - Boullier »
Mercedes caused controversy when it emerged at the Monaco Grand Prix that it had supplied a 2013 car to Pirelli to conduct tyre testing. Ferrari and Red Bull both lodged protests against the test but now Ferrari has also been asked to supply information of a Pirelli test its Corse Clienti division took part in using a 2011 car at Barcelona.
It had previously been considered that using a 2011 car was within the Sporting Regulations, but the FIA issued a statement on Friday night saying it was investigating both tests.
"The FIA has asked Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 and Scuderia Ferrari Team which have taken part in tyre tests in the 2013 season to reply to a disciplinary inquiry in pursuance of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules," the statement said.
"This follows the Stewards' Report from the Monaco Grand Prix and represents supplementary information required by the FIA in the light of the replies received from Pirelli, who were asked for clarifications on Tuesday May 28."
Speaking after his team lodged the protest in Monaco, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domencali made clear that it was his understanding that cars from the current and previous year could not be used.
"For us it was not in doubt that it was the 2013 car and - as written in the regulation 22.1 - it's not possible to use the previous year's cars during the season for any kind of activity."
Article 22.1 states: "Track testing shall be considered any track running time not part of an event undertaken by a competitor entered in the championship, using cars which conform substantially with the current Formula One technical regulations in addition to those from the previous or subsequent year."
It is possible the FIA is investigating whether the Ferrari run at the Pirelli test "conforms substantially with the current Formula One technical regulations" despite being two years old.
Zitat'Secret Barcelona test revealed in chat between Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel' News of test kept secret for over a week before Monaco bombshell
The existence of Mercedes and Pirelli's secret Barcelona test was first divulged in a conversation between Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel, Sky Sports News have reported.
Although Mercedes have pledged "to explain the full facts of the Pirelli test in an open and transparent manner at the International Tribunal" following their summons to a hearing into the three-day event, the rest of the F1 paddock only became aware that it had taken place on the Saturday night of the Monaco GP - over a week after the test had been staged
According to Sky Sports News, it was World Champion-turned detective Sebastian Vettel who first became aware of the controversial test - the legality of which remains a matter of considerable dispute - during a conversation with compatriot Rosberg at a meeting of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association after qualifying in the Principality.
Yet regardless of who was responsible for the test becoming public knowledge, the event continues to be the burning topic of conversation in the paddock still striving to agree both its legality and significance.
Although Rosberg refused to comment on speculation that both he and Hamilton wore 'anonymous' helmets during the test, the German was more forthcoming on its purpose but raised plenty of eyebrows after claiming he knew what type of tyres were deployed on his W04.
"Of course, I was aware of what their ideas were and what they were testing because I needed to know that to be able to pinpoint for them what was going on," he said.
That testimony would apparently contradict the reassurance of team boss Ross Brawn in Monaco that Mercedes were kept in the dark about what tyres Pirelli elected to use at Barcelona.
"We didn't know that when you do a Pirelli tyre test that you don't know what tyres you are testing," Brawn told Sky Sports F1. "You are given codes. Each day there was a batch tested and we still don't know what the conclusions were."
A date for the International Tribunal has yet to be finalised.