2007 Brazilian Grand Prix

[DOCG]

So I just watched this. Why on earth did McLaren put Hamilton on a 3-stop when everyone else was on a 2-stop? Even Brundle commented on how bizarre it was. Maybe they felt the only chance of getting Hamilton up to 5th was by hoping for a safety car?

[LP670]

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

[Sandpit Steve]

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

Is, allegedly, the right answer!

I was rather hoping that the thread title was a typo for the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, which was one of the greatest sporting events of my lifetime!

[PhilAsia]

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

As Steve has stated, this is the correct answer. Lewis, IIRC, has stated all will be revealed when he retires. Since then, he has probably added '21 to the reveal.

[Jinba Ittai]

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

Absolutely this. It seems even more obvious with the passage of time. I think the whole watching world were screaming at their televisions for Hamilton to pit in Shanghai, completely baffled by WTF McLaren were doing.

The opening lap at Interlagos was such a “Oh! How very convenient!” moment.

Those two races probably secured McLaren’s continued existence though.

[Muzzer79]

DOCG said:

So I just watched this. Why on earth did McLaren put Hamilton on a 3-stop when everyone else was on a 2-stop? Even Brundle commented on how bizarre it was. Maybe they felt the only chance of getting Hamilton up to 5th was by hoping for a safety car?

The sensible answer is that, having dropped back through the field with his gearbox issue to 18th, they (McLaren) knew that they needed to do something different to get him back up the field - copying everyone else's 2 stop strategy was not something different.

I don't hold much credence in conspiracy theories but there is a lot of circumstantial occurrences around that time that makes one scratch one's chin.

I only heard recently that Max Mosley actually wanted to ban McLaren from the 2008 championship over Spygate. This would have ended the team, but he was talked out of it by Ecclestone.

McLaren winning anything therefore in 2007 would not have gone down well, so although there's absolutely no concrete evidence, it's not beyond the realms of fantasy to think that something fishy was going on.

[DOCG]

Sandpit Steve said:

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

Is, allegedly, the right answer!

I was rather hoping that the thread title was a typo for the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, which was one of the greatest sporting events of my lifetime!

What I find interesting about sport is that what is the greatest for one side is utterly heartbreaking for the other.

I'd probably be a rubbish sportsman because I'd end up feeling bad for my opponent when I was supposed to be the most exhilarated.

[DanielSan]

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

They should've just disqualified Mclaren completely from drivers and constructors championship as soon as it all came to light. Not a lot to be revealed by Hamilton after he retires other than a Bernie spec bullst version of a complete disqualification anyway

[paulw123]

PhilAsia said:

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

As Steve has stated, this is the correct answer. Lewis, IIRC, has stated all will be revealed when he retires. Since then, he has probably added '21 to the reveal.

2007, 2016 and 2021 will all be interesting reading.

[Roofless Toothless]

DOCG said:

What I find interesting about sport is that what is the greatest for one side is utterly heartbreaking for the other.

I'd probably be a rubbish sportsman because I'd end up feeling bad for my opponent when I was supposed to be the most exhilarated.

[thegreenhell]

DanielSan said:

They should've just disqualified Mclaren completely from drivers and constructors championship as soon as it all came to light.

Along with Renault, who were also found guilty of exactly the same breach as McLaren that year, but were let off without any punishment at all. The only difference was that Flavio was chums with Bernie.

[paulguitar]

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

Agreed.

I'm the opposite of a conspiracy theorist, I think they are almost all nonsense. In this case, however, it seems likely that something dodgy occurred. Hamilton's gearbox glitch, which repaired itself and cost exactly the amount of time needed to prevent him from winning the title was just a step too far...


Lewis himself has said he can't talk about what he knows.

[PhilAsia]

paulguitar said:

Lewis himself has said he can't talk about what he knows.

I hope someone teaches him sign language then...

[LP670]

paulguitar said:

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

Agreed.

I'm the opposite of a conspiracy theorist, I think they are almost all nonsense. In this case, however, it seems likely that something dodgy occurred. Hamilton's gearbox glitch, which repaired itself and cost exactly the amount of time needed to prevent him from winning the title was just a step too far...


Lewis himself has said he can't talk about what he knows.

If you watch the onboard carefully from the gearbox issue you can see Hamilton press the neutral button just as he turns into the corner.

[paulguitar]

LP670 said:

paulguitar said:

LP670 said:

i personally think there was some sort of agreement between the FIA and McLaren that neither Hamilton or Alonso were allowed to win the drivers title that year after the spygate scandal broke and it was all engineered in the name of entertainment. The tyre strategy in China was even weirder and the fact that both BMW Saubers failed scrutineering after the race but wernt disqualified as it would have given Hamilton the title.

Agreed.

I'm the opposite of a conspiracy theorist, I think they are almost all nonsense. In this case, however, it seems likely that something dodgy occurred. Hamilton's gearbox glitch, which repaired itself and cost exactly the amount of time needed to prevent him from winning the title was just a step too far...


Lewis himself has said he can't talk about what he knows.

If you watch the onboard carefully from the gearbox issue you can see Hamilton press the neutral button just as he turns into the corner.

Do you think he was acting on instructions then?

[anonymous_user]

LP670 said:

If you watch the onboard carefully from the gearbox issue you can see Hamilton press the neutral button just as he turns into the corner.

although the car has already gone into neutral at the 100m brake board

[LP670]

anonymous_user said:

although the car has already gone into neutral at the 100m brake board

i think he pulls the clutch with his left hand first, as you say around the 100m mark then hits neutral as he turns into the corner. if you watch his right hand on the corner exit you can clearly see his index finger clicking the upshift paddle but the same movement isnt seen with his left hand on the downshift as he hits the brakes before the corner, its like one click and hold.

Edited by LP670 on Saturday 26th October 20:10

[DOCG]

A possibility is that Hamilton pressed something accidentally, but McLaren publicly denied it to protect him from the media scrutiny.

[PhilAsia]

A possibility is that Hamilton pressed something on purpose, but McLaren publicly denied it to protect them from the media scrutiny.