BetterMakeWay

+1 about the Kers. FIA promoted those new rules in the so called interest of the sport, to allow for a more dynamic racing and to lower the costs. But with Kers the teams had to invest tremendously in the device, much more that anticipated.

Rumors say that in 2010 Kers will be able to give the driver an extra 150bhp.

swajames

Have to say, when I watched the race live last night, Kubica looked to me to be just as culpable as Vettel for the accident that took them both out.

Patrick E61

For four laps before their shunt, Kubica, on prime tires, was 0.8 seconds per lap faster than Vettel, on super soft tires. Red Bull had to know that P3 was theirs if Vettel could keep it together. He didn't.

Kubica was going overtake Vettel no matter what, and he should have just let him (Kubica) by - who knows what would have happened when Kubica caught up to Button.

Vettel had no hope of keeping Kubica behind him, and his overly optimistic inside move cost him P3, and he admitted it on the radio, "I am an idiot, and I am sorry, so sorry."

Kubica would have won the race today... I say that as a very disappointed Ferrari fan-boi.

BetterMakeWay

Not really, at least not by the books. Once the overtaking driver gets his nose ahead, and especially on an exterior overpass you have to let him go. You are allowed to keep your line as much as possible without contact. When Vettel hit Kubica, as in first contact, he hit him just ahead of the right rear tire and then he hit the rear tire due to the momentum Kubica had. That's why Kubica's BMW spun in front of Vettel's car.

By my books and all other officials Vettel is 100% culpable. The driver may however intimidate the overpassing driver to force him to brake (unsporty though) on a pass like that. Meaning forcing the exterior overpassing car to choose between an potential hit and going off track. Vettel however hit him directly.

BetterMakeWay

Interesting point of view but i didn't pay attention to Button final lap times and Kubica's. I'm not sure he was able too catch up and overtake when there were 4 laps to go.

But you are 100% correct about Vettel and Kubica. Kubica was much faster than Vettel at that point.

LE: I sand corrected. It appears indeed Kubica was much faster than the frontrunners. http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/en/inde...#/news/~101|0/

swajames

If what you say were true, Kubica should have had the sense to back off and take Vettel later. As for Kubica winning? He'd have never have got past Button. No way. The Brawn GP is faster than the BMW, and Button's finally getting the hardware to show he's a much better driver than he ever got credit for. Take out the safety car incidents and Kubica would have been way back in the distance. Button was the rightful winner, and Kubica cost himself a place as much as Vettel cost himself one.

MiamiPhill

Sorry, I don't agree (and as a BMW guy it pains me to say that) ....you never ever move over to 'let someone go by' when you are racing them for a podium spot with 3 laps to go & Robert should know that, (he would not have moved over either). The only exception would be if you are leading the championship late in the season and your closest rival can't catch you unless you fail to score points in the remaining races. in such a case you back down and take the points. With a little restraint Kubica would have made easy work of the RedBull at the next corner. Robert seem to have wanted Vettel to react to him like a back maker would....wrong calculation. Watch the clip and tell me where Vettel was supposed to go. http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/03/29/kubi...at-end-of-race/

swajames

Looking at that again I'd actually hold Kubica responsible as Vettel seemed to have the right line. Seems to me that Vettel was way too quick to apologize...

No matter, it seems to be nothing more than a standard racing incident. Certainly not one where I'd be pointing the finger at Vettel.

BetterMakeWay

Faster than the BMW...yes probably faster than any other car as proven to the Practice and Qualies but that's due to the contested rear diffuser. In fact Toyota also had fast cars, faster than all the others BUT on the last laps both Vettel and Button were running softs while Kubica was running hard tires and was able to keep a much better pace. Based on how fast it caught up with Vettel you can clearly see how much faster he was.

Regarding Button well i say it was possible to catch him and maybe even overtake. We'll never now i guess... Unless we get some last lap times to compare between the two of them.

If in PAris FIA will reject the contestants then i think all the other teams will adopt the rear diffuser, case in which on the 3rd race or so i don't see Brawn's advantage anymore, nor Totyota's for that matter.

BetterMakeWay

I dunno what Vettel declared (except for making himself an idiot) but i do know what Kubica declared and what FIA stewards decided (i assume based on a thoughtful decision).

Based on this it is clear that one should be pointed the finger, and that one is Vettel.