F1 Monaco GP 2010 : Why Schumacher should not be penalized?

Source incident for this controversy:

Trulli's Lotus car parked on top of Karun's HRT car @ Rascasse corner, F1 Monaco GP 2010 © Getty Images

It all happened because of the racing incident on Lap 71 of Monaco GP at Rascasse Corner, when Jarno Trulli, Lotus racing driver, trying to find a way to pass Karun Chandhok, racing for HRT , ended up in parking his car on top of the Karun’s car, just in-front of the Race Leader (and later The Winner), Mark Webber, of RedBull Racing Team. Just the roll-hoop in the HRT’s car protected Karun, as the Lotus car brushed Karun’s helmet. Trulli apologized for this incident after the race. But the important thing with this incident was, Safety Car was deployed after this incident, for the fourth time in this race. Though this again canceled all the lead seconds which Mark managed to pull off from his Team-mate Sebastian Vettel, none would have expected the events which unfolded as a result of this accident, that too at the Last Lap.

What really happened on Last Lap?

Fernando Alonso followed by Michael Schumacher © Sutton Images

These are the events that happened in the last lap, as per the time-line:

• Out of the 24 cars which started, the 12 remaining cars queued-up behind safety car, as they started the Last Lap, Lap 78
• Its announced “SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP”
• Safety Car leaves the Race Track and Enters the Pit Lane
• Lewis, running at P5, suddenly slows down at the immediate corner (and the only corner before the Start/Finish Line), which surprises Alonso, at P6, who then runs little wide to avoid any collision or mishap and taking this as advantage, Schumacher overtakes Alonso, to finish in P6.

Schumacher penalized by the Stewards:

This incident, of Schumacher overtaking Alonso, was investigated by the three FIA Stewards José Abed (FIA Vice President), Dr. Christian Calmes (a representative of the Automobile Club de Monaco), Paul Gutjahr (President of the FIA Hill Climb Commission) and Weekend’s Ex-Driver in Race Control (keeping up with the FIA’s new-for-2010 initiative which states that one former driver will be on-hand alongside), Damon Hill.

“Schumacher was handed a drive-through penalty, which is converted after the race into a 20-second time penalty, dropping him from sixth to 12th in the results.” – Courtesy: Formula1.com

The explanation given for this penalty by the Stewards was,

“The overtaking maneuver was in breach of Article 40.13 of the 2010 F1 Sporting Regulations, the Stewards decided to impose a drive through penalty but, as it occurred during the last five laps, 20 seconds will be added to the elapsed race time of car Nr 3.” – Courtesy : f1fanatic.co.uk

And the Article 40.13 states that,

If the race ends whilst the safety car is deployed it will enter the pit lane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the checkered flag as normal without overtaking.

Why did Schumacher do this?

So, having read this Sporting Rules, why would any team or any driver would overtake like this? This is what the Formula 1′s greatest Driver, Michael Schumacher, said on asking about this incident:

“The result in the very end, which put me back to twelfth place for now, was obviously disappointing for me and I can fully understand that we are appealing the decision. Our understanding was that the ‘Safety Car in, track clear’ message meant we were back to racing conditions, so I went for it and overtook Fernando.” – Courtesy : f1.gpupdate.net

Here is the explanation given by Ross Brawn, Mercedes Team Principal:

“With regard to the penalty given to Michael, we believed that the track had gone green and the race was not finishing under a safety car when article 40.13 clearly would have applied.

The reason for the safety car had been removed, the FIA had announced ‘Safety Car in this lap’ early on lap 78 and the track had been declared clear by race control. This was further endorsed when the marshals showed green flags and lights after safety car line one. On previous occasions when it has been necessary to complete a race under a safety car, full course yellows are maintained, as in Melbourne 2009.

On the last lap, we therefore advised our drivers that they should race to the line and Michael made his move on Fernando for sixth place. We have appealed the decision of the stewards.” – Courtesy: f1fanatic.co.uk

Finally, Why Schumacher should not be penalized?

Lets look deep into the moments happened, inline with the timings. The Article 40.13 does not apply here, just for the simple reason that, it was announced that “Safety Car IN this lap“. Which means that, the race is not going to finish under the Safety Car scenario. Also, As per the new changes made to the rules this year, the racing condition is ON as soon as the Safety Car crosses the “Safety Car Line“, which is just on the entry point to Pit Lane. So, once the safety car crosses that line and enters the Pit, Safety Car board is withdrawn, Green Flags are shown starting from that Safety Car Line, pronouncing that, the circuit is clean and in perfect racing condition. Which means that, Drivers are entitled to race for the Positions. Considering this, as per the rules (as far as my understanding goes), Schumacher should not be penalized. Have to wait for the result of Mercedes Appeal to FIA, against the Stewards decision, to know the outcome of this.

But why would such a rule has to be implemented? my thoughts on this would be like, to eliminate the front runner, to control the speed and there by slowing down right at the last corner or before the start/finish line, giving him the advantage of more gap between him and the car behind, as he crosses the start/finish line.

Have just one question in mind. If this is not known to other drivers, why would Mark Webber hit the accelerator and finish the race in the racing speed, rather than slowing down and giving the Team Mechanics a close cheer?