| In response to the criticism
been directed at the Ferrari team after the decision to let Michael
Schumacher win the Austrian Grand Prix Michael has responded by saying that
he very nearly did not pass Rubens and defy Ferrari team management.
 "I
was thinking very strongly about not passing Rubens and that is why said I
was hoping there wouldn't be such an order," Schumacher said. "If you can
see the telemetry data on the straight when Rubens backed off, I backed off
but then he backed off even further."
"You sit outside and you have a lot of time to think about all of this. We
sit in there and it wasn't a long preparation of discussion. They came on in
the last couple of metres on the radio and said that he would back off. I
didn't feel like, but then I have to be honest to say no it was probably the
wrong decision to win this race, yes I agree, but if I had the chance to
turn it around I would probably do but I cannot now."
"It is not in our [drivers'] hands," he added. "To some degree I am in
favour of this and have always said that team strategy is important. We are
maybe in a very special situation this year where we have a very strong car,
we have so far a reasonably comfortable lead in terms of points, and that is
maybe why it is a little bit more a point of discussion. And that is why as
well that I am not very happy about it. But then what is really different to
last year, to some degree? It is the same time in the year, the Grand Prix
is the same one, and you have to see the target of the team. The team wants
to win the championship and they invest with sponsors, with people behind,
so much money in that, if we fail in this target for maybe a point in the
end, you never know, then we look stupid and the team simply doesn't want to
get into this situation. And as I said before if Rubens would have had a
different points situation I am sure the team wouldn't have taken this
decision." |
