F1NAC wrote: ↑19 Jul 2020, 20:11
Penalty for both Haas cars for instructing drivers to pit (+10s). Also no penalty for Albon
To fine the Haas drivers for violating a regulation worded "the driver must drive the car alone and unaided" is a bit questionable when looking at their full radio exchanges.
Both drivers raised the question of pitting on their own, independantly from their race engineers.
(Magnusson: "We're ill-fitted, there's a dry line already", Grosjean: "Track's drying up - one could be tempted to go for slicks" [spoiler: re-translated from German, source: motorsport-total.com]
After some consideration, the engineers came back with: "OK, box!", and for this they got fined.)
Had they said "We're ready in case you want to come in, but it's totally your own decision", would they be fine now? If yes, the whole thing is a bit hair-splitting, isn't it?
I would see it like this: As both drivers initiated the question about going for slicks individually and un-aided, the spirit of regulation 27.1. can be considered not having been broken, therefore no fine necessary.
On the other hand, I can't understand how Red Bull gets away with drying the asphalt with blowers - dry spots were clearly visable, contrary to Horner's flapsy comment - in a situation where it's hard to understand why there would be any need of external cooling at all at that point in time? Do I miss some information here?