Ferrari won the USGP not Rubens Barrichello

So what really happened? Well in my view it was a mistake by Michael but he was not too concerned about losing this gamble or he would not have ran wide up the oval as they came to take the flag. Schumacher said in the press conference that he was going for a dead heat and that he had no problems giving this win to Rubens in the event of him being ahead. Naturally he would say that as to admit his mistake just cost him a race win would not only make him look bad but also it would make out that Rubens stole his win, and that is not the case. It was a gamble he took to either win by a whisker or lose by the same margin and at the same time give Rubens payback for Austria.

Schumacher many believe has long paid back Barrichello for the team orders at Austria but it seems that Michael has not yet settled that score, until now. The cry from the media is the same as usual, but this was no team order this was a driver decision. Schumacher said he had been denied permission to let Rubens win but maybe his error was his way of saying thank you to his Brazilian team mate.

Ross Brawn was interviewed right after the race and he was totally lost for words to explain what happened, but he was unwilling to make any comments about what was said over the radio on the slow down lap. In parc ferme where a few boo’s and whistles could be heard Michael and Rubens were very busy chatting away, seemingly getting the story right for the press.

For sure Michael will once again feel the flak for staging the finish of a race but this was no pre-planned move, no communication between drivers and team just a genuine moment of kindness or a mistake. If we remember Mika Hakkinen’s first win at Jerez in 1997 where two teams and three drivers (Jacques, David and Mika) all collaborated to engineer the win then it makes this moment very small indeed. Even Australia 1998 when Coulthard once again moved to let Mika win is forgotten. This was a pre-race pact between the drivers and the sport never batted an eyelid as Mika could do no wrong in the eyes of the media.

Michael is different though, he is a target for the media and for the fans who detest his success. No matter what action he takes they will find reason to criticise him for it. At the end of the day Ferrari won the USGP, not Barrichello but Ferrari. The team comes first and Michael and Rubens know that is the case. How nice it is to see two team mates genuinely so happy to work together for the team and to be as pleased when one wins or the other wins. Ferrari have never made any secret of their team based orders and when the drivers begin to take it upon themselves to say thanks then it speaks volumes for the family atmosphere within the team. Compare that situation with the one at Williams right now and you see why Ferrari are right in their way of thinking.