Playing Fair

[D.R.T.]

Autosport is reporting that Ferrari have "urged" Renault to play fair in the title chase and not to allow team mates to interfere with the battle.

Does anyone else find it hilarious that Ferrari are pleading for fair play and non team involvement considering history ?

[Bononi]

It happens all the time in F1.

[Red]

No. What history? China was only 1 week ago..

[Marbot]

Well we don't want them to take their ball home,so Renault had better play fair.

[Julio]

Thats brilliant. They are obviously scared that Fisichella is going to get involved but Massa will be too slow to get involved.

Edit: Anyone remember Schuey and Irvine's tactical 'manoeuvres' at this same circuit 9 years ago? (9 years! seems like yesterday)

[Bononi]

Obviously.

[D.R.T.]

Ferrari and fair being used in the same sentence is strange enough but when I read further it was about them telling rival teams to play fair...... I fell of the chair.

[Chatters]

Ferrari that is hilarious!

[BootsOntheSide]

Maybe Fisichella's deliberate slowing at China wasn't 100% sporting, but it's nothing comapred to certain previous Ferrari indescretions.

[Red]

Like?

[Alan Raine]

Pot - Kettle - Black - No sympathy!

[Gt_R]

Given that Ferrari had showed that they won't hesitate to implement team orders in order to attain the best results when they deem necessary, i would expect other teams to more or less do the same, and i won't deny that Ferrari had used team orders before.

If people are using this opportunity to bash Ferrari, then i guess it's worth pointing out that most of the so called "history" and indiscretions took place before team orders were specifically outlawed.

Not surprisingly perhaps, that since then, the last WDC that benefitted from team orders was Fernando Alonso, despite said team's manager's poor attempt to hide it.

I expect and i think that if a 2nd car holds up the rival WDC-contender, it is an unfortunate position but hard to police. It's part of the game, and as long as the 2nd driver doesn't purposely put the other rival WDC contender in risk of being in an accident or blatant block, i think it is unavoidable and acceptable.

However, there is a thin line to draw. Frankly, one would think that if a team runs two cars in one-two position side by side at the front, it's just pushing things abit far, because there's no way anyone can overtake.

But since Renault showed in Shanghai that they deem it acceptable, i think that Ferrari has been game enough to take on that kind of track-behavoir and as Jean Todt simply said, Renault shouldn't be surprised if they find the same move being used against them.

Team orders, using slower 2nd cars to hold up a faster cars.. please don't pretend to be naive and think only Ferrari uses it.

[outflat]

I must have been watching a different Chinese Grand Prix.

I saw Giancarlo Fisichella of Renault being allowed to go past Alonso and lead the race, despite Alonso fighting back past him - and then later Fisichella completely failing in any way to hold up Schumacher.

[Gt_R]

You must have, if you missed watching Fisichella lift at the straights to allow Alonso go past, or how for almost 2 laps Fisichella played rear gunner to protect Alonso from Michael, to the extent of driving next to Alonso down the straights just so that MS can't do anything.

Fisichella got past only because it's almost ridiculous and impossible to pull off the blocking thing any longer, given that Alonso is 4 seconds slower those around him.

Let's just not pretend there isn't team play. Is it that hard to accept?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Gt_R

Renault shouldn't be surprised if they find the same move being used against them.

That's not fair,they've got more cars than Renault.

Actually,I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[Gt_R]

It's ok, Michelins have more teams than Bridgestones.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Gt_R

It's ok, Michelins have more teams than Bridgestones.

My Dad's bigger than your Dad.

I suppose that it'll be decided by tyres one way or another.

[Inigo Montoya]

Gosh. Team order discussions again? Its been and always will be a part of F1.

Taking off an opponent on purpose to help a teammate is obviously not sporting. As for allowing teammates to pass, I think this is perfectly fine. The FIA only introduced the "you can't obviously allow your teammate to pass" rule to appease the whinging of the masses when Ferrari was dominating. Slowing to block an opponent to help your teammate (as long as its for position, and not being lapped) is also perfectly sporting in my book.

[Pitstop]

Is it time for bed yet?

[Gt_R]

I agree with Inigo, not perfectly sporting, but very much acceptable imo. So i don't see the point of much fuss and sacarsm which dominate the early part of this discussion.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

Slowing to block an opponent to help your teammate (as long as its for position, and not being lapped) is also perfectly sporting in my book.

Apparently Ferrari dont agree.

[Sodemo]

Playing fair?

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=132235

[ralf fan]

Originally Posted by Gt_R

I agree with Inigo, not perfectly sporting, but very much acceptable imo. So i don't see the point of much fuss and sacarsm which dominate the early part of this discussion.

The sarcasm comes from Ferrari urging Renault to 'play fair'... when it is clear they use team orders as well.....

[Red]

They weren't arguing about team orders.

By the way, kinda funny... For once people say "Ferrari use team orders as well"! Yay! Finally!

[Gt_R]

Monster, you see anything wrong with the event?