Silverstone

[d000hg]

They want to make sure Vettel's #1 spot is as certain as possible in case Alonso/Ferrari step up... the constructors' is done and dusted but Alonso 1st Vettel 3rd would give Alonso a much bigger catch-up on Vettel. So it seemed sensible to do it that way - forcing the championship leader to let his team-mate pass is dumb because who cares about the #2 place in the championship?

I don't think they want to get rid of Webber, I think they want to ensure they keep Vettel and both titles. If that means Webber walks, they will have no trouble replacing him - he is a good driver but there are lots of others equally good, whereas Vettel is going to be getting offers from every big team so they need to hold on tight.

I can't see why Button or Hamilton would move to RB though. RB are elading now but by next season who knows... Mclaren and Ferrari are far better bets for being at least in the leading pack whereas RB could drop significantly - look at Mercedes (Brawn GP).

Personally I think Massa is out this year and Paul Di Resta looks like a hot property.
I would love to see Webber leave and get replaced by Schumacher, so we can really see how he would cope in a decent car.

[centurian]

That fact that they used team orders isn't the issue for me.

It's that Red Bull have been so adamant over the past few years that team orders are evil - and were calling for Ferrari to be severely punished last year - and were absolutely clear that they thought it was against the spirit of competition, which Red Bull as an overall brand are so proud of.

Also I don't buy this BS that team orders become more acceptable at a certain point (i.e. last 3 laps etc.). It's easy to principled and high and mighty when you're not under pressure, but what really counts is when the heat is on, so if you're preapred to issue team orders at any point... then you can't whine and bitch about others that do it when they're under pressure.

[centurian]

Quote of the day though - Hamilton on the F1 Forum when asked if he thought it was going to have to go and see the stewards after his last corner tussle with Massa.

"I've got like a platinum card for the stewards, so I expect to be there"



Doesn't look like he's getting any penalty though...

[Zippy]

WHS. They always say "it's the team that counts", in which case it doesn't matter who finishes first. He also said there'd certainly be an accident, which suggests his star German driver would deliberately crash rather than give up the place - hardly being a team player now is it? If there were going to be team orders perhaps it should have been a "Mark is faster than you. " moment.

Exactly. Not sure if the Jenson/RB rumour is true but I did see a story on it yesterday.

[norrahe]

Quote of the day though - Hamilton on the F1 Forum when asked if he thought it was going to have to go and see the stewards after his last corner tussle with Massa.

"I've got like a platinum card for the stewards, so I expect to be there"



Doesn't look like he's getting any penalty though...

[PAH]

Not sure if the Jenson/RB rumour is true...

So that's the reason they decided to let JB out of the pits without a wheel nut. Poor guy could have been killed. He should have a word with the HR dept about health and safety.

Overall a pretty boring race. I can see merit in Bernie's suggestion about having water sprinklers at all tracks to liven them up.

If I was Bernie with his billions I'd go the whole hog and change it into the Wacky Races. :muttley:

[VectraMan]

Exactly. Not sure if the Jenson/RB rumour is true but I did see a story on it yesterday.

I think Lewis is more likely. It seems unlikely that he'd ever leave McLaren, but then it seemed unlikely Button would ever leave Brawn. Hamilton and Vettel would certainly be interesting team mates, and can you imagine the day Christian Horner tries to give either of them team orders?

[d000hg]

That fact that they used team orders isn't the issue for me.

It's that Red Bull have been so adamant over the past few years that team orders are evil - and were calling for Ferrari to be severely punished last year - and were absolutely clear that they thought it was against the spirit of competition, which Red Bull as an overall brand are so proud of.

Last year it was illegal. This year it is not, and whatever he personally things about the rules, his job is to play by and use those rules to best advantage. To expect otherwise in professional sport is naive.

I think Lewis is more likely. It seems unlikely that he'd ever leave McLaren, but then it seemed unlikely Button would ever leave Brawn.

It was always pretty obvious JB would leave. Brawn had clearly got lucky that year - so firstly McLaren were a safer bet for being near the front and secondly Brawn couldn't pay anything like as much as JB thought a world champion was worth.

Voluntarily leaving a team like McLaren or Ferrari to go elsewhere is rarely a sensible move because every other team is more erratic in performance. If you join Red Bull, next year they might suck and not have the same resources to fix it.

[centurian]

Last year it was illegal. This year it is not, and whatever he personally things about the rules, his job is to play by and use those rules to best advantage. To expect otherwise in professional sport is naive.

Fair enough - but last year he gave the impression that both he, and RBR were fundamentally against team orders.

If he has changed his mind, perhaps he would care to retract some of the criticism he dished out to Ferarri.

[Zippy]

If I was Bernie with his billions I'd go the whole hog and change it into the Wacky Races. :muttley:

<snigger>
Can I get good odds on the Anthill Mob now?