McNish unhappy with Bernoldi at Sepang

Under fire
By Huw Alban
April 29 2002

Enrique Bernoldi had an eventful Malaysian Grand Prix, although Toyota's Allan McNish would agree with that view his reasons are completely different. The Scotsman has launched a scathing attack on the Brazilian accusing him of changing his racing line too agressively to defend his position.

According to Autosport magazine, NcNish said "I got a good run on him out of the previous corner and he started to move over near the end of the pit lane. That was okay, but then he chopped over again at the 100m board, just as I went into the braking area. He was completely out of order. I was totally committed at that point and, if I'd been in the same situation as Ralf was in Australia, still been behind him, I'd have gone over the top for sure. No question about it. But I was fortunate that I'd seen him come across and I was already enough out of the way. But it wasn't an acceptable manoeuvre at all.

"I'll speak to him in Brazil because it wasn't on, I was committed. I was either going to pass him or hit him up the backside. I passed him but it was close - not attractive at all. People shouldn't move on the track with the aggression that he did."

The site is speechless (for once !). Michael Schumacher was far more aggressive at the start of the race because he botched his start - do I hear Juan Pablo Montoya complaining. Rubens Barrichello, at the start of the Australian Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago, weaved continually to defend his position into the first corner. OK it resulted in an accident that took out half the field, but both drivers agreed at the end of the day that it was a racing incident. The fans and the spectators didn't blame Rubens and Ralf for watching a reduced race, the stewards (deservedly) were on the recieving end of any complaints.

Also, who does McNish think he is ? Enrique has a full years experience behind him and no doubt has learned a trick or two along the way, McNish is a rookie in the highest order and should quit griping and get on with the job of learning Formula 1 !