Controversy rocks GPG 2012

Since Belgium there has been a long running rumbling controversy about LOLL for that race.

The FIA showed Kobayashi as being +1 Lap where as Sky did not. At the time the Organiser stated that any challenge to that must clearly demonstrate that Kobayashi was not lapped.

The precedent for challenging this was set in 2009 where Lewis Hamilton crashed on the last lap in Italy. It appears that the FIA show people as +1 Lap if they do not complete the lap.

Our rules for LOL do not require the last person on the lead lap to complete the lap. In the case of Italy 2009, the results were amended.

Following Belgium this year no evidence was provided to demonstrate if Kobayashi was lapped or not, so the result remained unchallenged.

After the final race in Brazil, CDWTH provided evidence that he claimed supported the position that Kobayashi was not lapped.

The end of the race in Belgium is unique in that once the winner passes the finish line they do not complete a lap of honour, they are diverted back into the pits the wrong way due to the length of the lap.

For the organiser to accept the video footage CDWTH were requested to demonstrate that Kobayashi started the last lap ahead of Jenson Button and that the marshalling control of the cars at the end of the race was sufficient to stop Kobayashi mistakenly going round again.

Two videos show continuous footage of the end of the race in Belgium, each demonstrate that Kobayashi was not lapped.

Video 1 - Recorded at Eau Rouge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDR7p8snM_4

0:05 - Kobayashi goes past camera on penultimate lap

0:25 - Button passes camera on final lap

Remainder of field pass through on the last lap all still racing for position

Button can be seen on the TV screen in the centre of the shot (you may need to go full screen to see this)

1:58 - Button rounds the last corner onto the start finish straight (TV screen)

1:58 - Kobayashi is visible on approach downhill to Eau Rouge (now on the last lap)

2:03 - Kobayashi passes camera

2:10 - Button can be seen doing burnouts on the straight (TV screen)

Video 2 - Recorded viewing end of start finish straight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GcO5bYqU8g

0:05 - A car can be seen going left to right in the centre left (towards Eau Rouge, the timing and comparison with Video 1 shows this to be Kobayashi)

0:09 -Button can be seen doing burnouts on the start finish straight

Then marshals go onto the track and direct the cars into the pit exit the wrong way.

No car passes the marshals

The two videos demonstrate that.

- As button went through Eau Rouge Kobayashi was not lapped (Video 1)

- Kobayashi comes through Eau Rouge again as button is passing the line (Video 1)

- Kobayashi did not sneak round for an extra lap (Video 2)

- Kobayashi was not lapped

Decision:

Video shows Kobayashi not lapped

BBC shows Kobayashi as +1:56 therefore not two laps down (Senna got fastest lap of 1:52)

Precedent set in 2009 for acceptance of challenge on LOLL

Rules do not define a timeframe for challenges

-

Challenge and evidence accepted.

Results will be revised.

Changes to protect from this in the future.

- Rules will be updated to state that any results challenge must be initiated within one week of the end of the race (168 hours after the start of the race)

- Following the last race of the season, positions will be provisional until the week allocated for challenges has passed without a challenge being raised.

- Winnings will not be paid until the results have been finalised

- LOLL will be removed from the predictions

The organiser apologises for the late change to the results, but can find no rule or counter evidence to reject the challenge.

Here is a team by team breakdown of the impact.