I just remembered, Brundle talking about how badly Massa had missed/overshot the box after the formation lap this Sunday at Spa. Yet nothing came of it, not even any videos or one of those 'investigations into car number' things. Check this out yourself:

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

http://f1enigma.wordpress.com/

Remarkable that it was missed by everyone at Race Control really. Where was Whiting to wag his finger this time.

He overshot it by miles, what do the rules say about this anyway?

Bah if he got a podium fine, and I think that was a sympathy let off coz of what happened at Hungary 09, so well done Whtiting.

I was wondering about that myself, strange no other teams are protesting.

That would be a p*** poor reason for letting any driver off of an offence. What has happened in previous races should have no bearing on the next race.

It's not the first time that a car has stopped outside of the grid position, but it is probably the most extreme that I can remember, but I have yet to see anyone penalised for it. It's clearly an unfsir advantage, but if the FIA don't penalise it then it's surprising that more drivers don't do it.

Gee I was just being sarcastic, and actually making fun of charlie. Maybe he needs glasses now? Of course it was an offense that should of not been unseen. It's past now though..

Sorry, but I missed any hint of sarcasim there.

I know it's past, but I would like to know why it was allowed and what the offical line is (or should be) on the grid position.

Mate I never mad at ya. and yes the future has to be rectified. I guess the official line was that as long as the car wasn't moving before the lights went out, perhaps that's why he was ok?

thats right in la sexta they mentioned it at the beggining that he was quite ahead of his box

dont understand why nothing happened

He was so far out of the box that I'm surprised the system even recognised he was there, but I think your correct that the electronic system only recognises the movement and not proximity.

I think Massa gained an unfair advantage and had it been Alonso or Vettel doing what Massa did a penalty almost certainly would have been given.

FIA should have given him a drive through penalty, just like they did to Alonso in China this year after a jump-start.

Yea and that is bad, and should be fixed. Spotters should be fine for use.

And I think there are spotters for each grid position, which brings us back to why nothing was actually done, or even mentioned.

It should be punishable otherwise what's to stop someone forming up alongside the polesitter? It was certainly an advantage but if he didn't make/protect any positions into La Source as a direct result I'd let it lie.

I just do not know how this was possible...

Bah..

The only thing in favour of Massa (or not) .. is he didn't get any advantage from starting a bit further... You can see he didn't get passed Button at the first corner.

Perhaps he hold back a bit to compensate for it.

Presonally I don't think it matters whether he gained or retained position because of it. He was outside the starting box and that's the only part of the offence that should be considered. Afterall a jump start is still penalised regardless of whether the driver gains a position.

Simply an oversight, human error. Let's see what happens at Monza and beyond.

Indeed either the system failed to detect his grid slot sensor failed to arm or the range of thing is excessive.

Mika Hakkinen used to get in the total limit of the line too. Not this much of course, but I remember being afraid of a penalty...

If that would keep a penalty away, I would do it at every race in case I get a bad start, and if I get a good start I'll just hold back a bit.

I think he was just trying make room for Alonso behind him.

Webber did it at Bahrain with no penalty.

My guess would be that the first lap incidents provided enough of a distraction ... for a verbal message to be accidentally overlooked and thereby allow him to get away with it.

Luck works both ways.

It has happened numerous times over the last few seasons but I can't think of an occasion when it's even been shown on screen as being under investigation. I would like to know what the smallest jump-start that can be measured is and how much of an advantage that would represent in terms of distance covered. My understanding is that if the start system could detect someone moving, say a thousandth of a second before the lights went out and that allowed them to gain x centimetres of ground, when the system says jump start, that driver is going to back through the pit lane within the first five or so laps of a race.

I appreciate that it is not going to be possible to see the track you're parking on when a driver comes to the grid, but it does seem fundamental that everyone should keep their wheels behind the line for their slot.

He was lucky to escape penalty but maybe they deemed there to have been no advantage gained as he didn't take any positions - who knows?

Whats the count on the questionable decisions, missed opportunities of the FIA this year so far>? 6012 or something?

It doesnt seem like there are people tied to competitors. Maybe tracks need to pay more than their current 40 million a year fee to get some professional stewarding, and have 24 people hired that constantly monitor what each driver is doing?

I think this matter will be brought up in next drvier meeting as that was way too much, I was actually surprised it wasn't discussed earlier as I recall somedrivers missing their boxes but that's really extreme.

Vettel got a penalty for a racing incident and Massa got nothing for this?. F1 is insane.

You would think it would be an automatic penalty. However Webber did it in Bahrain and nothing hapenned, Raikkonen did it back in Mozna 2007.

Unless there is a valid reason like something on track where they are going to start so they are let start ahead it makes no sense that they can start infront of their box and not get a penalty.

My instant thought was that Ferrari had probably asked Massa to overshot the bay. Instant drive through, and one less driver in front of Alonso. A good way to switch positions without drawing much controversy. The fact he wasn't given a penalty suggests maybe Whiting and the FIA was on the same train of thought. Why else would they ignore this clear as day infringement?

Why do that? Surely better to have Massa in there fighting towards the front and maybe forcing some kind of error out of Alonso's title competitors, instead of just intentionally falling back?

The reason Massa got away with it was because he didn't gain any advantage. He didn't make up any places, he only overtook Webber but that was because Webber had such a poor start, not because he missed the starting place. If he had gained 3-4 positions at the start he would most likely got a penalty for it because rival teams would complain about unfair advantage.

No big deal really.

But he had advantage because the drivers behind couldn't overtake him.

But Vettel physically ruined another's race, Massa didn't right?

WTF does Vettel have to do with Massa beign out of place? Is this some paranoia or something?

I do not remember ever watching someone being so far ahead at the start. It's puzzling how it could have been missed.

No big deal really? So according to your logic, everyone can pretty start where they want, then it's up to Charlie to check if they gained advantage or not.

How do you know that was the reason? Are you saying it's only an advantage if he overtook someone, is it not equally an advantage that he started furthur ahead than those behind, thereby making it harder for them to overtake him?

Now I am waiting for a team to try it and claim that since the rule was not enforced before they should be allowed to break the rule now.

And don't try to take their points away or maybe they'll take you to court.

And then Lauda can chime in with some keen insight.

(That is all standard procedure right?)

This is just odd. Doesn't add up. Would be interested to see if the FIA ever acknowledge it.

Where is the transponder set in Massa'a car? Do they go by eyesight or what?

Reminds me of Lewis and the SC at Valencia when they had to look at a whole deal of things besides the helicopter images, all that while the race was on. This sunday some 8 cars or more missed the chincane on the first lap and perhaps that got all of their attention.

The transponders don't register the spot, they just see if someone moves apparently. It was hard to see on Tv but Brundle was being pretty clear about it. I didn't think it was that bad until seeing this video though, man what a complete f***up.

Do that at a club meeting you get a stop go so it does not say much for F1!

The transponders only register as the car crosses the line, not before it though there is another system that is supposed to monitr jumped starts.

Why I am not wondering that it is a Ferrari which is unpunished again ?
Unbelievable ...
Stupid FIA(T)

There's a flag marshal that's supposed to only green flag the start IF everybody is correctly positioned, if not they have to redo the formation lap. They use the onboard sensor to register any movement between the moment Charlie starts the start countdown and lights off.

I'm glad it went unnoticed or it may have been a pointless afternoon for Ferrari! I can admit that it should have been a drive through, what is the difference between making up half a meter by jumping the start by a thousandth of a second and just putting your car half a meter too far forwards, maybe even more!

Perhaps they thought it wasn't worth penalising Massa because the whole team and both drivers are due to be kicked out of the 2010 championship next week?

You heard it here first...

I agree, they shouldn't start the race with the car in the wrong spot (that's different from a jump start, when after the "ok" signal the driver move the car when he shouldn't), so maybe they did a mistake, and as Massa didn't gained an advantage (at least not clearly) they let him got away....

but to be honest, no big deal here...

Not much cheering at the start at Spa. Compared to Brazil 2009 when the crowd was going nuts!

Wow, that is amazing. It is not like a few centimeters, it is more than a meter! This and how he got away with crossing the pit exit line in Monaco raises some question marks.