I have a thought on the crash, and any punishment, that I don't think anyone has mentioned. I'll lead you through my thoughts and I'm sure people will correct me.
Mods: it is relevant to LH Vs NR in terms of how the value to the WDC and what it means to them.
The WDC is not like a GCSE, which (may) give job prospects, nor is it just about the throphey, it's all to do with the respsect that comes with it.
So, what does the WDC actually give the driver:
- Money - I'm sure there is a significant financial reward to the driver who wins it
- Self fufilment (whoo I'm a world chamion - (again) finally )
- Respect from other people - the fans/media/people in the future
In my view, I don't think any of the two care much about the money.
That leaves two rewards for winning the WDC.
For me personally, for anything signifacnt that I try to do, I do it mainly for #3 (without the fans/media, more the boss haha). But of course, there is a balance between #2 and #3 that will vary on the person. However, the balance between the two is actually irrelevant in the present reasoning.
If NR was to win the championship by less than 18 points, surely #2 and #3 (at least partly) go out the window. Yes, NR has done a super job the rest of the season, being very close to LH, but at the end of the day, it was NR's error (doesn't matter if it was intential or not, that is irrelevant), that has allowed him to win the WDC.
So if NR was to win the WDC (by less than 18 points), surely, for himself, he will feel a bit dissatisfied with the whole achievement - I know I would.
My point is, do you think that NR will gift those points back to LH on his own - without any force?
I understand there are other considerations. Firstly, the team would be pissed as they would be constructor points lost - even though they are going to win that without trouble. However, once the WCC is sealed, maybe it would be an option.
Secondly, I know people would say this: "but who knows, if NR didn't crash into LH he may have still won and LH come second" - who cares, that doesn't factor into it.
Lastly, even if NR was to win by more that 18 points, it still would be quite a hollow victory, he has taken the momentum away from LH and (maybe) forced LH into more agressive driving and pressure.
Another question: do you think LH would gift the points back if the roles were reversed?
Sorry for the long post - I had to explain the point properly.