Ferrari Team Orders Controversy Blown Out Of Proportion

F1 Update from the iSport F1 Pitstop: iSporter Gunjan Shah brings up the topic of team orders yet again and this time urges F1 fans to wait and watch for Mclaren and Red Bull to unleash their team orders.

ferrarilaunch

Ok, so once you read the headline you are probably going to be thinking, “Here we go; another supporter of Ferrari or Alonso trying to justify what happened on Sunday!” Trust me, I was one of the many pissed F1 followers who was out around banging things because we saw Ferrari execute blatant team orders and I also wrote that 'Ferrari Should Be Ashamed'. The furor that followed has prompted me to rethink and still think some more as to why the entire F1 circus has come down so hard on the Scuderia? Is there more than meets the eye?

Of course even though team orders have officially been banned since 2003 as a result of the aftermath of the 2002 Austrian GP, it would be foolish to say that they no longer exist. I can cite numerous examples to the contrary; but that’s not really my point. My point is whether team orders really make sense; and if yes, should the ban be lifted? It’s ironic, but I read somewhere that Martin Whitmarsh was complaining about the incident that we saw on Sunday and said that he would have a private word with Stefano. I would suggest that he see this before he says something stupid. I have chosen this as an example as it is the same hairpin at which Massa slowed down to allow Alonso through. It is clear to see that Kovalainen slowed down to let Hamilton through; at Hockenheim in 2008 and isn’t this what allowed Hamilton to go on and win the title by one point? I don’t remember as huge a cry over that or anyone mentioning at the end of the season that Hamilton didn’t deserve the championship.

What exactly constitute a team order? Isn’t what Red Bull did before qualifying at Silverstone a team order? They removed a part from Weber’s car and gave it to Vettel because they said he was ahead in the championship standings. Of course when a team comes to a point where they think only one of their drivers is in the running for the championship and they have the option of facilitating him, then they will. Because at the end of the day, no one is going to remember you for drivers racing fair and square and coming number 2 and 3 in the drivers standing. At the end, you will be remembered more if your drivers end up even 1st and 5th in the standings. So in some ways, I think that Ferrari was justified in taking the decision to let Fernando take the victory.

The only reason that Red Bull and McLaren are making a big deal about this issue is because they have a situation where both their drivers are on an equal footing. I would love to see how much fairly both their drivers are treated once we close in on the end of the season; because the fact remains that only ONE driver wins the crown now TWO. And at the end, if you insist on stubbornly refusing to prefer one driver over the other, however marginally, you will get a repeat of 2007. McLaren lost out on the Drivers championship where both Hamilton and Alonso finished tied in points, but behind Kimi Raikonnen who won it by one point. I bet Ron Dennis regrets it now, even though he refuses to admit it.

Also, could it be that Ferrari’s new found pace is now worrying the Bulls and the McLaren? A fast, potent F10 and Alonso could spell trouble for their drivers looking to win the championship. I think the problem lies therein. Because while Ferrari already know which horse they are backing, neither Red Bull nor McLaren can officially say or do anything to that effect. Personally, I believe that Vettel and Hamilton respectively are favored; and I will watch over how the proceedings unfold within these teams very closely. Because make no mistake, under that projected sea of calm within those two teams is a kettle waiting to boil over!

iSporter Gunjan Shah swears by Fernando Alonso and his talent. He actively blogs here.