Ferrari bring Team Orders into play to hand Alonso the German Grand Prix
It seems like Ferrari cannot get through a single Formula One season without sparking some controversies. This year though, the team seems to have taken the affair to a whole new level altogether. In Bahrain, Alonso wanted his team to place him in front of Massa because he was “quicker than him” on the track. In Valencia, Alonso went all guns blazing at the FIA and had to apologize later on. In Britain, Ferrari ignored the instructions of race stewards after an illegal overtaking move on Kubica which eventually lead to a penalty. While in Germany, the team blatantly and shamelessly threw the rulebook out of the window to give Alonso the victory.
Massa made a move at the start of the race to go into the lead and drove magnificently to what seemed to be his first victory of the season. But Alonso’s 33 point advantage over the Brazilian was too much for Ferrari to allow him to win. Massa was told on the radio by Smedley that, “Fernando is faster than you; I hope you understand what that means.” On lap 49, Massa slowed his car down in order to let Alonso take the lead. The radio said, “Ok just stick with him now. Good job lad, sorry.” When Massa crossed the finish line, he was told, “You were very magnanimous. You don’t understand the word. I'll explain it later to you.”
After the race, Ferrari was handed a $100,000 fine and they were referred to the World Motor Sports Council (WMSC) for a breach of Article 39.1 of the Sporting Regulations which prohibits team orders that interfere with the result of the race and article 151 (C) of the International Sporting Code for bringing the sport into disrepute.
It was expected that Ferrari will say sorry, face whatever sanction they get and move on. But then on the other hand, experts know that Ferrari is going to take advantage of FIA’s bias towards the scarlet cars and perhaps that is what they hoped for when they said “The Council will know how to evaluate overall facts correctly.”
Team Principal Stefano Domenicali has completely denied of any wrongdoings and despite the messages that clearly indicated team orders, the Italian says that Massa had a brief problem with his car. Alonso has said that he is not aware of what went on while Massa has refused to comment on the incident.
Experts believe it was a horrible thing to shamelessly defend the situation. Rob Smedley’s communication was clear and precise which was only meant for team orders and nothing else. Team orders have clearly been banned and it was Ferrari that caused it. Barrichello in 2002 gave Schumacher the race victory to help his championship bid. Ferrari was hugely criticized even by their fans but they didn’t seem to learn the lesson.
Today, Massa has become what Barrichello was in those days. When he was told that Fernando is faster, his reply should’ve been “so what?” Day in and day out, formula one fan’s see slower cars doing their maximum to defend their places but do they ever give up? What Massa was made to do will not be taken lightly by his engineers and the relationships in the team will stiffen.
If Ferrari somehow did not mind stooping to this level, they should have waited for the last few races. The German Grand Prix is the midpoint of the season and there is a lot more to play for. How will Massa react if eventually, at the end of the season, Alonso wins the championship and Massa is placed on the second position by a difference of 13 points? Massa gifted 14 points to Alonso over himself, 7 of which he lost himself and 7 that Alonso gained additionally.
Both McLaren drivers lost out on the 2007 Championship by one point but not once did the English team bring team orders into play.
Michael Schumacher, who won a few of his Championship’s because of the gracious Barrichello, is not given any preferential treatment against Rosberg for the Mercedes GP despite the fact that he’s a fan favourite even today.
Vettel and Webber could have easily been in the Championship lead right now if Christian Horner had instructed Webber over the radio in Turkey to let Vettel pass. But the Red Bull team and its two drivers instead of bringing the sport to shame fought their battle on the track, collided, lost the race but held their heads up high.
If a highly paid two time world champion driving for the most experienced and successful team in the sport needs assistance from the pit wall to win a single race, many people wouldn’t want to see him as the next champion.
With only two races ago, Alonso lashed at the FIA and said that the Valencia race was ‘manipulated’. So much for fair play, one wonders!
Tags: