F1 News: Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher given a 10 place grid penalty for Belgian Grand Prix
Formula One legend Michael Schumacher has been penalized 10 grid places for the next Grand Prix in Belgium. The German racer has been punished for a dangerous manoeuvre at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest that involved him and his former Ferrari teammate (and Williams' driver) Rubens Barrichello.
Schumacher pushed Barrichello to within millimetres of a concrete wall at turn 14, as both drivers were entangled in a battle over the last point in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Despite coming off worse in the manoeuvre, Barrichello still managed to finish ahead of the German driver. Immediately after the race, Schumacher maintained that he was not at fault.
However, experts do not share the sentiment with the 7 time World Champion, and are of the opinion that the German driver had stepped far over the line of any sporting codes.
The incident took place as Williams’ driver Barrichello, who had been trying to get past the Mercedes of Schumacher for several laps to secure the final point scoring the 10th place, tried to take advantage of a slight mistake by Schumacher around turn 14 into the pit straight.
Schumacher uncannily ran slightly wide giving Barrichello space to close the game and run close to his former teammate. The Brazilian then pulled to his right and got alongside Schumacher, who then moved across forcing Rubens almost crashing into the concrete walls.
Luckily for Barrichello, the wall ended just in time for him to run wide into the pit lane, before finally completing the pass into turn one.
Talking to the media afterwards, Barrichello said: "What we want from racing is to be fair and to have battles, you should choose a line and that's it. It was close, close, a bit too close, but fortunately the wall ended there and I could get past. You should stick to a line and that's it.”
Schumacher and Barrichello had been teammates at Ferrari for six years, during which the Brazilian always played second fiddle to the German.
Schumacher, defending himself later, said: "We know certain drivers have certain views, and there's Rubens. As a driver you have the ability to change line once, and that's what I was trying to do. Obviously there was enough space to go through - we didn't touch, so I just left enough space. It was a bit tight and tough, but I think I'm known not to give presents on track. To pass me you have to earn it."
However, the race stewards later decided against the seven-time world champion and declared Schumacher to have illegally impeded Barrichello during a driving manoeuvre.
Since the incident, there has been widespread criticism of the German from all circles. Alex Wurz, who is an ex Formula One driver and has driven for McLaren, Williams and Benetton, said that had there been a collision on the track, it could have been fatal for any of the two drivers involved. He said that Schumacher knew that Rubens had been trying to overtake him for a long period of time and he had been seeing it all through his back view mirror, and if couldn’t see where the Brazilian was going, either his mirror doesn’t work and his car is illegal, or he should consult a physician and perhaps give up his FIA Super License.
The manoeuvre looked spectacular on television but had there been an accident, it could have had dire consequences for either of the drivers with Barrichello seemingly in more danger than Schumacher, but thankfully for Rubens, the length of the wall was not long enough and he managed to pull wide into the pit straights.
Recently, Schumacher finally accepted the race stewards’ decision and apologized to Rubens Barrichello. "I have to say the stewards were right. My move against him (Barrichello) was too hard. I clearly showed him that I didn't want to let him pass but, looking at it rationally, I wasn't seeking to endanger him with my manoeuvre. If he feels I was, then all I can say is sorry. This wasn't my intention,” he said. However, this apology might seem too little too late, as many Formula One experts are condemning the act, and calling for more than just a ten-place grid penalty.
Eddie Irvine, Schumacher’s teammate for four seasons, is one of those crying foul at Schumacher’s actions. "He wasn't thinking and it was just pure arrogance that he thought he could drive another driver into the pitwall. He got punished but I don't think he was punished enough. He should have got a one-race ban because that was one of the worst manoeuvres I have seen,” he said.
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