German GP Race Thread

[theodorus8864]

For those Massa fans and Alonso fans, please hold all your frustration. There is ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY to fill in this thread with all destructive comments.

Kudos to both our drivers did an extremely brilliant job to be so dominant in this circuit. But for the whole incident let's have a flashback:
1. During start Alonso was 'squeezed' by Vettel. Massa found a tiny space to overtake and he managed to grab first position. Alonso found his way into second followed by Vettel.
2. Alonso pitted in for hard tyres. That gave Massa plenty time to widen the gap before himself doing the pitstop.
3. Massa came in, having hard tyres and out still maintaining position. We still have 1-2 Ferrari.
4. As race moved on, Alonso started finding paces and Massa didn't. (Massa admitted before that he had a very tough time getting along with hard tyres, especially to make up to temperature)
5. Rob Smedley said to give Massa enough time to heat up to tyres. And Massa had it done.
6. Alonso was getting more and more comfortable with hard tyres. Massa is running out of time to outpace Alonso. The whole team cannot risk slowing down both cars because Vettel was catching up.
7. Rob Smedley had his word on Massa: His pace wasn't good enough. He needs to let Alonso up front to set more faster laps.

It is obvious that we are playing it as A WHOLE TEAM. Rob Smedley clearly wasn't happy, but Stefano wouldn't feel even better than him by making those decisions. We need to know that WE HAVE LOST SO MANY POINTS AND WE NEED TO MAKE UP POINTS AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND PUT ASIDE PERSONAL GRUDGES. It's a pain in the ass for Massa, but we saw Alonso didn't feel as excited as he used to be because he knew this was a tough action to take.

Believe me... if we didn't make those moves just now, we might lose out both cars to Red Bull. As the Ferrari fans stay united is what we need to do NOW or else Christian Horner and Martin Whitmarsh will start taking advantages over us.

[DIEK]

[gabobito]

They could have just said, "Felipe, we need you to save fuel" or "Felipe, watch out for your tires" not "Alonso is faster than you, do you confirm that message?" then came the "sorry and try to keep up with him...good lad" after the pass.

[Katu]

just seconds before that they showed RD saying something in teamradio

[KurtC]

Forza Ferrari!!! yes i knew it we are back, all the bad luck is behind now, c'mon is time to take the lead and win this was a clear win cars were superior to the dominant red bull and it was the whole car not an F-Duct, not because the lead were handed cause troubles with the RB, anyway i'm glad with this 1-2.

Now everybody is whinig about the "team orders" specially those (Mcliaren fans), anybody who says this is ridicouls they should be banned, that if FA was faster he should have overtook massa, all those who said that clearly don't know about this .... Fernando was faster he has better grip, but the cars were close , in this track and with the aerodynamic of the cars this season overtaking a car that is almost as fast as you (not at the start) is hard... it would have consumed both cars and let Vettel close the gap with the ferraris, anyway looking forward for the Hungaroring !!!

[slither]

7 points at the end of season would mean lots of things, as we won 2007 title with 1 point and lost 2008 with 1 point.
But the real thing is I really wonder if Fernando would have overtake Felipe even if he did not let him pass. Fernando was faster than Felipe, but can't make sure it was enough for an overtake. Any ideas?

Besides I scared to death at the beginning of the race when Fernando tried to overtake Felipe, a crash could happen like happened to RBRs in Istanbul.

[Tech_Skill]

Wow did you talk to Felipe after the race? What did he tell you? You obviously think that you know whats going through his mind about the situation...I have always supported the TEAM but when something stinks all to hell then im gonna say something about it..excuse me for having sportsmanship and thinking that things should be fair Mr. Condescending...I just think that the best car and the best driver should win and not be handed anything!!! Bring a title back to Maranello...i'd love for that to happen..but not this way...

I hear ya, but heres the reality

Alonso is the better driver.

Alonso was faster this weekend.

Alonso only dropped places cos Vettel tried to drive him into the wall.

Alonso is Ferrari's ONLY chance of beating Hamilton and Vettel in this era of F1, which is why he was signed.

Alonso is the only Ferrari driver who can win this world championship.

I want Ferrari to win this world championship, so right now I support Alonso.

But I understand your point.

When Vettel started catching Massa, thats it, they had to make that choice, they couldnt expose alonso to vettel.

[aroutis]

We're summoned

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85539

[DIEK]

The stewards don't call Vettel to talk about this?

[Ste]

How does it make any difference how a team makes an order?

Whether they say "save fuel, save fuel" or "let him past", it makes no odds.

[Tech_Skill]

British Press are desperate for Ferrari to get penalised.

And here comes......Horner, the hypocrisy is sickening.

Horner is implying he wouldnt have done the same thing........when a few week ago, he was nicking one drivers front wing to give it to the other driver.

LMAO and brundle exposing Horner for doing similar stuff.

[Paulpg87]

Massa was a stupid, if you "agree" with the team order than don't slow down in that stupid way. He created a very bad situation for the team's image and maybe also for the championship, if we get DQ it's over ( even i think it's already over).

[theodorus8864]

It was way too stupid for RS to say it DIRECTLY while knowing all radios are opened public. It's so hard for the whole team to gain grounds on races, and now we have to lose everything on internal affair. C'mon, be wise!!!

[slither]

How does it make any difference how a team makes an order?

Whether they say "save fuel, save fuel" or "let him past", it makes no odds.

+1

Christian Horner : No doubt of Ferrari team orders

Remember the wing thing on the last GP Chris, you are the last person to talk about this. And why were you so depressed after Turkish GP crash, your drivers were just racing to crash other.

By the way, isn't it a team order when Mcs kept Button behind Hamilton at Turkish GP?

Why does it so matter when it comes to Ferrari?

[Tech_Skill]

Massa was a stupid, if you "agree" with the team order than don't slow down in that stupid way. He created a very bad situation for the team's image and maybe also for the championship, if we get DQ it's over ( even i think it's already over).

The whole thing was stupid. It wouldnt surprise me if the FIA put their foot down. Where is Di Montzemelo? He needs to start making threats, anymore penalties and ferrari dont turn up to GP's for the rest of the season, then F1 can lose money cos Mclaren dont sell jack outside of britain.

[FFFerrari]

Rob made a mistake on the radio. Massa made a mistake by choosing the place and the way to let Alonso pass and later in the press conference. Fernando made a mistake by not being able to pass Massa cleanly. Lets hope this doesn't cost us the lovely 1-2, but I'm very afraid it will since FIA doesn't like publicity like this.

[Hermann]

Thats interesting. Was Ferrari also summoned back in 2007 when Massa had to let Kmi pass to make him win the title? No? Why not? It was bloody obvious.

[Effone]

Rob made a mistake on the radio. Massa made a mistake by choosing the place and the way to let Alonso pass and later in the press conference. Fernando made a mistake by not being able to pass Massa cleanly. Lets hope this doesn't cost us the lovely 1-2, but I'm very afraid it will since FIA doesn't like publicity like this.

Maybe Rob didnt make a mistake, maybe rob was so angry at having to tell HIS driver to let alonso through because alonso couldnt pass, so rob thought he'd make it look very obvious what was going on? I dunno.. just an idea. I'd be mad too if I were Rob.

[Fangiofan]

Ferrari has adopted the best decision: maximun points for WCC and maximun points for the driver who can win the WDC. Could not take the risk of Vettel overtaking Alonso and then Massa. And Massa was too harsh defending his position.

[BigRedOne]

If D. Sullivan et al. screws this pooch, I will be royally p*ssed!

[Greig]

Our drivers and Rob in with the stewards now

[Tech_Skill]

Rob made a mistake on the radio. Massa made a mistake by choosing the place and the way to let Alonso pass and later in the press conference. Fernando made a mistake by not being able to pass Massa cleanly. Lets hope this doesn't cost us the lovely 1-2, but I'm very afraid it will since FIA doesn't like publicity like this.

Massa was so blatant, I was SCREAMING at the tv for ferrari to make the switch, mrs tech said 'how will they do it', i said 'massa will lose 0.5 of a second' as in, massa would lose a tiny a bit of time to make it look like he made a mistake or was struggling and then let alonso slipstream him. But massa virtually parked the bloody thing, was a joke.

To be honest, massa should have been told way before the race, if you get infront of alonso and he passes you, dont fight it.

Alonso nearly pulled it off fair and square, massa should not have fought back, then we wouldn't have had to fix the race, its a sad thing to say, but its true, there was every chance Massa could jump alonso at the start, he should have been told not to fight if alonso got close.

[BigRedOne]

Maybe Rob didnt make a mistake, maybe rob was so angry at having to tell HIS driver to let alonso through because alonso couldnt pass, so rob thought he'd make it look very obvious what was going on? I dunno.. just an idea. I'd be mad too if I were Rob.

If what you say about Smedley is true, he should be reprimanded. I doubt that's the case, though.

[BigRedOne]

Our drivers and Rob in with the stewards now

Great!

[F2007]

The decision was right. The way they did it deserves a penalty.
I dont think FIA gives Ferrari a penalty, because Todt runs the show. So lets just hope Fernando takes the title at the end or else this was only a death punch for Massa´s career. They surely dont value Brasilians at Ferrari these days.

[Tech_Skill]

Mate, if Rob shut his mouth, we probably wouldnt be in with the FIA now, he said sorry to massa which was just unreal when everyone can get the radio transmission.

I believe he also said something like 'now now dont worry about it' etc.

Someone needs to speak with him, cos that was a disgrace.

[theodorus8864]

Maybe Rob didnt make a mistake, maybe rob was so angry at having to tell HIS driver to let alonso through because alonso couldnt pass, so rob thought he'd make it look very obvious what was going on? I dunno.. just an idea. I'd be mad too if I were Rob.

Whatever, but for such an honourable Rob Smedley he's definitely not being paid to play around with emotion during radio conversation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting remark on RS to be a robot. His paycheck definitely is the proof on why he's being put on the paddock as it shows how much the Ferrari trusts him to deliver a perfect weekend.

[maho]

If Ferrari get penalised and we lose the win, then Massa and Rob should be ashamed of himself. Yes it was an order, I dont deny that but it is a team sport and whoever has the bigger chance of challenging for the WDC, i.e. Alonso, then Massa should act as the support driver instead of making it clearly look like an order. Rob and Massa did a bad job today.

[Greig]

Alonso smiling after FIA meeting

[Tech_Skill]

Alonso came out from the FIA with a big simile on his face high fiving.