The Official 2009 Australian Grand Prix Thread

[Mibz]

RBR has been fined 50 million Euros for not calling Vettel into the pits when he was on 3 wheels.

If they don't have the option of keeping him out there then why the fuck didn't they black flag him and force him in? One race in and bullshit already rears its head.

The same article has Schumi supporting Vettel's position too.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/11991

[bart]

50 million euros eh?

[buh_buh]

That's a BS fine. Kimi ran half a race with an exhaust hanging by a wire and finishes second and Vettel can't run his car on 3 wheels behind a safety car, and gets fined for not getting black flagged. I don't think him running on 3 wheels was ok, but the stewards definitely should've black flagged him.

[rage2]

Originally posted by buh_buh
That's a BS fine. Kimi ran half a race with an exhaust hanging by a wire and finishes second and Vettel can't run his car on 3 wheels behind a safety car, and gets fined for not getting black flagged. I don't think him running on 3 wheels was ok, but the stewards definitely should've black flagged him.
Meh, Ferrari's allowed to do anything, even drive on 3 wheels.

TeAuQ2Xem4Q

Even made it all the way back to the pits to try and punch DC.

[buh_buh]

Schumi went back to the pits though. Vettel ran a lap or 2 behind the safety car before pulling over :rofl: I was hoping he'd finish the race on 3 wheels behind the safety car in a points position.

[rage2]

Originally posted by buh_buh
Schumi went back to the pits though. Vettel ran a lap or 2 behind the safety car before pulling over :rofl: I was hoping he'd finish the race on 3 wheels behind the safety car in a points position.
Makes no difference. You're supposed to pull over as soon as it's safe when your car is broken. That's the rule, which Ferrari broke too.

[Redlyne_jr]

insane situation.. its crazy how stable the car still looks regardless of missing a wheel

[buh_buh]

Schumi did the same thing in Monaco '04 and didn't get black flagged, same with Kimi in Nurburgring '05 although he didn't have a chance to go back to the pit. But everyone knew the car was going to break at some point, but never got black flagged. That was probably one of the more dangerous incidents that should've been black flagged of recent memory. Come to think of it, cars rarely get black flagged or penalized for stuff like this, and now RB gets handed a fine (semi) comparable to stealing another team's documents?

[DJ Lazy]

50 Million?? :eek: That can't be the right number! But if it is, so much for cost cutting... :rofl:

[rage2]

That 50m is a typo lol. It's 10,000 euros.

[Mibz]

Originally posted by rage2
That 50m is a typo lol. It's 10,000 euros. That makes FAR more sense. Source?

[buh_buh]

I read this morning it was $50 000, but the fine was going to Vettel.
I think the fine is still $50 000, but the fine is actually going to RBR.

edit: yeap. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article5997000.ece

[Mibz]

Here are the official documents:

http://www.fia.com/public/f1_media/aus09_document_686970.pdf

[iceburns288]

Originally posted by buh_buh
I read this morning it was $50 000, but the fine was going to Vettel.
I think the fine is still $50 000, but the fine is actually going to RBR.

edit: yeap. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article5997000.ece
$50k to each.

[mikestypes]

Originally posted by rage2

Makes no difference. You're supposed to pull over as soon as it's safe when your car is broken. That's the rule, which Ferrari broke too.

Kovi drove all the way back to the pits in the AUS race with terminal damage to his left front suspension too...