At the 2010 German Grand Prix team orders were used by Ferrari on 25th July 2010 during the 2010 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. Ferrari controversially had their two drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso swap places. Pack: Wik id3
The return of team orders
editTeam orders in the sense of modifiying the result before the German Grand Prix were last used at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix incidentally also used by Ferrari while their number two driver Rubens Barrichello was ordered by his team that he must allow Michael Schumacher to win the race. During the 2010 German Grand Prix the incident started while Felipe Massa was leading the race and then received a message from his engineer Rob Smedley stating that "Alonso is quicker than you. Do you understand that?" Shortly later at the exit of a corner Massa slowed down and gave the lead to Alonso. Just after the overtake Rob Smedley came on the radio and said "I'm sorry Felipe" which is either referenced to the use of a team order or as Smedley said it in a later interview that he felt sorry for Massa that he had been overtaken. [1]
Post-race reaction
editThe reaction by Felipe Massa wasn't a happy one as he looked unhappy on the podium. Didn't share any champagne with Alonso while sharing it between himself and third-placed Sebastian Vettel. During the post-race interview Massa gave mixed reacations to what happened and the answers were unclear and difficult for analysts to interpret.
Other reactions saw Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner state "That was the most blatant team order ever" [2]
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali defended the incident while talking to the BBC with former team-owner Eddie Jordan who stated that it was an obvious team order. Domenicali stated that "Massa wasn't going quick and Alonso overtook him" and Jordan countered this statement by saying "That doesn't mean Alonso can't overtake Massa [3] Former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher stated that "Despite Felipe [Massa] being a good friend of mine when you look at the championship Massa is way behind Alonso and Ferrari felt Alonso needed to win the championship" [4] Other people disagreed with statements saying nine races were left and Massa could still overturn the difference between the two by out-racing Alonso and not relying on Alonso having mechanical failures or other related mishaps.
Reaction of the stewards
editThe stewards had different opinions on the result than Ferrari and gave Ferrari a $100,000 fine. The stewards referred Ferrari to the World Motorsport Council who may take further action. The result stood, however the WMC has the right to overturn the result. [5] [6] [7]
References
edit- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8852930.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8852910.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8852942.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8852931.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8852918.stm
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/07/team_orders_rule_ties_f1_in_kn.html
- ^ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85552
F1 constructors timeline
edit| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| Ferrari | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lotus | Lotus does not compete in F1 | Lotus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McLaren | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tyrrell | BAR | Honda | Brawn† | Mercedes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toleman | Benetton | Renault | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minardi | Toro Rosso | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jordan | Midland | Spyker | Force India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sauber | BMW Sauber | BMW Sauber††† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stewart | Jaguar | Red Bull
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| Hispania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virgin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| † Although Brawn GP was formed following the takeover of the Honda team, it is officially considered to have been a brand new entrant in the 2009 season
††† Sauber enter in Toyota's vacated entry slot, rather than BMW Sauber's and therefore act as a new entry in the 2010 season, however the team entered with the name BMW Sauber and are yet to change their name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||