Vettel's Gearbox

[ExtremeNinja]

No need to go into great detail on this. There has been speculation about the Brazilian 2011 GP, which I subscribe to and am a party to, that Vettel had no problems with his car and handed the victory to Webber in an orchestrated gesture and deception by the Red Bull team.

So, what do you think?

 

[Galahad]

I need a third option - "How should I know?"

 

[ExtremeNinja]

By not voting you are already on the fence. Your third option is non-participation.

 

[FB]

Option 3 added for all you fence sitters.

 

[Brogan]

The lap chart speaks for itself.

Third fastest lap of the race too, on lap 68.

 

[Galahad]

Well, I don't know if anybody is suggesting that there was a performance problem with the gearbox. If it was overheating, I daresay it would work perfectly well up to the point that something melted? The key thing then is the degree to which Vettel was indeed short-shifting, which probably varied from lap to lap?

 

[teabagyokel]

We won't know, but it had the feel, at times, of a Patrese win!

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

I'm sitting on the fence. As Red Bulls pulled a few tricks in their time in F1.

 

[jez101]

Well, I don't know if anybody is suggesting that there was a performance problem with the gearbox. If it was overheating, I daresay it would work perfectly well up to the point that something melted? The key thing then is the degree to which Vettel was indeed short-shifting, which probably varied from lap to lap?

I think Brogan's chart shows that Vettel was indeed slower than Webber consistently from the time the problem occurred, suggesting that he actually was short shifting. I doubt he would have gone that deep into the deception, playing along for 50 odd laps? His driving suggests that Vettel did believe there was a problem.

 

[Kamui-FastestChefInTheWorld]

I went for genuine, only because others had the same problem.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

I thought the radio transmission was the biggest giveaway.

"Hmm. Well done Sebastian, you should be very proud of yourself".

And this was mid-race and said in a tone of jest.

edit: wasn't there a lot of laughing reported on the Red Bull pit wall mid-race too?

 

[Galahad]

If there was a deception, I don't think Vettel was 'in on it'. Nor Mark.

 

[no-FIAt-please]

Webber didn't seem very elated with his win, perhaps because he knew how it came about. Or simply because it was inherited?

 

[Galahad]

Mmm, I don't think either driver would have agreed to this if it had been suggested pre-race, least of all Mark himself.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

I think Vettel would have. Hed done all he needed to do. Webber hasn't moaned about being second fiddle all year. Vettel got his season pole record yesterday. At the pace Vettel was running at, he could well have won that race. There was really no need for him to concede that position. Once again, the radio message between Webber and Rocky was an obvious joke about the situation.

"I feel like Senna in '91"

Clearly said through a cheeky grin. When have you ever heard a driver enjoying car problems?

 

[cider_and_toast]

As with all the usual theories we seem to have to sift through each weekend, I reckon he had a genuine problem but if not I couldn't give two figs. Sorry but even if they pulled a fast one (which I don't believe they did because why bother?) at least it's better than Mansalls oh so obvious "after you" to Patrase in 1992.

Mark won the race, Vettel was already world champion and I expect dissapointed that he wasn't going to win but at the same I expect not too bothered since the title trophy already had his name on it and a space in the cabinet ready.

I guessed from the moment the radio call went out with regard to a gear box problem that the JFK club would be holding their first meeting of the weekend.

Sorry for the grumpy post but I've got a headache, suffering from lack of kip due to a little 'un and it's been a long season full of nonsense.

Well done Mark Webber and even more well done Vettel on a fantastic season and a dominent title. That's my two cents.

 

[Galahad]

Clearly said through a cheeky grin.

I'll have to listen to it again, I didn't really pick that up. With his love of statistics and fastest laps etc., I struggle to imagine Vettel giving away a win willingly. But as I said, truly I have no idea.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

It's one of those odd Scenarios, where you've got those who'll think it's true. Those who won't think its true and those who like me are 50-50 and sit on the fence.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Hey. I've no problem with it either, and I'm no conspiracy theorist. In this particular incident, I don't think I could pretend I had fallen for what I deem to be Red Bull's private joke of the season.

Hope you get a good kip tonight. At 31 I'm battling teething myself, albeit at the back of my own mouth.

 

[The Artist.....]

My first thought was "Oh, they're doing this to ensure that MW gets at least one win this season".... - why would they veil it? Well, there's the fact that Ferrari were so heavily criticised for switching the order of the drivers! Much better to make it appear as a "problem" for their star driver....