Formula 1

[DipShyt]

I can see this is going to be fun
FYI Glock was also given a 25sec penalty for passing under a yellow flag...
Anyway here's the story from the F1 site:

Massa inherits Belgian win after Hamilton penalised

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa has been declared the winner of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix after McLaren’ Lewis Hamilton was handed a 25-second time penalty following the race. Hamilton drops to third place as a result, with BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld moving up to second. McLaren plan to appeal the decision.

Hamilton was penalised after stewards decided he had gained an advantage by cutting the final chicane in his late-race battle with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. Raikkonen crashed out shortly after the incident, having the led the bulk of the race up to that point.

"I have often said that the race is not over until the official results are published and that was the case today," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali. "As usual, Ferrari will not comment on the stewards' decision. After the race, we were called to the stewards and we explained our position.

"We are very disappointed for Kimi, who had driven a great race and deserved the win, especially at this rather difficult time. This result is obviously very important for our championship hopes: now we must maintain maximum concentration and prepare as well as possible for the forthcoming races."

McLaren insisted they had little choice but to appeal the stewards' decision, given that Hamilton had immediately surrendered the lead back to Raikkonen on the start-finish straight, before then passing the Finn going into the La Source hairpin.

"We looked at all our data and also made it available to the FIA stewards," said the team. "It showed that, having lifted, Lewis was 6km/h slower than Kimi as they crossed the start-finish line. Having passed the lead back to Kimi, Lewis repositioned his car, moving across and behind Kimi to the right-hand line and then out-braked him into the hairpin. Based on this data, we have no option other than to register our intention to appeal."

The revised result means that rather than extending his championship lead over Massa, Hamilton now sees it cut, with the Briton heading the Brazilian by just two points, 76 to 74, with five races remaining.

Assuming their right to appeal is accepted, McLaren's case against Hamilton's penalty will be heard by the FIA's International Court of Appeal at a date to be determined.

Now for what the rules say:

16.3 The stewards may impose any one of three penalties on any driver involved in an Incident:
a) A drive-through penalty. The driver must enter the pit lane and re-join the race without stopping;
b) A ten second time penalty. The driver must enter the pit lane, stop at his pit for at least ten seconds and then re-join the race.
c) a drop of ten grid positions at the driver's next Event.
However, should either of the penalties under a) and b) above be imposed during the last five laps, or after the end of a race, Article 16.4b) below will not apply and 25 seconds will be added to the elapsed race time of the driver concerned.

[Noxide]

Idiot.
I hope he learned his lesson now. Yes, he is extremely quick, but he is still a rookie.

[DipShyt]

This probably won't make me popular with Noxide...

I think Ferrari now have to make the call & back Massa for the championship. Next year Kimi can go for it again...

Let's be honest Kimi made a BAD mistake at the end of the race when he hit the wall. I know it must have been hell for them when it started raining but he's got enough experience to get through situations like that. I think the big problem was that he was desperate for the win to stay in the title challenge & that cost him dearly in the end

[Noxide]

This probably won't make me popular with Noxide...

I think Ferrari now have to make the call & back Massa for the championship. Next year Kimi can go for it again...

Let's be honest Kimi made a BAD mistake at the end of the race when he hit the wall. I know it must have been hell for them when it started raining but he's got enough experience to get through situations like that. I think the big problem was that he was desperate for the win to stay in the title challenge & that cost him dearly in the end

I agree. Unfortunately.
Mathematically it is still possible for him to win, but I think it would be wise of Ferrari to back Massa now.

I will defend my hero when it comes to the crash though. If you look at it again, you'll see that the back stepped out on the tarmac itself. Not even on the white line. He tried to correct it but gave just a little bit too much power. Not even the "great" Michael would've been able to straighten that car.

[DipShyt]

I will defend my hero when it comes to the crash though. If you look at it again, you'll see that the back stepped out on the tarmac itself. Not even on the white line. He tried to correct it but gave just a little bit too much power. Not even the "great" Michael would've been able to straighten that car.

I hear you M8...

The back probably stepped out from to much throttle in the first place though

[Noxide]

I hear you M8...

The back probably stepped out from to much throttle in the first place though

It did indeed, but I don't really blame him. He was under a lot of pressure after driving a perfect race. Just to have it ruined.
Again.

[DipShyt]

It did indeed, but I don't really blame him. He was under a lot of pressure after driving a perfect race. Just to have it ruined.
Again.

Unfortunately that's the name of the game...

I wonder if Kimmi would have come in for wets, if he'd made it back to the pits that is.

[Noxide]

I wonder if Kimi would have come in for wets, if he'd made it back to the pits that is.

I doubt it. There were only 2 laps left.

[DipShyt]

I doubt it. There were only 2 laps left.

I'm not so sure...
He was having a really tough time out there & the the guys that did take intermediates made up 30 seconds a lap...

[Noxide]

I'm not so sure...
He was having a really tough time out there & the the guys that did take intermediates made up 30 seconds a lap...

Yes but a lap at Spa is 1:40.00 in dry conditions.
I think Massa should have gone on intermediates though.

Not that it matters now. He won the race.