Did a search on the FIA definition of weaving and this was the first returned entry. It’s a bit humorous considering the current discussion.
Weaving: The F1 Rule Under Malaysian Spotlight
May 13, 2010
I don’t know about you, but nowhere in the Formula 1 Rules & Regulations for 2010 (provided by Formula1.com) does it mention anything about ‘weaving.’ Not in the 2010 season changes or the driver penalties section does it mention that word other than a vague reference with the words ‘unfairly blocking another driver,’ which I do not think is clear enough.
So I visited the FIA website where the below was spotted (also available at Formula1.com under ‘FIA regulations in detail’):
16.1 “Incident” means any occurrence or series of occurrences involving one or more drivers, or any action by any driver, which is reported to the stewards by the race director (or noted by the stewards and referred to the race director for investigation) which :
– necessitated the suspension of a race under Article 41 ;
– constituted a breach of these Sporting Regulations or the Code ;
– caused a false start by one or more cars ;
– caused a collision ;
– forced a driver off the track ;
– illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre by a driver ;
– illegitimately impeded another driver during overtaking.
If we take a look at the last two points under Article 16.1, Renault could argue that Hamilton ‘illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre’ from taking place by their driver, Vitaly Petrov. Obviously, the stewards took note of that and gave Hamilton an official half-black, half-white flag warning for ‘unsporting behavior.’
“According to the rules, drivers may only make one defensive move, and then another before the brazing zone to return to his racing line,” UpdateF1.com reads.
“..quoted Ferrari test driver Marc Geneas describing Hamilton’s driving as ‘wrong’, while Virgin tester Andy Soucek said the Briton should have penalized ‘absolutely, without any doubt’.
And former Super Aguri driver Anthony Davidson told BBC radio: ‘I don’t know what Lewis was doing, weaving all over the track. I think he thought he was playing a Playstation rather than real life.'”
Renault boss Eric Boullier believed Hamilton broke the rules while driving in addition to the fact that the stewards’ penalty – a visual warning by flag – was not harsh enough. The fact that we rarely see any driver engaging in such a manoeuvre, a warning, in my opinion, was efficient enough. I have to say, however, it was great to watch. At the end of the day, Formula 1 drivers are at the top of their game and can handle a little rough racing. Karting was where the majority of them were born; a place where racing was racing, weaving and all.
Tags: 2010, Article 16.1, Article 41, driver penalties, Eric Boullier, Ferrari, FIA, Formula1.com, Hamilton, illegal manoeuvre, karting, Marc Gene, Renault, Rules & Regulations, season changes, UpdateF1.com, Vitaly Petrov, weaving