'2012 F1 discussion thread'

[prydey]

the rules leave a fair bit of room regarding speed in yellow zones. i'm not sure if there is a minimum time to pass through the zone (unlikely as zones appear all around the track) or as long as your sector time is slower than previous laps. again, i'm not sure if seb went faster or if JEV slowed down. looking at the footage, i think its the latter. JEV drops a long way off the back of the other cars in that little group. probably under instruction, but like you Ian, i'd be very surprised if anything becomes of it.

I don't think Alonso would want the trophy handed to him in this fashion either. the title wasn't won or lost in 1 race.

[HSE2]

I don't think Alonso would want the trophy handed to him in this fashion either. the title wasn't won or lost in 1 race.

I agree. To me it's clear that's a green flag and to me it's just as likely that JEV didn't accelerate to allow Seb to pass. The only thing they might have is too fast in a caution zone but they all tend to do that.

[TS50]

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Put the cork back in the champagne bottle, Sebastian. The BBC's Andrew Benson is reporting that Ferrari is evaluating footage from the Brazilian Grand Prix that allegedly shows Sebastian Vettel overtaking Jean-Eric Vergne in a yellow 'caution' zone. Ferrari is reportedly considering lodging a protest with the FIA which, if upheld, would likely see Vettel penalised 20-seconds which would subsequently demote him to eighth in the results. And that means, Fernando Alonso would be the 2012 F1 world champion by a single point. What do you guys think? Fair or foul?

I know that there is now the footage of the green flag, but a couple of my comments
I would have thought Ferrarri (or anyone else) would only have a small window to protest, which would have been perhaps max 48hrs?
Secondly, how bad would it look for the sport if 2 or 3 days latter they change the world champion, almost like the tour de france, where they have a new winner for every years race , every week
and thirdly, do you really think that Allonso would appreciate the win like that?

[HSE2]

My posts today are as it happens so the time on those posts is within minutes of those people mentioning it. That means there is still talk in the industry of a possible issue and like you I agree it's just way too long now. 24 hrs max to lodge a complaint myself.

[HSE2]

For the past few days there has been some debate – on this site and others – as to whether the FIA should review the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix and with it the world championship, as there is video evidence suggesting that Sebastian Vettel made a pass under yellow flags three laps into the race.

An on-board video clip presented on one of the Sky subscription channels and reposted on You Tube by a fan, shows Vettel passing Jean-Eric Vergne on the Reta Oposta straight before Turn 4, while yellow lights are still visible on his dashboard and he had recently passed a yellow light on the outside of the straight.

There have been extensive analyses of the video and it looks pretty clear cut.

It all happens very quickly and through a camera lens which is spotted with rain.

However, it’s not quite as clear as it appears to be.

An examination of the on-board video in slow motion, appears to show that Vettel passes a flag marshal’s post-tower on the left before he passes Vergne and a marshal can be seen on the tower, waving a green flag, meaning that the danger zone is ended. Still images looking back up the straight also appear to show the green flag in the distance.

So there appears to be some confusion over signalling; the lights and the flag do not synchronise.

If the FIA decides to re-open the case – and they can without Ferrari or anyone else being required to protest – this confusion over signalling (flags versus lights) might form the basis of Red Bull’s defence, along with a telemetry throttle analysis which would probably show that Vergne backed off on the straight, as he certainly appears to do, which causes Vettel to pass.

The issue is important, because the FIA Sporting Code calls for the Race Stewards to re-open any matter arising in the race if new evidence comes to light. In this case, were they to find beyond doubt that Vettel had made a pass under yellows, he would have 20 seconds added to his race time and that would cost him positions and ultimately the world championship.

Had it been judged an offence at the time and he had been given a drive through penalty, this would have occurred before the Safety Car, so his 20 seconds penalty and resulting lost places would be academic. But as that did not happen, all the stewards would be able to do would be to retrospectively, is to add the time penalty.

As several days have elapsed since the race, this would generate headlines around the world and would reflect very badly on the FIA’s policing of F1.

Ferrari are known to have studied it and the FIA are looking at it internally today.

Here is a slow-mo of the Sky on-board clip, with the marshal’s tower and flag visible at around 37 seconds. Judge for yourselves

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/1...ideo-evidence/

[HSE2]

It appears Ferrari have approached the FIA for clarification on Sebs pass according to a tweet from their official channel.

[HSE2]

@PaulWardGover: FIA, says there is no case to answer in the controversy involving Sebastian Vettel's overtaking of Jean-Eric Vergne during the Brazilian GP

[TS50]

so all this nonsence can be laid to rest

[HSE2]

yes. Officially no case to answer.