Massa had head-start on Belgian GP grid

 Massa had head-start on Belgian GP grid
Lewis Hamilton (GBR), McLaren Mercedes leads at the start - Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Sunday Race, 29.08.2010 Spa, Belgium / Copyright: Davenport / xpb

Felipe Massa escaped penalty despite clearly getting a head-start in last Sunday's Belgian grand prix.

Before the five red lights went out at Spa-Francorchamps, BBC commentator Martin Brundle observed that the Ferrari was about "two metres" ahead of its starting area on the grid.

A spectator's amateur footage, posted on video sharing website Youtube, now supports Brundle's observation, but the Brazilian was not penalised by the stewards.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said Massa, who finished the race in fourth place, was "at least 1 metre" ahead of his grid box.

Ferrari's post-race press release mentions neither Massa's grid error or the fact that he made up two early positions once the race had started.

The German report speculated that if FIA officials, or any of his competitors, had noticed the incident, Massa would probably have received a drive-through penalty.

Sensors in the grid boxes are supposed to ensure the cars' correct positioning as well as whether the competitor made a jump-start.

Source: GMM

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 DUCATI46 DUCATI46
A whole metre??! good god! That must be the advantage he got to the win the race then?... oh hang on he didn't did he...!!
September 1, 2010 7:45 am
 Airbag Airbag
...say someone who clearly isn't interested in F1.
September 1, 2010 12:41 pm
 bone91 bone91
hahaha! clueless!
September 1, 2010 6:57 pm
 sideskraper sideskraper
Staggered grid arrangements mean that 1-2 metres makes up the difference to the guy who qualified ahead of you. The start is everything in F1 these days, if you can get a slight head start on the rest it could very easily change the outcome of the race
September 1, 2010 8:31 am
 chris25 chris25
From where I could see, it was hardly noticeable & the ferrari's were struggle a lot in this track, we need Kimi back to drive this car.
September 1, 2010 9:41 am
 inlinesix inlinesix
Not surprising somebody who refer to Ferrari as "we" thinks one meter outside the box is "hardly noticeable".
September 1, 2010 9:47 am
 lefterov lefterov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlxHOcWMM5c here is the video on YOUTUBE
September 1, 2010 12:20 pm
 A A
Hang on...THIS is TOTALLY Wrong, these "sensors" are used by Stewards including CCC to determine Jump Starts with a Drive Through, if it is good enough for every other F1 Team, then Why not FERRARI???, Bloody CHEATS.
September 1, 2010 1:41 pm
 Fourie_00 Fourie_00
FERRARI are not cheats you imbisile, the stewards who didnt punish them is the cheat. it happens once every 3-4 races to various teams!!
September 1, 2010 4:17 pm
 A A
No Ferrari do not CHEAT you MORON!....they CHEAT, they Suck, Just like the Other Goose who had to "overtake" Massa because he was "FASTER", if that is not CHEATING WHAT IS, every Year Ferrari are fined for CHEATING!
September 2, 2010 4:14 am
 Fourie_00 Fourie_00
riiigghhhttt im obviously speaking to an intellectual here. if you break the speed limit and cops catch the guy behind u going a little slower then you then are YOU the cheat? are the cops cheats? who is the cheat? obviously you did something wrong but u didnt get fined? hmmmm interesting scenario isnt it. perhaps life is the cheat. Im not saying Ferrari are in any way the prime example of a law abiding team(tell me one front runner that is) but this particular scenario should have been picked up by the stewards. unless perhaps if you believe the decisions come from maranello and they quickly radio in to the 'english' stewards to tell them what to do.. ohhh yeah hmm maybe uve got a point
September 2, 2010 5:40 am
 A A
So obviously a Dummy here (probably American..Figures), so Alonso MOVING over to change the RESULTS of a RACE is not CHEATING...is it..?? Anyone WHO is DEEMED to Jump at the Grid or Over the A START Line is DEEMED to have an unfair advantage..i.e CHEATING, I do not give a STUFF if the Stewards did not catch-see Massa overshoot...IT IS STILL CHEATING....YOU IDIOT.
September 2, 2010 4:42 pm
 Fourie_00 Fourie_00
im a south african. your arguement is purely hate driven and has no validity. ur an angry boy and thats about it. they did cheat to alow alonso past, and i dont even like massa, but your blatantly missing the facts. which team do you back?
September 2, 2010 5:28 pm
 A A
BTW: MASSA knew Exactly what he was doing...
September 1, 2010 1:44 pm
 bboothy bboothy
Fair is fair and a meter might be enough distance to offset a poor start or secure a quick overtake past someone with a worse start than yourself. Conditions may have played a role in this, as the slick tires and moist track were increasing braking distances... the race started out pretty dry though! Not the first start he has jumped this season, either.
September 1, 2010 3:20 pm
 rendra_htbarat rendra_htbarat
F1 is getting silly these days, to many rules and less racing ..and that makes me want kimi back
September 2, 2010 4:42 am
 Jamaicandude Jamaicandude
F1 was probably even sillier when Kimi was around (the era of Max Mosley & his ilk). The last great race Kimi was involved in (IMO, of course) was his scrap with Hamilton @ Spa '08, & the powers that be spoiled a perfectly good race with a ridiculous post race penalty. Of course LH was wrong to cut the chicane (even though the alternative was banging wheels or worse) but the fact that McLaren asked Charlie Whiting TWICE if he was satisfied with the way LH returned the position, & Whiting said yes, then proceeded to penalize them after the race amounted to one of the most controversial, ridiculous rulings I've ever seen. If anything it's gotten better under Jean Todt & the Stewards who are former racers. At least they're being allowed to race each other now.
September 2, 2010 9:30 am