tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682262344930040012.post4026562997072096988..comments2024-03-19T07:34:05.962+00:00Comments on Talking about F1: The F1 blog: Why I'll welcome Pat Symonds back to F1Graham Keillohhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514708469215327323noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682262344930040012.post-24636882130294665422012-08-22T13:22:44.093+01:002012-08-22T13:22:44.093+01:00On 'sanctity of the sport' I think there w...On 'sanctity of the sport' I think there was then enough latitude in the cycling rules (around when restarts would be allowed) to confuse the Hindes situation, so I still see it as distinct from deliberate crashes in F1, even if we don't consider the differing degrees of potential harm. However, it is a pretty fine distinction further eroded by Hindes apparently admitting to doing it on purpose and then apparently being ordered to change his story. And the mainstream press certainly did not cover this in the same way they would have approached a comparable F1 or a football story.<br /><br />I was in the Velodrome that day and there was at least one other restart from another team. I can't recall the details, and as a cycling naif I found it all quite hard to follow, but I believe one consequence is that the 'restart rules' will be reviewed and tightened. <br /><br />And naif or not, it was brilliant sport performed in a great arena with an astonishing atmosphere. My ambition for the Olympics was to go to one event in the Olympic Park with my wife and teenage sons and we finally got lucky in the 3rd round applications. Happy family lifetime memories!Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902578390152119117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682262344930040012.post-47236721666201218762012-08-22T13:21:36.342+01:002012-08-22T13:21:36.342+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902578390152119117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682262344930040012.post-70785569332231990412012-08-19T21:10:26.052+01:002012-08-19T21:10:26.052+01:00Thanks very much Evan for your compliments, very g...Thanks very much Evan for your compliments, very glad you like the post.<br /><br />On the Olympics cycling point it's true that there is much less of a risk element with bicycles than with racing cars, but then again if the 'sanctity of the sport' is the primary objection in the Crashgate case, as it has been for many people, then there's almost no difference between the Hindes and Piquet cases that I can see.<br /><br />On the Prost/Senna point, yes one of the worst elements of the Crashgate case is that Briatore and Symonds one way or another imposed a risk of physical harm on others that they were not facing themselves, but a distinction on that basis only works to a small extent if comparing with the Senna/Prost case at Suzuka. Yes, Senna was in a position to choose whether to put himself in harm's way, but crucially Prost, who he crashed into and put into harm's way, did *not* get this choice. Neither did the drivers of the 24 cars behind Senna. So in that sense Senna arbitrarily placed others in harm's way without their consent just as Briatore/Symonds did. And let's not also forget that whatever the 'order' in Singapore, it was nevertheless Piquet who took the decision ultimately to crash his car deliberately.<br /><br />I can also honestly say that it wasn't my aim as such to provoke in writing this article (though I always knew it was a divisive issue). My aim instead was merely to give my views on this particular subject. To write simply to provoke is absolutely not what I'm trying to achieve on this blog.<br /><br />Thanks again.Graham Keillohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11514708469215327323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682262344930040012.post-66539015849171353982012-08-19T19:24:00.750+01:002012-08-19T19:24:00.750+01:00Great post Graham, and I'll be pleased to See ...Great post Graham, and I'll be pleased to See Pat S back too. But I do think your comparison with the Olympic cycling is inappropriate. There are parallels, but nothing Hindes did could have caused serious physical harm to him or anyone else. The Piquet crash may have been less dangerous than others manufactured in F1, but there was still a chance of serious injury and that's what makes it stand apart. This is specially so if Piquet was "ordered" to do it, as the FIA found. ie, those making the decision were not putting themselves in harm's way, a feature which also sets this apart from Prost/Senna.<br /><br />Anyhow, suspect your aim was to provoke, so Job Done! and thanks for the post.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902578390152119117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682262344930040012.post-46710329404296992302012-08-18T22:21:35.176+01:002012-08-18T22:21:35.176+01:00If 'Crashgate' punishment was an over-reac...If 'Crashgate' punishment was an over-reaction, what was $100M fine?<br /><br />Good article and I share your view, one Team will but that bit better in 2013 with Pat S on board. Terry Pearsonhttp://terrypearson.co.uknoreply@blogger.com