#045 - Formula 1 Australia, Jarno Trulli’s Penalty (03/03/2009)
#045 - Formula 1 Australia, Jarno Trulli’s Penalty (03/03/2009)
The FIA have once again caused for a major failure in their rulings. Following last weekend’s race they were eager to start handing out penalty’s, but as now has come to light, they have misjudged Jarno Trulli’s incident and gave out a penalty without doing the proper research beforehand. Unfortunately, I missed the incident, so I wasn’t able to properly judge and I was so naive to believe the FIA’s statement.
However, yesterday the stewards called a meeting to properly investigate what had really been going on. Apparently the penalty was given out because Trulli had overtaken Hamilton during the safety car laps (you are not allowed to overtake when the safety car is out), not because of my weird story about him spinning etcetera (this was what my dad told me had happened). Trulli protested and said he had no choice but to pass Hamilton, since his speed was so slow that it came across as though he was going to stop, so he passed him. McLaren and Hamilton then came forward and issued a statement that they had not slowed down the car, and certainly had not let Trulli past.
Unfortunately for them, the stewards investigated the situation and found out that McLaren had actually ordered Hamilton to let Trulli pass, for some bizarre reason. This can be heard on the on board radio.
The odd thing is that the FIA gave Trulli the penalty without even looking back at the evidence. Even looking at the video recordings or checking the on board radio had proven them wrong, but they were so eager to hand out penalty’s that they failed to check up on it.
Oh, and contrary to what you may think, I am not even angry with Hamilton. As you can tell from the radio transcript, he really was trying to do the right thing, but they totally misguided him. The same goes for the meeting where he and McLaren issued their statement of not slowing down, I truly believe that he was put under pressure by his team to lie about it.
Transcript of the radio transmission between Lewis Hamilton and his team:
Team: OK Lewis, you should need to make sure your delta is positive over the safety car line. After the safety car line the delta doesn’t matter but no overtaking. No overtaking.
Lewis Hamilton: The Toyota went off in a line at the second corner, ..., is this OK?
Team: Understood, Lewis. We’ll confirm and get back to you.
LH: He was off the track. He went wide.
Team: Lewis, you need to allow the Toyota through. Allow the Toyota through now.
LH: OK.
LH: He’s slowed right down in front of me.
Team: OK, Lewis. Stay ahead for the time being. Stay ahead. We will get back to you. We are talking to Charlie.
LH: I let him past already.
Team: OK, Lewis. That’s fine. That’s fine. Hold position. Hold position.
LH: Tell Charlie I already overtook him. I just let him past.
Team: I understand Lewis. We are checking. Now can we go to yellow G 5, yellow Golf 5.
LH: I don’t have to let him past I should be able to take that position back, if he made a mistake.
Team: Yes, we understand Lewis. Let’s just do it by the book. We are asking Charlie now. You are in P4. If you hold this position. Just keep it together.
Team: OK Lewis, your KERS is full, your KERS is full. Just be aware. You can go back to black F2, black Foxtrott 2.
LH: Any news from Charlie whether I can take it back or not.
Team: Still waiting on a response Lewis, still waiting.
Team: Lewis, work on your brakes please. Front brakes are cold.
Team: If we are able to use one KERS that would be good. If you deploy KERS please do so now.
Team: OK, Lewis, this is the last lap of the race. At the end of the lap the safety car will come in, you just proceed over the line without overtaking, without overtaking. We are looking into the Trulli thing, but just hold position.
Hamilton was disqualified by the way and Jarno Trulli’s penalty has been withdrawn. It serves the FIA right, but it is slightly unfair for Hamilton since it is solely his team’s mistake.