Why Didn't Hamilton Complete His Flyer For A Top 4 Time?

[Boyle]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13584402.stm

Hamilton was 6/10s down.

Would have been touch and go whether he would have been able to complete his lap before that red flag appeared anyway.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

He would have been more likely to have made a mistake on that lap due to the disruption caused by that incident though, he would have been angry...

But the disruption had already taken place, though. Up the hill and out of Casino Square.

At that point he was 3-10ths down on Vettel...but he had the rest of the lap to chip away at the lost delta...or, at the very least, not lose more than 1 or 2 tenths from there on Vettel.

To suggest he would been "more likely to have made a mistake" because "he would have been angry", is to short-change Lewis and take him down to the level of an ordinary driver.

Hamilton is much more than that.

He's exceptional...and if he's to beat the likes of Vettel and Alonso, he simply can't get "angry" when there's normal traffic at Monaco.

 

[Slyboogy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13584402.stm

Hamilton was 6/10s down.

Would have been touch and go whether he would have been able to complete his lap before that red flag appeared anyway.

I was right then!

Making fun of my eyes for no reason...

 

[MCLS]

Everyone makes mistakes under pressure or when chasing, Monza 2009 springs to mind. Also he was 6 tenths down, not 3

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

I was right then!

Making fun of my eyes for no reason...

Where does it say he was 6/10ths down?

 

[Slyboogy]

Where does it say he was 6/10ths down?

In the first sector he was 6 tenths down, I saw it with my own eyes!!! Don't mock my eyes!!!

And others are agreeing with my eyes...so

 

[MCLS]

In sector 1 Hamilton was +0.691 off Vettel. Around 8 minutes on this video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13585447.stm

 

[gethinceri]

so he had fuel for two laps?

 

[snowy]

He was almost certainly going to do two laps and the first of them was aborted because Felipe didn't make any effort not to impede traffic.

It was all just bad luck, there is a saying in motorsport:

"Shit happens"

 

[Brogan]

I posted this on the Monaco thread but it also applies here.

In Lewis' own words.

"Engineers advise that we should do one [run] at the end of Q3 and I didn't contest it. You always have to take a balanced view with the engineers.
"I definitely didn't take into account - and I know they didn't either – that in Monaco you can't take risks in leaving it [your lap] right to the end.
"You have to get out and get in a banker, like everyone else did. With racing experience you'd assume that most people would have that, but I guess other things were going on and we didn't have that. It's my worst Q3 for a long time."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91813

He was only ever planning to do one run.

 

[Galahad]

I would make some comment about this being an example of where experienced drivers earn their money, but that would let McLaren off the hook, and they should know better!

 

[sportsman]

In sector 1 Hamilton was +0.691 off Vettel. Around 8 minutes on this video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13585447.stm

Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.
Thats what I get from the BBC.

 

[MCLS]

Just a sec, I'll get a print screen

 

[snowy]

He doesn't state whether it was one run or one flying lap. In fact he said "one stop" which was not what he meant to say. However Sebastian did the same thing, sat in the pits and came out quite late to do a two lap run. He was actually very lucky indeed!

Lewis was too early for just a one lap run, he would have crossed the line with 3 minutes to spare.

 

[MCLS]

 

[sportsman]

Thanks MCLS Can't be much argument about that.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

View attachment 1571

Thanks, MCLS, as I don't get that media here either.

I stand corrected on my 3-10ths assumption.

Having said that, Lewis could certainly have nabbed 4th on the grid with that lap had he continued because Alonso was 9-10ths off Vettel...and there was way too much time left to only have one flying lap.

Since they didn't already have a 'banker' (unlike the others), Hamilton should have kept his head down, not waved to Felipe'...and finished that run as if a vital Grid Spot depended on it.

What a shame.

Now I think he's starting 9th after a 2-place Grid Penalty for chicane-cutting.

Ouch!

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

He and Whitmarsh have confirmed he was only going to do a single run.

A single 'run' meaning one out lap with enough fuel for 2 'timed'/flying laps.

Button did one 'run' early in the session and was scheduled to do his second run later as the track evolved.

McLaren, for whatever reason, decided Lewis would only particpate late.

Unbelievable!

I understand if it were a mechanical-oriented delay...but it was strategic.

Alonso admitted that the optimal strategy in Q3 was "two runs of two timed laps each without refuling"...i.e FOUR flying laps each...two early flying laps and then two late flying laps...to "get the most out of the tyres."

Those are direct quotes from Formula1.com by Alonso.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

As has already been said, Hindsight is a wonderful thing. At the time Hamilton would have been able to complete a faster lap which could have got him to the front row of the grid. But things happen and that's racing.

His penalty he received since then is unfortunate but then again it's the rules. The consistent application of them is a whole other topic.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Yorkshire,

But what really is a shame is that, for whatever reason, McLaren decided Button would go out early...and then go out again late.

Hamilton, meanwhile, was left to go out once only. Later in the session.

This means there was no 'banker'.

Knowing this, Lewis should have completed that lap, especially since it's Monaco!

Monaco = Traffic, Possibility of accidents, Grid Position being vital.

That's not hindsight.

Seems like McLaren screwed up Hamilton's Qually 3 strategy...and then Lewis compounded the issue by lifting off completey because he wanted to have a clear road for that perfect lap.

Shame, really.

Now the odds are that Vettel increases his points lead over the fastest driver of the only team realistically cabable of worrying Red Bull for the 2011 Drivers World Championship.

Button won't be able to challenge Vettel the way Hamilton can over a full season.

No way!