Formula One: Would Red Bull and McLaren tailor new strategies for the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s
The last race in Korea unfolded amidst great surprise and awe, just like the entire 2010 season has been. Before the teams headed for the race there were many predictions and expectations, yet all proved wrong as the race started on the newly built track.
The hopes and aspirations of the drivers as well as their fans kept washed away with the heavy rainfall at the Korean track.
The battle for the title was equally tough for all the top five drivers of the season before this last race. However, the unexpected results changed their probabilities completely.
Three of the top five drivers packed up the race pointless. The charts topper, Mark Webber of Red Bull slipped off the track during his 18th lap, while the other team driver, Sebastian Vettel ended pointless. The German started the race from the
pole position but after leading it all through the day; he had to wrap up at the 45th lap, owing to engine failure. On the other hand, the McLaren driver, Jenson Button finished the day poorly at 12th place without having bagged any points.
Though these finishes has harmed all the three top drivers, but since Webber was already leading the points’ tally it has not endangered him as much as the other two had been.
The race result proved fatal for the hopes of the McLaren driver who was already 31 points adrift the charts’ leader and now has further drifted down 42 points from the topper. On the other hand, Vettel also has little chance now as he stands at 4th
place, 25 points away from the Spaniard, Alonso.
With only two more races to go and only 50 points to play for the hopes of both the men seem very thin. This situation in the points’ tally reflects that the teams might need to have their race strategies tailored again.
Ferrari at the middle of the season decided to follow team order, letting Alonso their lead driver for the season while asking Felipe Massa to help and assist him get the championship. Though the team had to face a lot of criticism for their decision, yet
they stayed firm on it proclaiming that Massa was in no position to win the title this season. The team President, Luca di Montezemolo very openly said before heading for the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month,
“…who race for Ferrari don't race for themselves, but for the Ferrari team colours…”
While at the same time, both their rival teams, Red Bull and McLaren kept on announcing time and again that they would not follow any team ordering as both the team drivers would be supported and assisted by the teams the same way. However, only one race
back the circumstances were very different as all the four drivers of the two teams were equally competent and their chances were just the same, while now the matter is different.
The Red Bull team Principal, Christian Horner in a recent interviews said that the team has very difficult decisions to make for the last two races. He added that it is very tough to decide if Vettel would be ahead of Webber in Brazil or not.
Soon after the last race, Horner was asked by some reporters if he would ask Vettel to surrender his fight and stand by his teammate, for which he replied,
"I haven't had time to look at the mathematics and scenarios, but it is something we will look at pretty closely between now and Brazil."
Similarly, the McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh was also asked for what he thinks for the last two races. The principal clearly stated that the team is yet to consider if they wanted to ask Button to support Hamilton or not. However, he vividly said that
he would not force the driver for his support and Button would be taken in consent before the final decision.
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