Discuss.....

My comment keeps getting removed by the swear filter...

He just launched straight into the side of lewis, what a complete and utter ****! He could have waited for a few corners and breezed past him.

I think he's lost his No Claims Bonus

I suspect the stewards will view it as a 'racing incident' Lewis squeezed Maldonado and he than came back and hit Hamilton. Hamilton was playing the percentages this season, so he would have done better to let Maldonado pass and still pick up points seeing that Vettel was out. Hamilton's tyres were shot so I reckon Maldonado would have passed before the end of the race anyway.

So because someone is defending their position your entitled to smash them off the track? No, Maldonado couldnt pass him safely so he should have backed out when he was squeezed off the track (lewis has the racing line at that point so is entitled to do that) and regroup. The amount of extra traction he had (due to the newer tyres as you said) meant he wouldnt have issues getting past if he waited.

F1 has only recently (past 5 years?) got good again, your saying everyone under pressure should just yield? Hummmm

Personally I think Hamilton should have used his brain and knowing that Maldonado was off the track running alongside him, he really shouldn't have turned in and squeezed him on the apex of the corner after... He was asking to get clipped and it wasn't exactly a tight corner... He had more than enough space to take the corner without squeezing to the apex of that corner which is where Maldonado caught him.

Maldonado isn't in the right, but Hamilton was driving over aggressively and paid the price for it. He knew that he didn't have the traction to hold that position but got greedy/desperate - and missed out on all the points on offer instead of accepting 4th.

How many times have we said that? Hamilton being over-aggressive and coming a cropper? You would have thought he'd learn by now.

So because someone is defending their position your entitled to smash them off the track? No, Maldonado couldnt pass him safely so he should have backed out when he was squeezed off the track (lewis has the racing line at that point so is entitled to do that) and regroup. The amount of extra traction he had (due to the newer tyres as you said) meant he wouldnt have issues getting past if he waited.

F1 has only recently (past 5 years?) got good again, your saying everyone under pressure should just yield? Hummmm

No, what I am saying is that it is better to play the percentages and come home 4th (12 points), by defending as Hamilton did meant he scored no points. He can go and complain to the stewards who might dock Maldonada five grid places at the next race, but that won't give Hamilton any points today. The Irony is that if the last pit stop had gone OK he wouldn't have been behind Alonso and might have come first or second.

I can understand what your saying but as said, you`ll never get far letting people through every time they make a move. The idea is everyone knows how far to push it, its racing so it`ll be close. Grosjean made a sweet move on Hamilton, aggressive but kept in control and used his head, not just smash someone off because they dont move over for you.

How many times have we said that? Hamilton being over-aggressive and coming a cropper? You would have thought he'd learn by now.

Are you getting confused with who was driving what car? Maldonado was in the BLUE car, all 4 wheels off the track, comes back onto the track and hits Hamilton in the SILVER car in the side and takes him out. That means in your opinion Hamilton was being "over aggressive"? Lol

If you'd seen someone headed towards the side of you and had the choice of taking a corner wider or hitting the apex... Would you choose to turn-in to that apex, or take it wider?

Hamilton had plenty of time and chance to go wider to avoid a crash whether he was entitled to take that racing line or not... Tried to play a dangerous game by being aggressive and paid the price.

Hamilton couldnt see Maldonado, he knew he was on the outside (of the first corner), off the racing line off the track, but he couldnt see him, you cant even see him on the OBC!

So, as all the various analysis has said, Maldonado should have backed off or gone across the corner and rejoined behind him, why would Hamilton expect a fellow so called "professional driver" just drive into the side of him from off the track?!

Maldonado wasn't in the right by any means...

...But Hamilton was over-aggressive in the first place forcing Maldonado off the track. Then just as aggressive knowing he'd forced Maldonado off choosing to continue to squeeze him out by hitting the apex of that corner.

Whats even worse was that Hamilton knew his car and tyres had gone from underneath him... Could have avoided being aggressive and forcing Maldonado off the track, and avoided all of this and walked away with 12 points from 4th. He got greedy and came a cropper for gambling.

Both in the wrong, and both paid the price. Only difference is that Hamilton could have avoided most of that by accepting he just didn't have the run on Maldonado and yielding in the first place instead of gambling and forcing him off.

Both in the wrong, and both paid the price. Only difference is that Hamilton could have avoided most of that by accepting he just didn't have the run on Maldonado and yielding in the first place instead of gambling and forcing him off.

But Hamilton had the racing line and a right to defend his position... Irrespective of tyres if you don't defend your position then why bother racing?

He had the racing line he had every right to stick on it, its down to Maldonado to make a safe pass without wiping out another driver. I dont understand this whole "they try to overtake just let them past" idea. Its not going to leave much worth watching if its just 24 drivers all letting each other past. Its racing, its about skill and balls, not wiping people out needlessly and its not a sunday drive

I can understand what your saying but as said, you`ll never get far letting people through every time they make a move.

I'm not saying that you should just let someone pass everytime, but in this si****ion Hamilton knew his tyres were in poor condition and that he could have slid into the other driver or had less control in the corner giving him a slower exit. As I said before play the percentages at the end of the season it's the driver with the most points that wins the title and if Lewis ends up 11 points behind he will think of the 12 points that went west today.

It doesnt matter what state his tyres were in, he should be able to defend his position as much as he can without expecting another driver to wipe him out with poor passing maneuvers.

I can understand si****ions like when Paul Di Resta didnt fight too much a position when he was on a differing strategy to the other driver, as that would just be wasting time, but this was in the last 2 laps for position.

@F1grid: Maldonado gets 20 second penalty for collision with Hamilton. Senna gets P10.#F1

Maldanado charged with failing to rejoin the track in a safe manner.

20 secs added to elapsed race time.

Report HERE

Thought that's what he would get. Maldonado was totally in the wrong there, you cannot rejoin the track in the middle of a corner when there's another car there, it just does not work. Lewis did nothing wrong there and I'm gutted for him as he's been driving very smart this season and consistently racking up the points. :(

Maldonado puzzles me. His win in Barcelona was brilliant, but then he does stupid stuff like that. He has a lot of growing up to do before he can even think of a championship challenge.

Maldonado was in the wrong. End of. Hamilton couldn't even see him when he got hit. Regardless of whether Hamilton tyres were shot he has the racing like. Anyone remember Senna and Mansell in Monaco. He has the position and was his right to keep it.

Hamilton ran him off the track,then gave him no room to return. Fustration on Hamiltons part, To$$er, threw away points, served him right.

Just my Opinion

Its down to the overtaking driver to make a safe overtake though, Hamilton is under no obligation to give him any room, he can stick to the racing line all the way to defend. As for leaving him no room to return, there was a huge run off area, Maldonado had as much room as he liked to rejoin, he just got frustrated that he couldnt get past and thought . . . .well I dont know what he thought tbh.

Maldonado penalty was in conjunction with article 20.2 of the driving protocol:

]20.2[/b] Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not.

A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.

Should a car leave the track the driver may rejoin, however, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage.

A driver may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason.

Therefore he was a fault - he was judged to have left the track and didn't join when safe to do so, he just turned back on knowing full well that Hamilton was still there. Hamilton could not see him and therefore did not have to assume he would come back.

The Stewards penalised Maldonado, but that doesn't give Hamilton any points.

Yes Maldonado was in the wrong for re joining the track in an unsafe manner.

Looking at the clip on the beeb Maldonado was slightly in front as they Braked for the corner, as they went around the corner it was side by side with Hamilton's nose in front. Hamilton squeezed Maldonado so he had nowhere to go except off of the track.

A few weeks ago Rosberg forced Hamilton and Alonso off of the track and both drivers complained that the other driver has to give some space.

If Hamilton had given some space he would be 12 points better off.

If that had been Monaco with a solid barrier defining the edge of the track would Hamilton squeezed him into the barrier?

If that had been Monaco with a solid barrier defining the edge of the track would Hamilton squeezed him into the barrier?

No, but it wasnt was it? He had masses of smooth tarmac to drive into. Not matter how much you say he should have just given up the place, you dont expect another driver to just smash into you because they are frustrated when they have plenty of space to avoid you.

A few weeks ago Rosberg forced Hamilton and Alonso off of the track and both drivers complained that the other driver has to give some space.

iirc it was Alonso that had the issue, Hamilton just kept his toe in and made the pass. It was said he left the track to an extent, but it was in an straight line and he managed to rejoin without slamming into anyone else so there was no issue. They also had no issue with Rosberg`s defending either.