Formula One: When It's Right to Exercise Team Orders
Much has been said about the German Grand Prix and Alonso’s victory which was the result of exercising team orders. Some have criticized Ferrari’s blatant attempt at manipulating the race while others believe the sport can do better without the unnecessary rule.
Bettor.com takes a lot at some of the team orders, both explicit and implicit, in the past. These will help us find out how and when teams prefer one driver over the other.
Jacques Villeneuve started the 1997 European Grand Prix from pole position and with 22 laps to go McLarens Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard overtook him. Later Coulthard gave his first place to Hakkinen and settled for second. The two drivers had no chance of winning the championship and it was in fact Villeneuve who won the title with a lead of 45 points over the best of the two McLarens. Since there wasn’t much evidence, the claims of team orders were dismissed by the FIA.
Verdict: The championship was already lost; there was no need to exercise team orders.
Before the 1998 Australian Grand Prix Hakkinen and Coulthard had agreed that the driver who was ahead of the other on turn one of the race would be allowed to finish the race ahead. Hakkinen started at pole and led Coulthard at turn one, while he was in second place. During the race Coulthard obtained P1 but in the end, as per their “agreement”, he let Hakkinen win the race. The FIA issued a warning bit no penalty was given.
Verdict: The first race of the championship, there was no need for team orders.
In 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, Williams ordered Ralf Schumacher not to challenge teammate Damon Hill for rthe ace lead. Hill won the race and Ralf finished second.
Verdict: It was the 13th race of the 16-race season and both Williams had no possibility of winning the championship. It was their first victory in 126 races and perhaps they did not want the drivers to ruin it by fighting it out amongst themselves. But still, team orders weren’t needed.
During the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, both Ferrari’s led almost the entire race and Barrichello was placed well to win the race ahead of Schumacher. On the last lap, at the start-finish straight, Barrichello slowed down his Ferrari to let Schumacher win the race. At the presentation, in the midst of the jeering from the crowd, Schumacher insisted Barrichello take the top step of the podium. After the incident, team orders were officially banned and Ferrari were fined $1 million.
Verdict: Absolutely no need since it was the 6th race of the season and Schumacher had already doubled his lead over Montoya.
At the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix the two McLaren drivers Alonso and Hamilton qualified up front and led the race. At the end, Hamilton looked as though he was piling pressure on Alonso for the race win, but he was told by McLaren not to overtake Alonso. An investigation was launched but no penalties were imposed. Hamilton did not fight for the two points that could have won him the championship, as it was revealed later.
Verdict: Instead of exercising team orders to make one driver win, this was the kind of order that was meant to prevent a collision on a street circuit. Nevertheless, drivers are meant to race and they should do just that. Wrong call by McLaren.
In the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, Massa obtained the pole and was in the lead before he gave his position to his teammate Kimi Raikkonen. As a result of his victory, Kimi won the championship by a single point over both McLaren drivers.
Verdict: Massa was already out of contention and giving up the race victory brought the team the championship. Team orders couldn’t have been exercised at a more appropriate time.
During the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Renault manufactured the crash for Nelson Piquet so Alonso could win the race. On lap 15 Alonso made a very early pit stop. Soon afterwards, Piquet crashed and the safety car came in. All cars went in the pit lane for refueling but Alonso, having pitted already, stayed out and claimed the lead.
Verdict: 2008 was a lost cause for Renault and there was no need to manufacture this drama.
2008 Chinese Grand Prix was the penultimate race of the season and Hamilton had a 5 point advantage over Massa. Hamilton started from pole while Massa started 3rd behind his teammate Raikkonen. Hamilton won the race but Raikkonen let Massa take second place to help his championship.
Verdict: Raikkonen was already out of the championship and he gave Massa a good shot at the title. Nothing wrong with that.
Looking at some of these incidents we understand team orders better and know when it is alright to exercise them. It is also clearly evident that teams have not been brought under investigation when the decision did not come from the team but looked to be the drivers own judgment.
Today people say that all teams exercise some level of team orders at times, it’s just a matter of not doing it too explicitly, the way Ferrari did in Germany this season.
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