My view, based on the images we saw, was that his behaviour was right on the
limit but arguably not over it.
It was classic Michael; he knew exactly what he was doing and took it as far
as he could.
I mean, it’s not often you hear a team principal repeatedly reminding his
driver to leave another driver enough room, as Ross Brawn did following
conversations with race control (just to be clear, as I know this was a
talking point afterwards, such conversations are standard procedure; this
was not special treatment for Michael).
Others feel differently, of course. Jenson (who had a prime view and who knows
better than I what is agreed upon in the drivers’ briefings these days) felt
Michael had consistently made more than one change of direction. Perhaps he
is right.
I’m not sure we will ever know for sure, and this is my problem with Article
20.2. It is not an exact science. It says that “one defensive change of
direction” is allowed but does not specify how large that change of
direction might be.
And if you then drift back slightly towards your original line, how much is
too much?
I wrote a column after the Malaysian Grand Prix back in April, when Lewis was
hit with a 20-second penalty post-race for ‘weaving’, saying that the FIA
had set a dangerous precedent by punishing the Briton and must now apply the
rule consistently. I fear that is not happening.
The problem is every race has a different set of stewards and a different
drivers’ representative, so the interpretation of the rules is likely to be
different too. I can well understand Lewis’ frustration in Italy, although
he bit his tongue admirably.
The only way to be consistent would be to measure Michael’s exact level of
deviation from the racing line on Sunday compared with Lewis’s in Malaysia.
In fact, that is what I believe they should look at doing. Just as football
should get in the 21st century and embrace goal line-technology, so F1 –
supposedly the pinnacle of technology – should use every tool at its
disposal in an effort to be consistent.
It’s only fair on the drivers. And the resulting graphics showing how and why
key decisions are made can only be good for fans too.
All in all, though, the Italian Grand Prix was another stunner; further proof
that these regulations are working. The start, when Sebastian Vettel, Lewis
and Fernando Alonso duelled three abreast down to the first chicane, was
thrilling; Seb then showed that he is a racer as well as a driver with a
phenomenal pass on Fernando at close to 200mph.
He didn’t need to — he is so far ahead in the title race he could have played
it safe — but credit to him for being so aggressive.
Likewise Jenson, who looks so confident within himself at the moment.
His battle with Lewis for McLaren top dog status — Jenson leads by nine points
heading to Singapore next week — is becoming compelling viewing. Who said
this season is over?