Usually the Monaco Grand Prix is more event than race, but if ever there was a year that the famous streets might create some actual racing action, the year of KERS and DRS was it.
The F1 promoters and rule makers have spent the 2011 season trying to promote and encourage “racing” and “overtaking”. However the streets of Monaco make for the least “racing” friendly circuit for the KERS and DRS cars so far.
Also in these cars are people commonly known as “racing drivers”.
So this raises the question... What happens when you combine the latest line of young “racing” drivers, the most overtaking friendly F1 cars in quiet some time and the tightest, yet most prestigious “racing” venue?
The answer... you get racing!
You get drivers like Lewis Hamilton trying to overtake, gain places, racing in the streets!
Yes, I accept the move he made at the hairpin was pushing it, a late lunge down the inside at a corner so tight that he was never going to make it, but you’ve got to admit it was good seeing them wheel to wheel, hard at it!
But when does a late lunge turn into “causing an avoidable incident”?
If you want the dictionary definition of this term you should have watched the Donington round of the BTCC earlier this year. Was Hamiltons late race move down the inside at the first corner too much? Not to me. How far alongside another car, going into a corner, does a driver have to be before he is entitled to be there? Hamilton had half a chance, and at Monaco half a chance is as good as it gets!
If you want two hours of drivers avoiding incidents at Monaco then the answers simple, don’t allow, let alone encourage overtaking!
I understand why the powers that be gave him a penalty for the hairpin incident, but the late race first corner incident... oh please.... no please... let them race!
Was it a tight move, yes. Was it a ballsy move, YES! Am I glad F1 has drivers who are young and hungry and want to go “racing”, YES!
I do applaud the organisers for finishing the race after the red flag. Formula 1 of old would have ended the race there and then and the finish would have been a huge let down, but instead we got the chance to see the race end properly... but... since when are teams allowed to change tyres, and fix rear wings under a red flag?
While we are on the subject of things that make no sense, back to Mr Hamilton. For his first corner “avoidable incident” he was rewarded with a penalty after the race, in lieu of a drive through penalty... which didn’t change his position in the final standings. Erm, oh good, thanks for that! Re-arrange the following, time, waste, of...
Please F1, yes there is a line, but get out of the way and let the “racers” get on with it and deliver the spectacle the fans have been asking for and you have been encouraging!
