Ferrari’s team orders

I haven’t changed my opinion about that. Sport is business nowadays and money plays a key role. Only this time I have witnessed a different situation, team orders were not only unnecessary, but they were also a truly bad business decision. Analyzing the situation, we can say that this was a huge mistake on the part of Ferrari’s management. Last year, Ferrari was not so clearly ahead of its main rivals, Williams and McLaren. Those points could have been vital in the run for the WC, so that decision could have easily been backed up even though many of us would have rather seen pilots racing among each other instead of granting themselves such favors.

How was it different this year?

Well, we are all witnessing a clear Ferrari dominance, practically the only fighting in the WC is for the second and third place. Yes, Ferrari have outdone themselves building a superb race car which doesn’t have any rivals on the circuits. So why the team orders? MS is comfortably ahead in the lead of the WDC and with his talent and that kind of car he doesn’t have to fear that anyone would get close to him until the end of the season. Instead, RB with some unlucky races until now has all the reasons and all the motivation in the world in winning and getting as many points as he can in order to get on the podium with MS at the end of the season. He may be Ferrari’s number 2 pilot but that doesn’t mean he has no ambition. He has the talent and the potential to take the second place in the WC.

Now, wouldn’t that be any team’s dream, to have their pilots in the first two places of the WC? If they want to play safe, then somebody should let them know they are in the wrong business. As they say, no pay, no gain. If you don’t take chances, you can never become the best there is. Ferrari is supposed to be a team and support RB as much as they support MS. They have all it takes to get them both on the podium, so why aren’t they doing it? This is certainly not the legendary Ferrari team we all love and support. Enzo Ferrari used to say that his number one driver was chosen after each race and that the number one status only remained valid until the next race. Boy, has Ferrari come a long way from that!

The effects of this decision will last a long time from now. I saw Ferrari supporters ashamed of their team, I saw F1 fans disgusted with the new face of this sport and I don’t think this damage could be easily undone. This decision thrashed in a matter of seconds the F1 image, the Ferrari legend and last, but not least, MS’s and RB’s image. Whoever took that decision should be banging his head against the walls right now ‘cause this simple order will certainly cause a lot of problems and unwanted tensions. I read the newspaper headlines all over the world, all expressing disgust and disapproval of Ferrari’s tactics. What is really sad is the way MS is seen all around the world right now. This wasn’t his call and I am sure he wishes it had never happened, but it is too late. The media has a new reason to thrash the image of a true champion. He has a contract with Ferrari, as well as RB, and he also has a family to think of, and I don’t think any of us would have done otherwise if he were in his shoes.

As to RB, things are getting worse. He drove a superb race and deserved all the winner’s honors, he needed those points more than MS, and, frankly, I don’t know what kind of motivation he will ever have from now on. Again, Ferrari should have acted like a team and backed him up.