Sweet and sour Victory

[Alonsomaniac]

Actually, I think when they came close to crashing, the team decided to let them compete in pure speed, Alonso fell back 3.5s and Smedly told Massa to push, that he had the chance to win the race. IMO that meant that if he had kept that gap, or even distanced himself he would have been allowed to stay in front.

I agree. They changed their tactics once it became clear that Massa was being caught by both Alonso and Vettel. They could never risk an attack by Vettel on Alonso. Before this happened it was a race and if Felipe had kept the gap he would have won.

[Brakefade]

What ever earns and hopes for in terms of immortality and fame.
He still has the same desire as every other driver out there, To win a WDC, It is obvious from his reactions post race he had not expected to get that call.
Even more demoralising for him now is that there will never be a chance for a WDC while he is with Ferrari (and for that I feel sorry for Filipe )

One of the reasons I have followed Ferrari for the last 40+ years was that the WCC was far more important than the WDC to them. As the drivers in the last few years are more closely matched it has become harder to call who is No 1 and 2 and as such we have seen the emergence of drivers being contracted as 1 and 2, Now we have drivers of very equal abilities in at least 3 teams this notional idea of 1 and 2 is becoming outdated. So lets get back to the WCC is the goal and who ever is the WDC let that be sorted out on the track without any interference PLease.

That's bull. If Felipe and Fernando's roles were reversed in the WDC, Fernando would've been asked to move aside. Of that I'm sure. Of course this is probably the last time we will see team orders in F1.

[Hermann]

That's bull. If Felipe and Fernando's roles were reversed in the WDC, Fernando would've been asked to move aside. Of that I'm sure. Of course this is probably the last time we will see team orders in F1.

I very much doubt that. And Whitmarsh has all reasons to have a 'private word' with Ferrari. He can't afford to let this go too far, because then, their golden boy would come into serious danger of being beaten by his team-mate. Maybe he wants to hand Domenicali a list of codewords to be used.

And have you seen what Bernie had to say about it?

Bernie Ecclestone, the chief executive of Formula One's commercial rights holders, said he believes the rule forbidding team orders should be scrapped. "I must confess I would agree with anyone who thinks that," said Ecclestone, who sits on the world council. He added: "As far as I'm concerned a team is a team, and they should run it whichever way they want to run it. Nobody should interfere."

Asked whether he would propose writing the regulation out of the rule book, he said: "I don't know, we'll have to see. It's something that needs to be discussed."

'I believe what people do when they are inside the team and how they run their team is up to them. Of course, if a team does something that's dangerous then they're going to be in trouble. Otherwise, get on with it.'

You see, Bernie also has all reasons to see that different. He needs team orders to stay, how else could McLaren make sure Hamilton stays in front?

I'm quite sure all teams, in secret, see it the same way. And that is why Luca mentioned hypocrisy. He should know what is really going on behind the scenes.

[XXX132]

All that radio chat was embarrassing.

Had the cars continued racing each other, they would've burned their tyres, engines, fuel and/or crashed into each other etc. when FA was clearly the quicker driver most of the time. That's why McLyin are leading the WDC and WCC, because RB regularly self-destruct.

On the hard tyres FM was locking everything up for a few laps and SV was well within striking distance and closing. Ferrari needed big points this weekend or it would be game over for 2010. Shame FM's side of the garage couldn't accept the fact without the public pouting.

Sure FM has still got a mathematical shot at the WDC but realistically, FA is doing the better job at the moment. We've seen Felipe go well at some tracks then fall off the radar next weekend. The only time he's really tried this year is when he's been racing FA lol

Correct call IMO, but shame we have to be politically correct about it. Everyone knows team orders go on so why the fuss....? The only people that are worried are McLyin', RB and the predominantly British media, because the heat is now firmly on their respective teams/drivers, and given the lack lustre pace McLyin' showed this weekend, they know they're in trouble...