The rights and wrongs of F1’s Russian penalties

Formula 1 does sometimes get itself into a pickle. Last weekend’s Russian Grand Prix was actually one of the more interesting contests at the Sochi circuit, but two different penalty issues became the talking points, overshadowing a fine performance by Valtteri Bottas.

Firstly, were the two Lewis Hamilton practice starts simply a Mercedes mistake or were the rules a tad vague? There’s probably an element of both and it would be a surprise if race director Michael Masi’s notes weren’t tightened up pretty soon.

The incident played into the hands of both the pro-Hamilton and anti-Lewis camps. The fact he got penalised and was briefly within two points of a ban made for a good storyline for those who think the stewards are out to get him. Those who think he gets an easy ride then pointed to the subsequent removal of those points.

Conspiracy theories are among the most tedious of humanity’s ways of wasting time and, in truth, both moves made sense. Yes, the time penalty was a bit harsh – though, as our report on page 18 says, Hamilton would likely have lost the race anyway – but that’s the way the stewards (and many others, it has to be said) read the rules. And there is plenty of precedent for fines rather than penalty points when it comes to transgressions involving team input. Does any objective observer really think Hamilton deserves to be that close to a ban?

Then we had the issues about track limits. Needing to put measures in place to prevent runoff areas being used for advantage is a natural consequence of having them to improve safety, but having a ‘chicane’ so close to a wall, which can spit a smashed car back onto the circuit doesn’t seem like the safest way to do it…

Kevin Turner Editor kevin.turner@autosport.com

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PIT & PADDOCK 4 Domenicali becomes F1 president 6 DTM’s new GT formula 8 Rossi’s new SRT Yamaha deal 10 Le Mans winners to go GT racing 13 Opinion: Alex Kalinauckas 15 Opinion: Nick Garton 17 Feedback: your letters

RACE CENTRE 18 Russian GP report and analysis 34 BTCC: Cammish by a bumper 40 World of Sport: FIA Formula 2; Nurburgring 24 Hours; WTCR; Australian Supercars; Super Formula; IMSA Sportcar; NASCAR Cup; MotoGP

INSIGHT 52 Tony Kanaan’s IndyCar farewell?

CLUB AUTOSPORT 68 Kristensen-Pirro in Goodwood shootout 70 Allard name set to return 72 Obituary: Mike Thompson 73 Opinion: Stephen Lickorish 74 National reports: Silverstone;

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FINISHING STRAIGHT 86 What’s on this week 88 From the archive: 1991 Meadowlands GP 90 Autosport 70: Ascari and Moss star

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