Originally Posted by Javier_deVivre:
“To me it didn't look like a puncture. Just a lack of traction causing the initial slide out, then he got onto the marbles and it was game over.
Due to the corner that corner of the car would be under load so would be sitting down.
As for Raikkonen's penalty. I would rather they applied any penalties to the race weekend it happened where possible. He made the mistake at Russia, so the result of the race should be affected, not the race after where he could have a mistake free weekend but be punished.”
Looking at the slow-motion replays, it didn't appear that Grosjean's tyre was "wobbly" or moving around on the rim which usually happens when there's a puncture.
The car just seemed to have a rather awkward stance in the corner, as if the camber was wrong or a tyre was at low pressure.
And, as I said, I can't recall seeing a tyre come off a rim like that before.
Inflated tyres are locked to the rim and regularly stay attached to the wheel in much harsher impacts.
Perhaps Grosjean suffered a puncture during the crash and that's what allowed the tyre to come off the rim?
Regarding penalties, I'm not sure what they should do for the best.
On the one hand I agree with you that it'd be nice if drivers didn't enter each new race with penalties "hanging over them" but on the other hand I also think that it undermines the sport to have the result of a race decided hours after the cars have finished racing by a group of people in an office.
Overall, I think it's better if the results on-track stand as a result (exceptional circumstances aside) and then teams & drivers get a penalty at the next race.
That way a casual spectator isn't left with any confusion as to what's happened and the more informed fans are likely to understand why a driver has a penalty at the following race.