Kobayashi's tyre change

[josvandeperre]

His hard tyres held up all race - was there anything in the rules to prevent him stopping at the end of the last lap - the finish line was after his pit therefore he would have finished the race on the soft tyres - sort of a variation on the MS cheat at Silverstone - he would have been even better placed

[Marbot]

I guess it comes down to what the word 'use' means.

Sporting reg 25.4

e) Unless he has used intermediate or wet-weather tyres during the race, each driver must use at least
one set of each specification of dry-weather tyres during the race.

Another loophole? Or is it covered by the regulation that prevents Schumacher's Silverstone 'cheat' ?

[ECW Dan Selby]

Do you know what, I was thinking this exact same thing when he was coming up toward the end of his stint. I was thinking "he must be dying to just stay put.... hang on...", and thought back to the Silverstone/Schumacher incident.

It'd certainly be frowned upon, but what about its legality?

Selby

[wnut]

Originally Posted by josvandeperre

His hard tyres held up all race - was there anything in the rules to prevent him stopping at the end of the last lap - the finish line was after his pit therefore he would have finished the race on the soft tyres - sort of a variation on the MS cheat at Silverstone - he would have been even better placed

I thought that thiswastheoriginalintent, but then when they realised that the others would be penalised for safety indiscretionsthey covered off the controversy as they expected the podium finish to be given to them when 20 sec penalties were applied.

Alternatively theshort sprint on softs may have been quicker than running the hards for those few laps - pretty well born out in overtakin Alonso and Buemi.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by wnut

Alternatively theshort sprint on softs may have been quicker than running the hards for those few laps - pretty well born out in overtakin Alonso and Buemi.

I think that he was still in 4th or 5th place when he crossed the finishing line with the soft tyres on.

[duke_toaster]

I was thinking of that. The Sauber garage was before the finish line, so if he were to make that change he would legitimately used both sets of tyres, even though the latter had only completed about a hundred metres. Of course, he had pretty much worn them down to the canvas when he came in.

This drive showed that Kobayashi strongly deserves a better drive. I think that a team of him and Kubica in Renault next year would be a clear statement of intent, and with the right technical package could be a challenger for the WCC bronze medals and race wins.

[ECW Dan Selby]

/\ That idea I like.

Selby

[ECW Dan Selby]

So technically, could this have been an option..?

IF this is a loophole, they could easily override it by saying "at least one lap of the race must be completed on the option tyre".

If that isn't already written up.

Selby

[BootsOntheSide]

The rules should specify at least five laps of green-flag racing, otherwise peopel can gain an unfair advantage by getting their pitstops out of the way under the safety car. I don't know if Sauber thought of stopping right at the end, but tehre was probably some ground by which a penalty could have been issued.

[zac510]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

The rules should specify at least five laps of green-flag racing, otherwise peopel can gain an unfair advantage by getting their pitstops out of the way under the safety car. I don't know if Sauber thought of stopping right at the end, but tehre was probably some ground by which a penalty could have been issued.

How on Earth is that an unfair advantage? It's called a strategy.

If the Sauber is easy on its tyres and can do 90% race distance on them then they should work to its strengths and not have to worry about people like you who want to create rules against them. Well done to Sauber.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Fair point, zac. Managing tyre degredation is one of the key features of any modern day F1 car.

Selby

[Marbot]

I think that the 'new' rule that prevents what Schumacher and Ferrari did at Silverstone in 98, also prevents Sauber from pitting Kobayashi on the last lap. I just can't remember what it is!

[JamesH]

I was thinking along the same lines as the OP! Was really hoping that would happen, just to see what happened afterwards. After all, there isn't really very much else to talk about after the race.....

re: The MS rule - wasn't he serving a penalty? I would put money on the rule only being applied to penalty situations.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

I was thinking of that. The Sauber garage was before the finish line

Really? I thought nowadays they always set the finish line up so that it's not between garages. Or were all garages before the finish line?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by JamesH

I was thinking along the same lines as the OP! Was really hoping that would happen, just to see what happened afterwards. After all, there isn't really very much else to talk about after the race.....

re: The MS rule - wasn't he serving a penalty? I would put money on the rule only being applied to penalty situations.

You are either very rich, or have a gambling problem!
Bet money on a stewards decision....

[Pingguest]

As the current rules allow Kobayashi's strategy, I think Sauber did a perfect job. They took the gamble and it paid off. However, I still can't see the necessity of the artificial rule mandating a compound change. Usually it doesn't add any spectacle.

[JamesH]

I think the spectacle of Alonso 'S'not fair' being turfed over by a Sauber, and an overtake on the last corner was well worth it!

[ECW Dan Selby]

It's quite hilarious isn't it....

Selby

[JeremySmith]

I would give him four tyres any day of the week to watch him kick Alonso's rear end..

[wnut]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

I would give him four tyres any day of the week to watch him kick Alonso's rear end..

Now that was magnificent!

[ukaskew]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

I was thinking of that. The Sauber garage was before the finish line

I was wondering this also, is the finishing point in the pits definitely in-line with the actual circuit finish line?

Shame the artificial 'must change tyres' rule exists in my opinion, if they can make it to the end then why not.

[Birddog07]

Better yet they should get rid of the tire rule. Use whatever the hell tires you please.

[VIVA GT]

I think what we need is for Sauber to employ Tom Walkinshaw in some sort of Team management role for the next race. Then we'd probably see the tyre change at the end of the race happening...

[1200Datto27]

I'd have the four compounds available, and they can all be used during the race, then we would hopefully have teams trying different strategies and a more varied change of position. If a driver from one of the lower teams wants to try and do the whole race on one set of tyres, and gain that way, why not, or if one of the top teir teams has a bad qualifying, stick some super softs on and go full out to try and make up places.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

As the current rules allow Kobayashi's strategy, I think Sauber did a perfect job. They took the gamble and it paid off. However, I still can't see the necessity of the artificial rule mandating a compound change. Usually it doesn't add any spectacle.

Originally Posted by Birddog07

Better yet they should get rid of the tire rule. Use whatever the hell tires you please.

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I think what we need is for Sauber to employ Tom Walkinshaw in some sort of Team management role for the next race. Then we'd probably see the tyre change at the end of the race happening...

Originally Posted by 1200Datto27

I'd have the four compounds available, and they can all be used during the race, then we would hopefully have teams trying different strategies and a more varied change of position. If a driver from one of the lower teams wants to try and do the whole race on one set of tyres, and gain that way, why not, or if one of the top teir teams has a bad qualifying, stick some super softs on and go full out to try and make up places.

All of this right there.