(from autosport) Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo wants to speak with FIA president Max Mosley about changing the sport's rules on team orders. After the furore caused by Ferrari switching Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello on the final lap of the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, team orders that influence the outcome of a race were outlawed by the sport's governing body. The rule has been accepted for some time and caused little controversy since. However, the fact that Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa's understandable decision to swap places in China was cause for post-race discussion, questions have again been raised about whether the rule needs a tweak to prevent teams being put in awkward positions. And di Montezemolo has said that he will bring the matter up with Mosley when they next meet. "I'll talk about it with Mosley, we need to get rid of this hypocrisy," di Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The important thing is not to damage others. Besides that, team work, in a team sport, is one of the best things. Think of a cyclist leading the sprint for another." Di Montezemolo also acknowledges that there has perhaps been too many stewards' decisions affecting races this year - although thinks in part matters are not helped by the kinds of circuits being raced on. "Perhaps they've been a bit too picky, but I agree with them, otherwise the grands prix become a mess," he explained. "But the problem is the new circuits - they don't allow for the spectacle. It's enough with one Monaco."
I've always said that I know they broke this rule but am ok with it because it's a stupid rule, but you can't go around sticking your foot in your mouth. They got away with it like they should (I am a McLaren Fan not Ferrari), but if they keep talking about it penalties could come.
i'd be so funny if the majority of the teams vote no (including papa hamilton) and heikki appears in front of lewis in 5th place... lol
Why don't they just revise it and say that team orders are only permitted when one driver is mathematically eliminated from the championship while the other driver isn't?
Exactly, there have been team rules from the beginning, best example was Peter Collins giving up his car to Fangio when he was in with a shout for the World Championship.
It makes sense but I doubt the nazi will make the change. By keeping it, it makes it easier to manipulate the results. The more penalty options the better for the 2 old pricks that ruin the sport.
Your cynicism beats mine. I truly hope they abandon this idiotic rule. If they can't abandon it, at least there should be a change to it: "Team orders are illegal until one driver can no longer mathematically clinch the title." Remember the whole team order rule started when Todt told Rubens to let MS win in Zeltweg. That was something like the 6th race of the season. Everybody was pissed and rightfully so. The FIA went overboard with completely banning team orders creating the mockery we have today. In an ideal world there'd be no team orders at least until 2/3 of the season is over.
Correct simple no problem, no grey area, but that takes away a avenue of deviation for Max to mess with..
The way to revive the sport is to bring HONESTY back into it. Having to play games around this idiotic "team orders" rule is hurting, not helping, the situation. They need to clean up the fines and the power of the stewards also. It's too subjective and smacks of politics. It's also TOO INTRUSIVE to the sport. And, this idea that the teams have to share electrical boxes and even engines in the future is stupid. Formula one should be ENCOURAGING different tire manufactorers to participate. How can the technology advance without competition? Does it cost more? Yes. SO FREAKING WHAT. If the sport is healthy, people will watch TV and go to see the events. If that's the case, advertising will follow. It doesn't matter that the teams save a few million on tires while they go out an buy themselves a new fancy motorhome and portable information center to song and dance some big fish. Everyone agrees passing is a problem. What's wrong with push-to-pass? Let them rev go to 21 grand once and a while and see if they blow up. At least a guy can make a pass late in the race instead of watching them go round and round with no chance of victory. F-1 will turn into a spec series if the fans and owners don't start to tell Max to shove off. Bring me back the guys like Ken Tyrrell and design options like the Turbo anyday. This sport needs a blast of innovation and creative thinking to make it exciting again. Lighten the rules and bring in some fresh air! I'll step off my soapbox now.... thank you.
+++ However; on tires: my first response was like yours: the more competition in tires, the better the street tires. But after seeing the effects of one lockup on the lightweight, paper-thin tires the last year of competition, I did agree that something had to be done, in the name of safety. Those tires were *dangerous*. But I'd have opted for a safety wear test requirement, rather than a spec supplier, methinks. Heck, we "wear rate" street tires. Why not racing donuts? But then, I'm an engineering and racing fan, not a "businessman". The "selection" of a spec supplier presents the opportunity for "negotiations". (With big satchels of cash, in non-sequential bills.) (When looking for a reliable, high performace, trouble-free, tamper-proof ECU, we all immediately thought first of the people who brought you vista, right? )
They tried that back in March. It didn't work. Window of opportunity has now closed and SRTMike owes me some beer. Apart from that I agree with all your points.
