Formula One: Michael Schumacher given a 10 grid place penalty for pulling dangerous, almost fatal manoeuvre on ex team-mate, Rubins Barrichelo at Hungarian GP
Formula one legend, Michael Schumacher, has been penalized 10 grid places for the next Grand Prix in Belgium. The German has been punished for a dangerous manoeuvre at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, which involved him and his former Ferrari teammate, Rubins Barrichelo.
Schumacher pushed Barrichelo to within millimetres of a concrete wall at turn 14, as both drivers were entangled in an intriguing battle to finish 10th in the race.
Although despite coming off worse in the manoeuvre, Barrichelo 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 the William’s driver Barrichelo, who had been trying to get past the Mercedes of Schumacher for several laps to secure the scoring place of 10th, tried to take advantage of a slight mistake by Schumi around the turn 14 into the pit straight.
Schumacher uncannily ran slightly wide giving Barrichelo space to close the game and run close to his former teammate. The Brazilian then pulled to his right and got alongside Schumi, who then moved across forcing Rubins almost crashing into the concrete walls.
Luckily, for Barrichelo, 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 team mates for 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 seventh time world champion and had declared Schumacher to have illegally impeded Barrichelo 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, had there been a collision on the track it could have been fatal for any of the two drivers involved. Schumacher knew that Rubins had been trying to overtake him for a long period of time and he had been seeing it all through his back view mirror. If he 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 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 Barrichelo seemingly in more danger than Schumacher. Thankfully, for Rubins, the length of the wall was not long enough and he managed to pull wide into the pit straights.
Tags: