Provided the orders are "Go out and beat the crap out of the other cars here today. I want a one-two podium, and I don't care which order you arrive in. You're both going to win this race, and the drivers' and manufacturers' championships for us, okay?"

Total cock. Vested interests and bi-partisan poo. I've read Joe Saward, James Allen and Andrew Benson all of whom have a different take. Rules is rules regardless. Otherwise why bother. It is a sham, a facsimile, a travesty.

Now who will pay whatever it costs to go and watch? You won't see Button cheekily gliding around Hamilton nor Vettel and Webber attempt union at 180. No, you'll see a sour puss Alonso "I'm quicker than you" at every opportunity.

enough</rant>

I just read Andrew Benson and left a post. I feel the real issue was being ignored. It's not about whether team orders should be allowed in the future or whether they're currently carried out in secrecy anyway. The issue in question is that the rule a) currently stands and b) Ferarri broke it. They should have had further punishment IMO.

Good race this afternoon, JB was a bit unlucky but really the team should have kept him out until Alonso pitted imo.

Anyway the result has closed up the bunch abit more to make it more interesting for the next race or two.

Yeah, it was a good race.

I'm not sure if Alonso would have needed to pit any sooner than JB. His tyres were holding up very well, considering he spent more than half the race following closely, with low downforce. I expected them to be wrecked within 20 laps.

I must say Vettel's fourth place finish was pretty impressive, despite how much I dislike the git. Admittedly, Webber being stuck behind Hulkenberg for so long probably made it easier for him. If Webber had cleared him quickly, it's likely he would have caught Rosberg, or at least hurried him along. Hulkenberg should have been penalised, as I see it.

Hamilton was plain silly to try stay on the inside of Massa. If he had pitched Massa round, there was a huge pile-up on the cards.

Heidfeld replaces de la Rosa at Sauber

So ending this stint as Pirelli’s development driver? Personally I would have stuck with Pirelli until the end of the year then taken my pick of teams after me for my Pirelli tyre knowledge, it's got to be an advantage......

Anyone see the Singapore race then?

I thought it wasn't exactly a classic, the first half was a bit uneventful until Hamilton and Webber's getting together, then we saw a bit more action with overtaking. Hamilton's not making it easy for himself, is he?!! Sometimes I wish he'd not take such risks, but I suppose that's what makes him such a good racer.

The fire with Heikki Kovalainen's car near the end was a bit scary, was just starting to get out of control when he tackled it. Fair play to him for getting stuck in with the extinguisher, although he should never have carried on, especially as he passed the pit entrance - seemed to enter then changed his mind (maybe the team ordered him to?). Wonder if he'll get some sort of penalty for that?

A shame Button couldn't get higher than 4th, but it's all still very close going into the final 4 races - this year's championship must be one of the closest to call. I honestly can't guess who's going to win it this year - just hope it's not Alonso.

I was expecting an epic amount of crashes today, but there was no big big ones.
it was an ok race today, nothing really happened with the top 2 and I fell asleep (for the 5th race?) in the middle of the race, waking up to see the 41lap onwards

I think Heikki Kovalainen did the correct thing and not go into the pits, if his car had exploded there would of been hundreds of possible injury's, so taking it outside the pit lane where no one would crash into it was very sensible, and to tackle the fire himself was very good on him indeed! its just a shame that the lotus car will be a write off. (I support lotus )

I don't know about you guys but over the past few races I've watched the F1 forum after the race and it's really really good!

Such a close look into the back-stage world of F1.

It's very good to have long interviews with the team principles and engineers also rather than just seeing the drivers like the usual program.

Yeah, I sometimes watch it if I'm at home - you usually get more relaxed, candid interviews and it's very often quite funny with some drivers saying things that they probably wouldn't say on the main post-race interviews. I've missed the last couple, but this week's one was good.

I do worry though that Eddie is going to get himself a restraining order one day soon though!

I enjoyed the race, despite it not being great for the brit drivers, but I was hoping that Vettel would catch Alonso, attempt to banzai him and take them both out.

A big thanks to Robert Kubica for making the last few laps as entertaining as they were. Some nice moves there, the Renault keeps looking better all the time, and I'd like to see it improved to the point where Kubica can be up front competing with the big boys.


I always watch the F1 Forum, usually immediately afterwards but, failing that, it is on iPlayer for about a week after each race.

I think Eddie is brilliant in that role. In fact, I think the BBC have a fantastic coverage team.

As I was watching last night I was trying to remember what the coverage was like with ITV.

It may just be a bad memory but I don't even remember who did any pre race coverage or even if there was any?

I know that Brundle did his grid walk but was there anything else? Did they televise the free practise sessions? Did they do as many interviews? I actually can't remember.

Hats off to the BBC for brilliant coverage and I seriously can't wait for HD coverage next year!

Yep I watched the race and the forum after, my thoughts – Button needs to grow some balls imo, he really had the first corner after getting a better start than Hamilton and then he basically handed it back by breaking really early. Not sure if he is scared of causing a team mate pile up or what but if it had been the other way round Hamilton would have completed the move and gone into the corner first with no hesitation.

Yes but equally it is that kind of move that meant that Hamilton didn't finish the race whereas Button finished 4th.