Anybody still interested enough to be disgusted at the Austrian Grand Prix sham?

For those of you who don`t know, and may be vaguely interested. Barrichello, after one of his best ever performances, and perfectly placed to win the Grand Prix, was instructed by the Ferrari pits (how apt) to ease up and let Schumacher over the line first.

Schumacher at least seemed embarrassed and wouldn`t take the top step on the winners podium, Barrichello looked heartbroken, and the fans voiced their disgust with boos and jeers - good for them.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Answers

Absolute Pits

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

I feel sorry for the punters with a bet on Barichello? Will bookies pay out on a win for Schu??

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

My wife is a 'mad' Ferrari and Schumacher fan. She still is but is absolutely incensed and disgusted by the incident.I follow the races myself as I like to see hw the brits get on and generally share her views, though looked upon it a bit more constructively. I saw it as an order from employer to employee's that RB slow down and MS take the win. I feel that there could be some room for court action as this was effectively match fixing and I'm sure many punters will be left disgruntled this morning by the result (and the lack of winnings in their pockets). The authorities need to do something, MS is the best driver and will win it again this year in what is the best car. This does not ean that teams should 'FIX' a race to there liking.

My wife went on the net yesterday and loked at some chat sites. It seems the entire world is united in one view. Must be the only time that's happened.

BTW Boss of Williams wants Ferrari done for Fraud.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

I hope it does go to court, because it can`t be classed as anything but `fixing` the result. Cheating b@stards! No different to my mind than Shay being instructed to let a goal in.(:o!

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Not everyone. I don't see what all the fuss is about. Nobody whinged and whined when Shumacher pulled over to give Irvine the points after Shu came back from his broken legs and Irvine was chasing for the title. When Coulthard and Hakkinen did it in Australia it was recognized that the drivers in the same team aren't really in competition with one another. Ross Brawn summed it up when he said that they would look bloody stupid if Michael needed those 4 points at the end of the season. Ferrari wanted the 16 points for the constuctor's title and Schumy naturally stands a better chance by gaining 6 points over his closest rival than had he just gained 2. The guys in the red cars are on the same side: this whole nonsense owes far more to the anti-Schumacher brigade than anything else. If what they did was wrong then why doesn't it say so in the 60,000 pages of rules for this sport?

If you wanted some scandal then you would need to look for Sauber blocking the Williams as a customer of Ferrari's engines rather than teams following orders.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Hold on, Hold on. Coulthard did EXACTLY the same thing at the start of the (I think)1998 season. He pulled over at the final bend to let Hakkinen through. They had a 'Gentleman's Agreement' that the first one to reach the first corner at the start would not be overtaken. Hakkinen reached the corner first. A subsequent cock-up left Hak behind Coulthard so Coulthard let him past at the very end.

And what did we hear then?. 'Good Old David!' ' A Perfect Gentleman'; 'David the Hero'. Yet he did exactly what Ferrari did. Let someone through according to a pre-arranged agreement.

Have not read a THING about this precedent in the papers. Is it cos it's Johnny Foreigner up to his devious tricks again, and not an British Gentleman keeping his agreement? Have you all got such short memories?

Then, as now, I figure that a team puts the Team first. Ferrari were beaten by single points in the final race two years running. Now they're protecting their interest. Maybe I would have done the same.

And if any of you out there didn't know that Michael Schumacher's team mate will always pull over like that (as will any driver if given the order) then you know feck all about F1. Certainly, say it's wrong, certainly, say it adds nothing to the spectacle. But don't say you were surprised, as it proves your lack of any understanding whatsoever. The only people surprised in my house were my Mum and my Auntie. The other 7 people where just asking WHEN, not IF.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

You got in before me SOftie. You ain't got a short memory though! Thank God I'm not the only one who recalls the incident....

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Didn't MacClaren do something similar at the Australian Grand Prix three or four years ago? As I remember Coulthard was leading and was ordered to let Hakinnen pass him on the last lap. Maclaren tried to justify it by claiming a pre-race agreement that the first driver to reach the first corner would win the race.

I will watch some F1 over the summer months as a football substitute but have always thought it to be a bit over-rated as a spectacle. There is precious little overtaking action during the races which are often just a procession. Often the winner seems to be decided by factors such as the speed and timing of pit stops rather than driving ability.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Oops sorry! Must have posted at same time as Nick & Softie.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

I was wondering whether I had entered a paralell universe the way the ITV commentary team were carrying on. I was beginning to think they weren't going to do it and was getting ready to lambast them as arrogant fools if they think that holding the advantage for the first 5 races means that the season is already won. Great to hear another voice of sanity Nick, it's the big one at Monaco next so anything could happen (including Schumy getting killed and Ferrari wishing that Reubens had the points but there you go).

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

I don't have a short memory, I remember those incidents and disapprove of all of them. It is why I don't bother watching F1. It's crap motorsport anyway.

Touring cars and motorcycles are the only real motor racing left.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

No different from Shearer letting someone else take a penalty when he knows many will have him for scorerof first goal. This has been going on for years and probably raised by band wagon jumping fans who have only seen a couple of races.

It happens in all motor sport. Even in the World Rally Championships drivers slow down to get better position on gravel roads as no one wants to go first, I think it is fourth position they all try for as the first 3 cars "clean" the gravel off the road.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Can't see why you are surprised at all.

Ferrarri is an Italian company with an Italian perspective on life. Short-cuts, fixing, cheating and being economical with "la verita" are all integral and natural parts of Italian life.

Just watch this space at the World Cup.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Expat - I see that you've fully assimilated into Italian society then ;>)))

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

I didn`t say I was surprised, I said it was a disgrace. After many many years of following F1 I lost interest several years ago because of such incidents. I admit that I don`t like Schumacher particularly, but my husband does, and his interest and knowledge of the sport is far greater and much more current than mine. He too thought it was a disgrace - but then he is a bit of a purist and longs for the days when it was man and machine against man and machine. (:o|

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

`I didn`t say I was surprised` was aimed at Nick not toon expat, btw.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

It has made me lose almost all my intrest in F1. I still support Williams and enjoy watching a race but everything around it doesnt seem so interesting anymore.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

I'm afraid that , at the time, I disagreed with the Macaren team doing exactly the same thing. I have just heard that Ferrari are being called up to answer questions in front of the authorities in charge.

My and my wifes disgust is more for the fact that Ruebens had led all race and had a good drive, something he has struggled with at times. He deserved to win and had a clear lead. People will have been wueing waiting to collect the winnings before Ferrari changed it. I give credit to the way Michael tried to pass all the glory to Ruebens (acts which are also being called into question by the authorities) but Ferrari stated there would be no preferential treatment to winning a race and they have quite clearly dumped on Ruebens in stopping him in what would have been only his second win in F1.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

SellElena

Absolutely spot-on. After four plus years it is now second nature to be rude, arrogant, drive like a psychotic, jump queues and leer at women. And wear my sunglasses on the top of my head.

The wife would say that Italy hasn't changed me at all.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

I've never been a dedicated follower of F1, but have watched over the years. Am I right in thinking that in the past - say 15-20 years ago, the second car in a team was treated almost like a test car, and team orders came into play far more often than now, even if not quite so blatantly just before the line? ie there was a very definite no 1 driver, with a no. 2 driver in a support role.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Perfectly true PM. In the days when I first was interested (oh god here we go again...), when Fangio was the best driver in the world, if the team leader's car conked he was allowed to take over his team- mate's car for the rest of the race. It happened regularly, and led to some of the most dramatic races as the number one driver carved his way through the field from behind. Just hauling your second man who happened to be ahead into the pits for a minute or two to allow the team leader ahead happened all the time.

Either it's horse racing or it's a team sport. Personally I'm glad it's not horse racing. What's all the fuss about?

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Of course they'll rule against Ferrari to try to make it more competetive just like when they docked Schumacher 30 odd points when he was racing away with it for Benneton. Can't abide all these Holy Joes like Gerhard Berger (now with BMW) complaining: I must have imagined seeing him and Jean Alesi obeying team orders for Ferrari season after season depending on who was top man at the time.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Great scott ! Is nothing sacred ?

Next you'll be telling me that they fix the outcome of those ferocious World Wrestling Federation bouts ...

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2002