115 replies to this topic

[Sterzo]

!? there is no misunderstanding, Albon says clearely he just decided to disobey the blue flag rules in the most difficult track to pass.

Can you quote Albon saying that? Here are his actual words:

 

“It was tricky because we went out on slicks and we had a massive pace advantage but it would take three corners to let him past and then I would have been, straight away, quick enough to overtake him again," explained Albon. “You kind of get into a position where I think, in my eyes, for both of us it was quicker if I just stayed ahead because I would have pulled away pretty much straight away."

 

He thought it was better for both of them if he stayed ahead. Undoubtedly wrong. Therefore a misunderstanding.

Edited by Sterzo, 02 June 2022 - 16:56.

[boomn]

True, but isn't the rule that they are penalized if they ignore three blue flags and there is usually one flag per corner?  Or is the limit more than three blue flags and he thought he could get enough tire temp and speed to just make it?  Either way, the limit is a whole lot less than one lap, as Perez found out in Spain 2020 when he held up Hamilton for just sector 3

[Sterzo]

True, but isn't the rule that they are penalized if they ignore three blue flags...

What Albon did was dumb and would deserve a penalty (though it would be irrelevant as he DNF-ed anyway). Hopefully his team have now told him he should have given way.

[andrewf1]

Can you quote Albon saying that? Here are his actual words:

 

“It was tricky because we went out on slicks and we had a massive pace advantage but it would take three corners to let him past and then I would have been, straight away, quick enough to overtake him again," explained Albon. “You kind of get into a position where I think, in my eyes, for both of us it was quicker if I just stayed ahead because I would have pulled away pretty much straight away."

 

He thought it was better for both of them if he stayed ahead. Undoubtedly wrong. Therefore a misunderstanding.

 

His actual words directly imply that he decided to disobey the blue flag rules because he himself decided that it was quicker for everyone involved if he "just stayed ahead".

It's not a misunderstanding of anything, he understood the situation perfectly and made a choice. Had a whole lap to contemplate it as well.

[Wuzak]

Can you quote Albon saying that? Here are his actual words:

 

“It was tricky because we went out on slicks and we had a massive pace advantage but it would take three corners to let him past and then I would have been, straight away, quick enough to overtake him again," explained Albon. “You kind of get into a position where I think, in my eyes, for both of us it was quicker if I just stayed ahead because I would have pulled away pretty much straight away."

 

He thought it was better for both of them if he stayed ahead. Undoubtedly wrong. Therefore a misunderstanding.

 

If Albon had truly been quicker at that stage then he would have been out of blue flag range by the third blue flag, or not long after. Instead Leclerc was in blue flag range for an entire lap.

 

From Leclerc's onboard it doesn't exactly look like Albon is preparing to give way on the next lap, instead just making a mistake and going down the escape road at T1.

[Claudius]

If Albon had truly been quicker at that stage then he would have been out of blue flag range by the third blue flag, or not long after. Instead Leclerc was in blue flag range for an entire lap.

 

From Leclerc's onboard it doesn't exactly look like Albon is preparing to give way on the next lap, instead just making a mistake and going down the escape road at T1.

 

Yes that is correct IMO.

Having said that, I don't think he did it to help RB. 

[AlexS]

Can you quote Albon saying that? Here are his actual words:

 

“It was tricky because we went out on slicks and we had a massive pace advantage but it would take three corners to let him past and then I would have been, straight away, quick enough to overtake him again," explained Albon. “You kind of get into a position where I think, in my eyes, for both of us it was quicker if I just stayed ahead because I would have pulled away pretty much straight away."

 

He thought it was better for both of them if he stayed ahead. Undoubtedly wrong. Therefore a misunderstanding.

 

His actual worlds say precisely that he decided to disobey the rules, no misunderstanding. And he continued to do it for several corners after 3 with Leclerc always behind him.

[chrcol]

With it been F1 we can never rule out dodgy going on's.

 

But looking at this as simple as possible, I stand by my earlier comment, there is a simple failure to enforce the rule here.

 

I believe the sport has serious refereeing problems like stemming from the inability of the RD and his team to keep an eye on everything that is going on, which is why historically the sport has heavily relied on lobbying from teams for rule break interventions.  The tech is here in 2022, and F1 needs to get with it.

 

If they fail like they did in this race then the next best thing is to provide a big incentive to never do it again.  Williams e.g. could be fined heavily as a punishment for failing to issue a team order to Albon to direct him to stand aside, and Albon himself could be issued with either a points penalty or race ban.  I know this sounds harsh, but its about time the officiating was done properly and at a level so the teams and drivers know they cant keep taking liberties with the rules.  The sport has long been an embarrassment in this area.

Edited by chrcol, 03 June 2022 - 23:39.

[William Hunt]

Albon on ignoring blue flags and holding up the Ferrari's / Leclerc in Monaco:

 

"My team boss and personal engineer received a phone call from my reall boss, who loaned me out to Williams, Christian Horner. So I had to listen."  Not saying at all this scenario happened, and Albon doesn't seem like the person who would do such a thing, but it does leave a pretty bad taste in the mouth that a driver still part of the Red Bull family held up Leclerc so Red Bull ended up winning.

Edited by William Hunt, 04 June 2022 - 03:42.

[Ivanhoe]

And how does that explain Latifi doing the exact same thing with Sainz?

[MikeTekRacing]

And how does that explain Latifi doing the exact same thing with Sainz?

If we learned one thing over thr last years is we should not let facts stand in the way of a good conspiracy

[AlexS]

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”

Ian Fleming.

 

 

What are the odds that both drivers of a team block another team in decisive action?

[Roadhouse]

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”

Ian Fleming.

 

 

What are the odds that both drivers of a team block another team in decisive action?

 

 

"Just asking questions"

 

Tell us about this great conspiracy you're hinting at.

[Hellenic tifosi]

I don't believe in the conspiracy theories, but I do believe that the offence was very, very bad. You can't judge whether you should obey the flag or mot. You are a backmarker, see the flag, let the leader pass. End of story.

In fact, Albon's "justification" actually makes it way, way worse than just saying that he didn't see the flags, or had some sort of communication problem.

[ensign14]

And how does that explain Latifi doing the exact same thing with Sainz?

 

It doesn't. Latifi is just incompetent.

[SophieB]

On reflection, I moved the blue flags in Baku to their own thread here

https://forums.autos...lue-flags-baku/