So starting with probably the most controversial - "Switch-Gate"
At the German Grand Prix two weeks ago Vettel had a bad start, Alonso sort of capitalised and jumped him but who they both missed was Felipe Massa, (who one year previously nearly died at the Hungarian Grand Prix) who went around the outside of the both of them to lead. A great occurrence from a man who seems to have been out of sorts this season since his return to the Red car. The race was OK, but not a classic. Massa and Co pitted and then left in the same order but afterwards Massa was struggling on the new Hard tires in the conditions, while Alonso seemed to make them work.
Then came a garbled radio message (which was half missed by the BBC) but has been cleared up on the brilliant FOM/f1.com (I am not saying by any means the BBC coverage is bad) post race recap videos of Alonso whinging about being faster and being backed into Vettel. I am sorry the best drivers drive in F1 and Alonso has two championships to his name, he should be able to earn his positions, and get passed Massa. He nearly did, but ran wide and then took the wrong line and dropped back again.
Then, after several hurry-up messages from Rob Smedley (Massa’s race engineer), came the most infamous words of the 2010 F1 season...
“Felipe, Fernando is faster than you, can you confirm you understand...”
Felipe limply accelerated out of the hairpin at the back of the track and Alonso went past (if you had any doubt FOM flashed to a replay with the telemetry and what do you know the green acceleration block was a quarter filled). But it was the message after Massa had conceded the position which swayed the stewards post race...
“Ok mate, good lad, just stick with it. I’m sorry”
The race continued and Massa appeared on the podium with an expression that could be best described as p***ed off. Much debate was had and Eddie Jordan’s collaring of Stefano Domenicali on the BBC Coverage was brilliant and what the fans wanted.
Ferrari claimed that they were doing the best for the team - the result change nothing for the team, the team competes for the constructors championship and a result of Massa-Alonso is the same a Alonso-Massa, to the team. I appreciate if the team wants one of their drivers to win the championship, then give them the equipment (which Ferrari have) and let the driver earn his championship. If it takes you until race 11 of a 19 race season to give them the right equipment so be it, have a great last 9 races and win the championships that way.
Now they have been summoned to the World Motor Sport Council in September, to answer charges of breaching Article 39.1 of the 2010 Sporting Regs (using team orders) and Article 151 c) of the International Sporting Code (basically brining the sport into disrepute). Whether they will suffer the same as the last two F1 teams brought to the WMSC for breach of 151c (Mclaren got $100m in 2007 for "Spy-Gate" and Renault a suspended ban last year for "Crash-Gate") I doubt it, but they may get a similar penalty to Renault.
Whether team orders should be banned, I say keep it as it is and let the drivers earn it. If not, they might as well scrap the drivers championship and replace the drivers with autopilots.
