It' s clear. RB won that race. Whatever has happened, he is
the winner. Both RB and MS disliked the decision taken by Ferrari but they
both acted as professional drivers. We can also say that MS is feeling even
worse about this but he showed that he is a real man (though many people
accuse him for being otherwise).
Even being a Ferrari' s BIG fan I feel ashamed about the decision they took.
They can easily win both titles. They know this and everybody knows this. So switching
their drivers' places at the end resulted in more harm than any good.
Result: More money maybe but less respect for sure. The good thing in all this
is that Ruben' s value starts to show up.
Best wishes to T. Sato... Alvinos L - Cyprus
I am a big time fan of MS and Ferrari. I would rather live
with MS losing the championship by two points than winning it by two points
which belong to RB.
I can fully understand why Mr. Todt has taken that decision. But it definitely
kills the spirit of F1. Yes. I agree that England soccer coach would like
Beckham to take the corner kicks, but there is an obvious difference between
soccer and F1. In soccer, there is no obvious competition between Beckham,
Owen etc. But there is a competition between MS and RB and this championship
is more prestigious than the constructor's championship (at least for
me).
I don't doubt MS capability to win races but I hope this kind of thing won't
happen again- Sachin T - India
I think what happened in the closing stages of the Austrian
Grand Prix by the Ferrari Team was disgraceful, appalling, and very selfish.
Rubens was a deserved winner. It's not Michael's fault either, rather the team
bosses, whom I believe should be thrown out the sport for engaging in such
activity. I will never watch F1 in the same way ever again - Wangers -
Australia
What a farce!
Why bother tuning in when the result is already known. It has bought F1 into
disrepute. Michael Schumacher, hold your head in shame. You saw what was
happening. You should've stopped before the finish line to give Rubens the win
that he earned.
It reminds me of the time you shunted Damon Hill off the track and were found
GUILTY. (it is actually the shunting of Villeneuve at Jerez in '97 that he
was found guilty of. Ed.)
I held Ferrari in high regard, but now your a joke!- Chris H - Australia
I've often questioned if F-1 was actually racing, or just
drivers driving the world's best race cars. I now know the answer, or at least
I know there are eunuchs serving as Ferrari "chassis spacers", and
there are eunuchs running F-1 if they do not disallow this win, take away all
points earned, and suspend the entire Ferrari operation for the next race, for
actions detrimental to ALL forms of Motorsport.
Without some sort of drastic correction of the nature described above, the
series has absolutely no credibility, nor do its drivers, constructors, or
fans. The very future of F-1 is immediately before us, and trying to explain
away, the unexplainable, will only hasten the further demise of F-1. If this
is tolerated, then all is lost.- Jamie - USA
With F1 trying to increase its viewer base in the U.S.
Ferrari sure did shoot F1 in the foot, Rubens was faster than Michael all
weekend and deserved to win. Who's to say that if Rubens keeps up his current
pace and allowed to win, five or six races from now the point standings may be
a lot tighter.
With Ferrari's pace so far it's a good bet they will win the championship -
but please let it be the best driver at the end of the day.
If Ferrari is able to dictate who's going to win the way they do without
penalty there should only be a constructor's title, and no drivers title
because obviously World Champion does not mean much in F1 these days.
In the U.S. Cart racing may not be as high tech as F1 but the racing is always
racing, if you want to win you got earn it.- Michael S - USA
Lets start with the facts: Article 48 of the sporting
regulations states……. “If in the opinion of the Formula One Commission a
competitor fails to operate his team in a manner compatible with the standards
of the Championship or in any way brings the Championship into disrepute, the
FIA may exclude such competitor from the Championship forthwith.” Once again
Ferrari have broken the spirit of F1 racing, and once again they will get away
with it. Already this year we have seen different rules applied in favour of
Michael and his Ferrari team. Anyone who thinks Michael doesn't run the
Ferrari racing team is kidding themselves. This was the only race he had not
won, he wasn't going to win but he did. For every cheating move, rule bend,
unsporting action Michael has ever made there has always been FIA to support
him, it started with FIA's needed to find a hero after the death of Senna. Add
FIA's beloved Ferrari and Michael and you don't need to win, FIA will change
the rule before the season in design, and during the season in the rules to
ensure the result they want.
Look at the rules regarding bringing F1 in to disrepute and Ferrari should be
forced to withdraw. FIA do your duty, don't cheat for Ferrari your beloved
team.
A reminder article 48 of the sporting regulations states……. “If in the
opinion of the Formula One Commission a competitor fails to operate his team
in a manner compatible with the standards of the Championship or in any way
brings the Championship into disrepute, the FIA may exclude such competitor
from the Championship forthwith.” - Paul S - UK
I have a colleague, a psychologist, who used to announce to
his classes that he could be bribed for grades. "I'll change an A,"
he would say, "to an A+ for $100.00. But to change an A- to an A will
cost you a thousand. And to change a B+ to an A- will cost you TEN thousand.
To change a B to a B+ will, of course, cost you a cool million." The
point, obviously, is that people already at the top, in a position to take
home points, don't (ordinarily) even NEED to cheat. All those folks screaming
about Michael buying a win need to consider how much it would cost Eddie
Irvine to buy one! So this little gambit, which the FIA is going to slap their
wrists about, amounts to a sponsorship deal. Now someone can write a catchy
line about M.S. and his winning record. The funny thing is that the clowns who
write these kinds of dumb things imagine they sell cars --or whatever it is
they're selling. Michael will end up paying for this over and over. He
probably should just have some cards printed up so he can hand them to the
interviewer and move on to the next topic. So. Let's talk about the REAL
problem: Ferrari are simply out-classing the field. We're all mad because for
a minute there we thought JPM and Kimi were going make a difference. Hello. It
doesn't matter how good you are if the other fellow is running a machine AND a
team that out thinks, out plans, out designs, out builds and, worst of all OUT
RACES you --week after bloody week!! I guess we have to hope that Toyota (in a
couple of years) will be up to the challenge. Maybe even Minardi (wouldn't
THAT be a kick!?) Right now, I think we have to say that Sir Frank's best
isn't good enough; that Ilmor's engines are "over" and that both
teams ought to be happy that Eddie J. and the Honda guys are there to be beat.
And Renault? A replay of Prost? Ford (or, as they like to call themselves,
"Jaguar") are a joke. The new boss of the Ford Motor Company is
calling for economy measures. If I were him, Nikki and the clowns would be
first on my list! - Jim W - USA
The definitions according to Oxford dictionary:
Team > a group of people who play a particular game or sport against
another group of people (one played by groups rather than individual
players)
Team-mate > a member of the same team or group as yourself.
Team-work > the activity of working well together as a team.
Have u seen how football managers or coaches assign players for a match?
Football is about team, team-mate and team-work. Why do you often see David
Beckham take the free kicks and corner kicks not the others? Very simple, the
team wants to win. Beckham has the capability, not to say that the others do
not. But Beckham free kicks and corner kicks is the best among them. If he
takes the kicks they have the higher opportunity to win. Also during penalty
kick, why not others take the kicks accept those who are capable off. When
Beckham score, he is the only one will get the attention. What about the
others? Why can’t they take the free kicks and score some goals and get the
attention?
F1 is the same as football. Why take risks when there is an opportunity that
your team can have the better chance to win. Think that if you are one of the
team in Ferrari. What will you do? You may think that Rubens should win. But
think again. F1, fast, risks, dangerous, accidents, engine failures, technical
failures.
Look at McLaren. Do you expect that Kimi will suffer 5 retirement in a row?
Remember, McLaren is also one of the top team. Its just that they didn’t
make any improvements this year. If one day, DC managed to catch up with MS,
and Kimi move back to allow DC to win. What do you have to say then? Cheating?
Or maybe Massa move back to allow Nick H to pass. Don’t just focus on
Ferrari. Ferrari is also just a team in F1. Don’t forget that McLaren also
ordered DC to move back for MH.
However, I felt pity for Rubens. He is learning and the way he drives is
improving. But, I am sure that he understands that this particular team has
super-clear objective - WIN. He knew that once he is in the team, he will
always be the second driver, allow MS to pass. Once in the team, he must help
to team to WIN, not helping himself to win. Moreover, without Ferrari, do you
think that Rubens can win?
If MS happens to be the second driver, Ferrari will do the same. Rubens will
not feel sad as he knew himself that he is FASTER than MS using the same car.
He managed to race with MS and win in that race. Its just that he had to let
MS pass at the end of the lap. This doesn’t mean that he lost. There are no
rules stating that you can’t let your team mate win. If the race is an
individual one, not as a team, then why call Team BMW –Williams or West
McLaren? Or maybe each team should have a driver only. Then, there will be no
team orders. Until you work as a team in F1, you will understand why Ferrari
made such decision - Jay W - Malaysia
That does it. I won't be watching any more - bye - Steve
L - USA
One comment, I just throw my Ferrari hat to the garbage,
will never wear Ferrari merchandise ever!!!!! - JGI - Mexico
Ferrari's actions have finally allowed me to understand why
we have Lamborghini's. Michael had brakes at the end of the race. I think the proper
thing would have been to use them until RB crossed the line. Then a quick
swerve over to the pit to display his middle finger to Mr.Todt would have
endured him to this long time race fan forever.
Sometimes sporting events are lost by 1 point or 2 points. That's why we call
it "Sport". Ferrari has done a great disservice to the memory of all
who have been injured or lost their lives in the quest of a F1 victory!!! - Paul
T - USA
Ferrari's decision is a shocker, but then, I fully
understand it. What can you do? I don't know. Mind you, it's a bit short-sighted
- they say "what if..." and Michael lost the championship by a point
because Rubens didn't move over.
I say "what if Michael has a big accident and can't race for the rest of
the year, and Rubens loses the championship by a point!!" Either is just
as likely - Jason R - Australia
F 1 racing is BIG MONEY sport. A Team sport - Not unlike
baseball. When a manager pulls the pitcher (who is ahead) for a proven
reliever, puts in a "pinch-hitter to win the game: It's called
"Winning Strategy". The MVP is a byproduct.
Michael paid his dues to be the No. One Ferrari driver - Four World
Championships are no fluke! Rubens and Michel acted as "Employees' -
which they are - "Gentlemen" - which they are - "Friends"
- which they certainly will be, ... The Best came in One, Two!
So,... "Where is the beef?" ,... Now if I were a betting man ..? - Jules
U - USA
What can I say about team orders... its happened before it
will happen again... It is part of the sport no matter how distasteful!!
However, I am going to use the money I was saving to go to Hockenheim next
year to go somewhere more interesting.. like Greenland.. in February!!. - John
L - Finland
Ferrari have done the unthinkable. I mean why are they so
paranoid about MS and his points. They are so scared that even the F1-2002
which laps a second a lap faster than any other car on the circuit and a
driver like MS doesn't give them confidence of even 4 points. Pathetic I would
say. Its like spending millions to get a bottle opener and then refusing to
use it. Secondly they have made a mockery of people all over the world. It was
shocking to see the lead relinquished in the last 200 mts. I mean they could
have done it in a less dramatic way thru the pits (which they are an expert
at) a difference of 3.6 seconds and nobody would have noticed the team orders
though it would have been bad for Rubens but it isn't really great for him
now.
Last years race must have been at the back of everybody's mind but to see it
at the last possible moment was shocking and disgusting. After Rubens had
beaten MS convincingly it is a crime to let such a thing happen. He could have
easily over-ruled the orders. He lets us think that he is the boss at Ferrari,
but now he sounds helpless, what double-talk is that. And what does MS talk of
backing off, when instead he set the fastest lap on the penultimate lap of the
race and was celebrating in his cockpit as somebody rightly pointed out or
were they secretly hoping that somewhere in the race Rubens would have a
problem. They always knew it was going to be MS 1 then they could have done it
in a less dramatic manner. I didn't find any evidence of MS helping Rubens win
his second place in the championship last year which he so rightly deserved,
poor chap.
It must feel great to drive a Ferrari but I wouldn't do anything to be in
Rubens shoes.
I really feel for that guy, from now on, no celebrating on an MS win. It was
probably engineered. - Ashish - India
Until this Sunday, I was a great Ferrari fan but more
importantly an F1 fan, but now I am deeply disgusted with what has happened in
Austria. We have all been taken for a ride, and my deepest sympathies for
Rubhino, and to a very small extent to Schuey as well.
It seems like nothing much is going to be done by the FIA, but I am sure that
all fans worldwide will agree with me that Sunday was one of the ugliest
episodes in F1 history. I wonder how the person(s) who made this decision are
able to look themselves in the mirror - Vidya S - India
This is not what racing or any sport competition is about.
The FIA should eliminate team orders. What happened to fair play, may the best
man win?
My young son loves racing as well, is this the kind of example of fair play we
want our children to learn, how to cheat? Many years have been spent saving
for repeated trips to Canada, this type of racing is hardly worth the price of
a ticket.
Sooooooo many different angles to what happened yesterday but they all add up
to the same answer, it sucks and should not be allowed to continue. Cheating
is wrong.
I feel very badly for Rubens. Money can't buy respect, self or
otherwise.
To Michael S.: Would a true Champ allow such a thing? You have the power to
turn this thing around - W.F. - USA
I borrow these words from a well known TV Personality in
Australia, and use them on Ferrari, "Shame Shame Shame" Ferrari!!!!
You have brought disrepute to the name of one of the greatest F1 champion
drivers, and done your second driver Rubens Barrichello a grave injustice....
But also along the way you have disappointed a whole army of Ferrari fans with
this unsporting manouver.... "Shame Shame Shame".... As much as I
love to see Ferrari win races, You do not deserve to win the constructors championship....
Louis H - Australia
A BIG-BIG-BIG- SCANDAL FOR THE F1 - Claude B - Canada
If this type of race management by teams is allowed to
continue and Michael Schumacher wins the title early in the season, then where
is the excitement and interest for us all after his victory?
The whole championship is the loser if this continues: who wants to 'tune-in'
or fly out to the final races of the season if the championship is already
decided. Michael is capable of winning the championship by himself without any
help from the team (as we have seen over the years). I know others have done
this before which does not make it right this time. Also, what encouragement
does this give to people who are interested in F1 but still not committed
fans? If they switch off, advertisers will complain of lost visual exposure
and therefore lost revenue. For the same reason, track owners with races at
the end of the season will not be impressed either.
What if something happens to Michael again and Barrichello is beaten to the
championship by a resurgent Montoya who finishes three points ahead.
No one can argue that Barrichello didn't deserve the victory - but history
will show that his second victory did not happen in Austria in 2002, whatever
Michael says or the Ferrari PR machine spins out.
Come on guys, let's have a straight race to the line! - Andrew D - UK
It's really a shame for the motor sports world what Ferrari
Team did yesterday. It also bring down the image that one has on M.Schumacher
because if he is all we knew, he doesn't need things like this to be World
Champion again. The FIA should take strong actions against Ferrari for such behaviour,
like wipe off the ten points gained by this ashamed action by the German - Jorge
L - Costa Rica
The finish of the race makes F1 a mockery. They forget it is
about racing first. I don't watch to see the a lacky move like that. Fans
watch for racing and the person with the best set-up, team, engines etc.
should win.
FIA is a joke as they bend over for Ferrari. Ferrari should be banned for the
next race, and apologize to the fans for that move. You should post e-mail
address for Ferrari on your site so fans can send direct to them their
comments. They need to know it is the fans who are in charge and they should
learn how to race - Ian H - Canada (Ferrari's official web site is at http://www.ferrari.com
- Ed.)
2002 Austrian GP will be remembered as probably THE MOST EMBARRASSING
RACE in Michael's record book . It was bad, disgusting, pathetic and
irritating to see RUBENS getting robbed of his victory.
Though I am probably one of MICHAEL'S greatest fans I felt disgusted. But at
the end of it one can't really blame FERRARI. They are professionals and one
has to agree, not taking any credit away from Rubens though, he is no
championship material.
Ferrari obviously would not let Rubens win today and God forbid let Michael
& Ferrari themselves lose the Drivers Title at the end of the year by 4 to
5 points .THAT WOULD BE STUPID ! - Billy B - India
FIA YOUR A BIG FAN OF FERRARIS. JUST ADMIN IT
SHAME OF F1 SPORT WITH THE GREAT 4 TIME CHAMP-FAKE...
ITS TIME FOR THE OTHER TEAM BOSSES WHO LOVE SPORT TO GET THEIR TEAMS AND LEAVE
F.I.A NOW - Theo - Cyprus
That is the last time I get up in the middle of the night to
watch a GP.
It is CART in future for ME.
R.I.P Formula One Killed by Ferrari. - Bruce G - Australia
As much as I am not happy about what happened in the last
couple of metres yesterday and not particularly a Scuderia fan, lets not jump
quickly to branding Michael as a villain or whatever it is they're calling him
at the moment. He waz instructed by the team to over-take Rubens and am sure
that the decision he took was within his bounds relative to his contract. Even
Rubens admitted in the press conference that Michael had to pass because he
was obeying team orders just like Rubens was when he stepped aside..
However the proceedings on the podium were a real mockery of the sport to say
the least as Michael was clearly embarrassed about what he had done and yet
the reality is it was a team order which he rightly followed, am sure all will
be forgotten come Monaco and teams will always run strategies how they know
best, its their business to do so - Godwin - UK
I cannot really understand the backlash Ferrari is receiving
after the Austria race. Many fans and the media have heavily criticized
Ferrari's decision to use team orders to allow Michael Schumacher to overtake
Rubens Barrichello; many saying it is unsporting and downright unfair. From my
point of view, Ferrari's decision was fair and was the right decision.
Going into the race, Michael had 44 points compared to Rubens' 6. It is not
too much to say that Rubens was already out of contention for the Driver's
Championship. The logical decision would have been to give as much support as
possible to Michael Schumacher to win the Driver's Championship. Michael needs
all the points he can get to ensure that he wins it. One might say that
Michael has nothing to worry as he has a "commanding" in the points
and a car that faster that the rest of the competition. However, there is
still 11 races to go and it would be downright stupid to underestimate the
Williams. Anything can happen in F1. If Michael fails to finish the next 3
races and Ralf wins those 3 races. Ralf will be just 1 point behind Michael.
I'm sure Rubens understood this and hence, let Michael pass him. The fans and
the media; by criticizing and booing Ferrari for the decision, they are
actually, in my view, are actually disrespecting Rubens. The same fans who
booed Ferrari will most probably be celebrating if Michael wins the Driver's
Championship.
If the situation were reversed, if Rubens had 44 points and Michael 6 points
and Michael was leading the race with Rubens right behind him, Michael would
have let Rubens win the race. Both drivers are professionals, both want and
have a responsibility to help Ferrari win the Driver's Championship and
Constructors' Championship and both know what has to be done to achieve
it.
Sure, the fans might boo, but like I said, the same fans who booed Ferrari
yesterday will most likely be celebrating if Ferrari win the double, even more
so if the extra 4 points Michael got in Austria is what makes makes the
difference in Driver's Championship.
On another note, I was relieved to hear that Nick Heidfeld and Takuma Sato
escaped unhurt from their horrific accident. I think its a good indicator to
safety aspect of the cars' design, which is good for Formula 1.
Before I leave, a point to ponder. Michael Schumacher won the 2000 Drivers'
Championship. If McLaren had used team orders that year, Michael might have
not won the Driver's Championship. That in my view is McLaren's loss - Dinesh
S - Malaysia
I thought JV's race was one of the most exciting drives that
we have seen this year. Let us just hope that he can maintain this form for
the rest of the season so that he can pick up a better drive next year.
Heidfield's and Sato's accident was thankfully just a car wrecking spectacle
not a death causing one.
And finally the end....well it was completely disappointing and Ferrari and MS
have caused a tremendous amount of damage to themselves, I doubt that it ever
will be worth it. The Ferrari is so dominant now that it really was not
required. This was unlike last year when DC actually were a threat, before
they pressed the self destruct button.
No more support for MS or the cars in red from me, instead I will go back to
the yellow where I can still expect to be disappointed but least by the lack
of car performance NOT by a management decision - Steven P - Australia
Great race till the last corner. I don’t like it any more
than anyone else, but I accept it and expected it to happen here. What
surprises me is the reaction, team orders have been around since the days when
this was a sport and all the participants were fair and sportsmanlike. Fangio
won his titles by not only using team orders but even swapping cars when the
second car was faster during the race, or if his car broke. Have the fans
finally yelled “Enough”? Perhaps, but that won’t stop Ferrari from doing
it again in Monaco if they have to.
Michael patently didn’t like it in Austria, but he took the win and he will
do it again and again if the opportunity arises. Rubens didn’t like it
either but that’s what he is paid for and he chose to stay with Ferrari and
will do the same again. Rubens will just have to satisfy himself with wins in
the real races (qualifying) and the occasional invite to the centre step. He
has never been faster and will keep pushing Michael as long as the motivation
holds, he just needs to accept that whenever Michael is running second at the
last corner he will have to yield. I agree too with GOP, Barrichello got more
out of Austria by yielding than he could ever have achieved by taking the win.
Only in the history books will he suffer, today’s fans know who won. Michael
is arrogant, sure, but he is also very aware of his value as a commodity. He
did everything he could to salvage a no-win situation and I feel as sorry for
him as I do for RB. This win will be very expensive for him personally with
sponsors who don’t like the reaction of the crowd voting with their feet
(not that I think losing a million or two next year will hurt too much).
Accept the situation, that’s reality TV (as Cooky so eloquently said) and
reality F1 TV is about winning sponsorship dollars (and 5 times WD Champions
bring more dollars than winning second drivers do). Todt made the call; the
drivers did what they (yes, Michael too) are paid to do.
As for the rest of the race, JV surprised me, Raikkonen distressed me (what is
it – just runs of bad luck?), Renault disappointed me (that chassis must be
fantastic, the A1 Ring showed that its not power), Sato saddened me and Arrows
pleased me.
On to another J Todt choreographed Ferrari 1-2 in Monaco! - Geoff H -
Australia
Yes it SUCKS!!! SUCKS!!!! SUCKS!!!! But it has nothing to do
with Michael or Rubens. NOTHING AT ALL!!! These guys are under contract and
they are professional racers and they have to comply with the terms of the
contract. If you want to crucify somebody then let Luca de Montezemolo and
Jean Todt have it - not MS or RB. I suppose that it was established in L DE M
and JT's minds that if the situation arose, team orders would apply. Once we
have established that, I must say I think Ferrari did it in the best possible
way. We all (and that includes everybody that has responded here) know it was
Rubinho's race. There can be absolutely no one on this earth that can in any
way doubt that. THIS WAS RUBINHO'S RACE!!!! And the way Ferrari did it still
emphasised that. It was clear for everybody to see that it was Rubens' race.
Ferrari could have ordered Rubens 15 or so laps from the end to back off .25
seconds a lap. Nobody would have picked that up and MS would have won the race
and everybody would have thought it was just another MS victory. If you look
at Williams: Throughout the weekend Ralph outraced Montoya (who is that again?
I seem to have heard about someone by that name) Even in the race Monty was no
threat to anybody up front including Ralph yet somehow during pitstops (or
thereabouts) he manages to pass Ralph. Team orders? I don't know - could well
be but I cannot swear to it. With Ferrari we know for certain! Ferrari's team
orders SUCKS!!! SUCKS!!! SUCKS!!! But their execution was brilliant. WELL DONE
RUBINHO!!!! Luca and Jean Todt - You suck!!
P S - I have an idea Michael has landed himself a bucket load of problems for
openly blaming these 2 gentlemen and publicly voicing his dissatisfaction to
the team orders - Johan M - South Africa
