Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso: My Reputation Has Not Taken a Beating
In the aftermath of the German Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and his team were caught in the midst of what may be reasonably termed as a crisis. However, two time Drivers’ title winner Fernando Alonso proved every inch true to his champion status after weathering the storm apparently undaunted. The Scuderia side found themselves fending off the backlash that followed in the aftermath of the Hockenheim race, when race stewards and thousands of fans hit back at Ferrari for denying them the thrill of a real race following the emergence of damning evidence that the Italian side had resorted to the banned practice of issuing race orders. Alonso’s Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa was ordered by his race engineer, Rob Smedley, to slow down in order to pave the way for Alonso’s first place finish at the German Grand Prix. Although Ferrari deny they resorted to the controversial and illegal practice of issuing team orders, and Massa insisted it had been purely his own decision to gift the lead to his race partner, motor sport fans worldwide, especially those from Brazil, Massa’s home country, have poured scorn on the Italian side for denying them of a real racing spectacle. Predictably, Alonso came to be regarded, at least in some circles, as the self-absorbed driver who had denied his teammate a highly deserved win in Germany. The sentiment was all the more intense considering the event marked one year from Felipe Massa’s life threatening accident at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, many questioning whether the Brazilian was yet to recuperate fully from his mishap and whether he would ever hit top form again.
When asked how he felt about his treatment from the press and the community of Formula One fans in the aftermath of the drama at Hockenheim, Alonso stated he remained completely immune to the polemics, and the most significant thing for him was that an important victory had been salvaged. The Spaniard said such controversies were an inevitable component of the Formula One package, arguing a little while ago it had been Red Bull that had become the focus of everyone’s attention, and now it was Ferrari. Alonso further insisted his team could not afford to be distracted by inconsequential issues as those that had transpired in Hockenheim, and their principal concern was to concentrate on technical developments and winning races.
Alonso refused to accept the response of fans had been in the negative only, saying many spectators were content with the events in Germany. The Spaniard said that in his opinion, there was no such concept as a number-one or number-two driver, rather it was almost entirely about the degree of respect two teammates had for each other and the team. Alonso was also convinced his personal reputation was wholly intact after the Hockenheim saga, saying everything for him was exactly the way it had been before. The Scuderia protagonist was especially categorical when he stated he would not lose any time worrying what the outcome of the World Motor Sport Council’s (WMSC) deliberation would be. The Italian side was referred to the WMSC after being fined $100,000 by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) for breaching Article 39.1 of motor sporting regulations. The rule makes it illegal for squads to resort to a team strategy that favours one driver over another and hinders free and fair competition between all drivers on the grid regardless of team loyalties. Alonso said whatever the ultimate decision of the World Council, Ferrari were helpless to influence the proceedings in any case.
Meanwhile, Scuderia rivals McLaren and Red Bull have also chosen to give a piece of their minds over the Germany saga. Red Bull boss Christian Horner lamented Ferrari’s resort to team orders, arguing such measures, if left unchecked, could prove very damaging for the sport. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh also poured scorn on the strategy, stating his team would not favour one driver over another.
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