[Official] Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 2 of 23

[bjohnsonsmith]

Is an FCY necessary, Stroll's car doesn't appear to be in a dangerous position?

[Greem]

It depends on whether something broke and left bits or fluids on track.

The car itself was not quite 100% hidden behind the fence though.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Greem

Alonso takes the penalty under the SC and remains in P2.

Sorry, but could you explain, because I thought that the 5 seconds is just added to the finishing overall time?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Greem

It depends on whether something broke and left bits or fluids on track.

The car itself was not quite 100% hidden behind the fence though.

They showed the shot from Stroll's car, looking towards the rear wing and nothing appeared to come off the car.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Sorry, but could you explain, because I thought that the 5 seconds is just added to the finishing overall time?

It can be taken as additional time added at the end of the race, but if they have to pit then the team cannot touch the car when it drops for the duration of the penalty.

[Greem]

Pardon me for finding Russell's radio comms there rather amusing.

"Alonso has a five second penalty so I need to stay with him"
"He served it at his stop"
"Oh *******"

[Mike Harte]

Thanks, Graeme, for the explanation. As I am not watching or even listening to the race, I wasn't aware that he had pitted. I had wondered if he had pitted and served it then, however no one here had mentioned them stopping during the SC.

[Greem]

I think everyone (bar Stroll) pitted when Stroll was told to stop by his team.

Currently there are debates over whether Alonso gets another penalty, which would elevate Russell to the podium.

[Greem]

Perez, Verstappen, Alonso (even with a +5s penalty). If the penalty ends up being more than 5s, Russell inherits 3rd.

The RBR cars look phenomenal.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Congrats to Perez, well deserved but Verstappen gets the extra point for fastest lap.

Provided Alonso doesn't get a second 5 second penalty, this will be his 100th podium finish.

[billy bleach]

Jos Vestappen - what a classless n@b

[steve_r]

"Computer says no" award of the day goes to race direction who throw out a unneeded safety car becuase the GPS told them that Strolls car was on the track, instead of using their eyes to look at the TV screens showing it off track, or using their mouths and ears to talk to people who could tell them this.

Ferrari were awful and if Merc need a completely redveloped car, then where does that leave Ferrari.

Dull race overall. RBR are so far ahead its really not looking like its going to be an interesting fight for either title. I am happy for Perez though.

[Akrapovic]

Jos has a look on his face like he's leaving Max at a local Aramco petrol station tonight.

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Congrats to Perez, well deserved but Verstappen gets the extra point for fastest lap.

Provided Alonso doesn't get a second 5 second penalty, this will be his 100th podium finish.

Russell over 5 seconds behind, so a 5 second penlty won't matter.....

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Russell over 5 seconds behind, so a 5 second penlty won't matter.....

Ocon got a 10 sec for not doing the penalty properly, not 5 secs

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Russell over 5 seconds behind, so a 5 second penlty won't matter.....

The stewards are still looking at it and it could be a 10 second penalty, if they determine the initial penalty wasn't served correctly, a la Ocon.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Alonso off the podium.

[BTCC frog]

For me, that race was somewhat ruined by the two biggest evils of modern day Formula 1. The first is the safety car. Obviously I'm not suggesting we get rid of it, it is extremely important, but it is just annoying that it gives drivers unfair advantages/disadvantages and so it should only be used when necessary, and today was not an example of that. Clearly it wasn't a panic-driven call because it took half a lap, that was a totally unnecessary safety car. They need to make better use of the VSC, and close the pitlane whenever there is a virtual safety car. It would make it much fairer.

Secondly, DRS was once again too powerful. It should be a real treat to watch the fastest driver coming through the grid, but because of DRS it was totally uninteresting. That move on Hamilton, for example, was stupidly easy and Verstappen even held back on the first opportunity so he would get the DRS on the main straight. It could have been a much more exciting race with every Verstappen and Leclerc overtake requiring real skill, and Alonso actually able to hold off Perez at the start, but as usual DRS ruined it. The cars can follow closely now, it is time for the Drag Reduction System to be scrapped.

On the positive note, that was a really strong drive from Sergio Perez. I didn't believe he could hold off Verstappen but he did so brilliantly. Hopefully he can give us a title fight. George Russell also really impressed me, he genuinely outperformed Hamilton all weekend. Oscar Piastri, too, was brilliant in qualifying. I think Norris is one of the absolute best on the grid and Piastri was better than him this weekend. McLaren might have the best driver lineup on the grid, and the worst car!

I remember in the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, Jules Bianchi got a five-second penalty and served it during the safety car, but that wasn't allowed so he had to take it after the race and dropped behind Grosjean to finish ninth. Unless the rules have changed, I believe this is what Aston Martin did wrong and so they should get another five second penalty, but no more.

[steve_r]

Do Ocon and Alonso have the same driver coach?

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Jos Vestappen - what a classless n@b

Lol, I thought the same. He seemed like he was being a real jerk.

Richard

[Tourer]

No great surprises out of the race I guess although Ferrari clearly has a lot of work to do, along with Mercedes.

Pretty amazing to get through a race at this circuit with no crashes and only one SC.

Well-deserved win by Checo, great to see - also that there appears to only be a small difference between his race pace ad Max's - bodes well for the future.

Originally Posted by BTCC frog

I remember in the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, Jules Bianchi got a five-second penalty and served it during the safety car, but that wasn't allowed so he had to take it after the race and dropped behind Grosjean to finish ninth. Unless the rules have changed, I believe this is what Aston Martin did wrong and so they should get another five second penalty, but no more.

Don't know (yet) whether the penalty was for that or for "doing work" on the car too early - either way, was amazing to me that the FIA took so long to make a call on it. Having the wrong driver stand on the podium is not a good look for the sport.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Tourer

No great surprises out of the race I guess although Ferrari clearly has a lot of work to do, along with Mercedes.

Having the wrong driver stand on the podium is not a good look for the sport.

I would argue the right driver stood on the podium, the FIA failed in its responsibility to adjudicate its ruling efficiently and communicate it to the team.

There was more than sufficient time to communicate the issue over the pit stop (Brundle said the jack was touching the car during the penalty. That was the offence. It should not have been touching the car. To not communicate that level of the ruling to the team during the race. and then do so after the podium ceremony just shows what a mess still exists within race officiating procedures in spite of the mess and subsequent reforms after 2021. Not excusable)

[Mike Harte]

The BBC are reporting that the team put their hands on the car before the 5 seconds had elapsed.

[crmalcolm]

And F1 is reporting that the podium is reinstated for Alonso.

[crmalcolm]

It is being reported that there is no clear agreement that a jack touching a car constitutes working on the car.