[TobaccoNUE]

I think Petrov would have made his point better. The little Brit would have hidden behind some burly Mclaren mechanics no doubt

Ridiculous.

Petrov didn't even manoeuvre his for an overtaking oppurtunity. He followed Hamilton because he was not close enough.

Hate to say this but what Massa did to Webber into the hi-speed left-right was far worse and I don't remember anyone making a fuss over Massa's blocking tactics - links appreciated

[VIAGRA-]

I think Lewis would have been passed if not for the multiple swerve weaving. If you weave and/or swerve enough nobody will get to the point of being able to make a move.

After all, how could you say anyone made more than one move if they are back and forth all over the track?

[PilotJargon]

I think people are playing a game of semantics trying to suggest that weaving is OK but blocking isn't. Both moves are designed to prevent a passing attempt and both can be dangerous. If Petrov goes right when Hamilton goes left, then Hamilton's subsequent move to the right puts the cars on a collision course.

Having said that, I have no problem with Hamilton receiving a warning just as I would have had no problem if he was warned for blocking. We don't need penalties screwing up races.

The interesting thing will be what happens if Hamilton does it again? Do the stewards pullout the penalty stick?

[gopsbousperie]

If Petrov had not followed Hamilton's every move but gone in a staight line then you could call it blocking and Hamilton would have received more than a warning.
As it was he just followed the weaving with no attempt to pass.
Probably just as well there was a former F1 driver as a steward though!

[Snitiendumurn]

I think people are playing a game of semantics trying to suggest that weaving is OK but blocking isn't. Both moves are designed to prevent a passing attempt and both can be dangerous. If Petrov goes right when Hamilton goes left, then Hamilton's subsequent move to the right puts the cars on a collision course.

Let me explain the difference between weaving and blocking.

Blocking is when you try to stay in someone's way.

Weaving is when you try to stay out of someone's way.

[PilotJargon]

Let me explain the difference between weaving and blocking.

Blocking is when you try to stay in someone's way.

Weaving is when you try to stay out of someone's way.

Both of which are intended to stop a successful pass and both of which can be dangerous. In terms of driving etiquette there's little difference in my opinion.

[Edifsdubs]

Racing is dangerous. I don't really see what the fuss is about, I always thought penalizing blocking and/or weaving is nonsense, unless it results in a clearly avoidable accident. It's just too arbitrary otherwise who gets penalized, and who doesn't (a lot of which has to do of who happens to be on camera, and who wasn't when it happens).

Drivers are supposed to fight for position, else what's the point of having a race? People like to complain about races being boring, and they'll also complain about drivers fighting for position

[VIAGRA-]

Racing is dangerous. I don't really see what the fuss is about, I always thought penalizing blocking and/or weaving is nonsense, unless it results in a clearly avoidable accident. It's just too arbitrary otherwise who gets penalized, and who doesn't (a lot of which has to do of who happens to be on camera, and who wasn't when it happens).

Drivers are supposed to fight for position, else what's the point of having a race? People like to complain about races being boring, and they'll also complain about drivers fighting for position

I don't think most posters here have a problem with letting racers race, and I'm sure I don't. But when you blur the lines on blocking in F1 the car behind will always be the one to suffer the most via wing damage. Once you start allowing multiple blocking moves it's really easy for a car in front to stay in front.

[Snitiendumurn]

Both of which are intended to stop a successful pass and both of which can be dangerous. In terms of driving etiquette there's little difference in my opinion.

Blocking is an attempt to stop a pass by putting a carbon fiber missle in someone's way.

Weaving is an attempt to stop a pass by manipulating the air behind you.

[zzarratusstra]

If Petrov had not followed Hamilton's every move but gone in a staight line then you could call it blocking and Hamilton would have received more than a warning.
As it was he just followed the weaving with no attempt to pass.
Probably just as well there was a former F1 driver as a steward though!

^^^This^^^ +1
Petrov could have held a line and Hamilton would have probably gotten a penalty. But he was such a sucker that if Hamilton had pointed his car toward the wall, Petrov would have probably followed him in.

As for the poster who suggested that Petrov is some kind of pitlane tough guy, the only one that should be of concern is that bleach blonde "creation" of a mother of his. Anyone who watched GP2 last year knows she'll sucker punch someone when they're not looking.

[PilotJargon]

Blocking is an attempt to stop a pass by putting a carbon fiber missle in someone's way.

Weaving is an attempt to stop a pass by manipulating the air behind you.

I know the difference between the two, you don't need to quote definitions to me.

My point remains, that in my opinion it's a case of to-may-to or to-mar-to. Weaving is not simply "manipulating the air behind you", it's driving in an erratic manner to prevent someone from passing you and can be just as, if not more, dangerous than blocking.

With more experience Petrov may have followed Hamilton to the inside and stayed there when Hamilton swerved back to the outside, then thrown one up the inside under brakes.

If Hamilton had collided with Petrov what would you have thought of his "air manipulation"? The fact that he didn't got him a warning, which is appropriate. It doesn't make Hamilton's driving in this instance any less dodgy.

[DoctorTDent]

He wasn't moving erratically though, his movements were fairly smooth. It wasn't like one moment he was on the left side of the track then the next moment he was on the right side.

[PilotJargon]

He wasn't moving erratically though, his movements were fairly smooth. It wasn't like one moment he was on the left side of the track then the next moment he was on the right side.

When you consider that normally they drive in a straight line down the straight and Hamilton moved from one side to the other 4 times, I'd say that's erratic in that it differred greatly from the norm. Petrov also had no way of knowing how may times he was going to swerve which could have been a problem he hadn't followed Hamilton all over the track.

What saved Hamilton I think was that he didn't do it in the breaking zone which may have seen him get more than a warning. I don't think he'll do it again anytime soon.

[allemnendup]

Petrov could have held a line and Hamilton would have probably gotten a penalty. But he was such a sucker that if Hamilton had pointed his car toward the wall, Petrov would have probably followed him in.

He was trying to follow Hamilton to pick up the drag to get into a position to pass, hardly the actions of a "sucker". There really are some silly statements being made here.

I agree with the comments before about Massa in Australia, though. If the likes of Hamilton and Massa have to resort to these types of tactics on the track, rather than rely on speed and skill, then perhaps a post-race fine or some other penalty should be given to remind them that that style of driving is not only dangerous to both themselves and the driver behind, but also to marshals who often volunteer their time to help make the races possible.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

Next time Lewis is attemting an overtake I would like that driver to weav multiple times.

Lewis is a bit arrogant on and off track.

The same rules (social and not) applies to him as well as other humans.

[socialkiiii]

Both of which are intended to stop a successful pass and both of which can be dangerous. In terms of driving etiquette there's little difference in my opinion.

What on Earth is wrong with intending to stop a successful pass? I thought we wanted to see RACING and not people letting others by.

[hellencomstar]

I think Hamilton was in the wrong. He deserved his warning and it is very clear that if he does it again he'll receive due punishment.

[Greapyjeory]

I think it was frickin awesome to watch...

put a big smile on my face seeing Hamilton trying to break Petrov off his tail..

I want to see more of it...Hamilton didn't do anything dangerous...so get over it if you think he did.

Both Hamilton and Petrov drove great and entertaining races...

good on em'

[DoctorTDent]

I think Hamilton was in the wrong. He deserved his warning and it is very clear that if he does it again he'll receive due punishment.

Was it actually dangerous though? IMHO his movements were fairly gentle and he didn't move around in the braking zone.

[detskpit]

I think it was frickin awesome to watch...

put a big smile on my face seeing Hamilton trying to break Petrov off his tail..

I want to see more of it...Hamilton didn't do anything dangerous...so get over it if you think he did.

Both Hamilton and Petrov drove great and entertaining races...

good on em'

I totally agree with that