PATRICK HEAD Sunday Times article (not merged that much) - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

Led ZeppF1 · 28 Jun 2004, 07:32

In Patrick Head's views, the last Sunday's Indianapolis GP was a 'sham.'

Head noted Rubens's edge over Michael 'all weekend' in the 'States. "[But] all of a sudden (in the race) it disappeared. I don't respect them. They should be motivated also by the interests of F1."

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.h...28085534.shtml

Led ZeppF1 · 28 Jun 2004, 07:39

Its not new criticised from Head for Ferrari. He said such criticises round after round.

But, I cant say that I disagree with him.

Red · 28 Jun 2004, 07:40

Hmm, Head has a go at Ferrari, what a surprise.

Anyway, if HE would be motivated by the interest of F1, he'd probably try to build F1 cars. The competitive kind, also the ones who don't get DQed. Did he mention anything regarding this aspect too?

Wrex · 28 Jun 2004, 08:05

I like Patrick, but if I had cars disqualified from the last 2 races I would'nt be drawing attention to myself.

I'd be trying to get people focused on 'anything' other than my own poor performance. Wait a second....

ASCII Man · 28 Jun 2004, 08:05

climb · 28 Jun 2004, 09:22

mmmmmmhhhh.....

jj2728 · 28 Jun 2004, 11:17

head decides to have a go at ferrari....sure, why not?.....he's got nothing better to do and his team certainly has laid the big fat goose egg this year......i always liked him, but he's beginning to sound like a whining old granny....

Kicking-back · 28 Jun 2004, 11:21

Patrick's opinion is a result of being involved in F1 for 30-odd years.

We may or may not agree with him, but he certainly has a right to express it.

z2252314 · 28 Jun 2004, 11:27

If Ferrari really didnt want to give Rubens a chance, why would they let him look so quick in the first place???

Patrick Head is a joke. He more than anyone in the F1 paddock needs to have a look at himself and determine whether he's still cut out for the demands of F1. He's had 4 years to develop a solid car around the best engine and has failed to do so. If I was BMW i would be asking some serious questions to Patrick.

Rather than constantly whining about Ferrari, he should focus on improving the Williams through non-illegal means.

**Adam43** · 28 Jun 2004, 13:21

The article is based on a bigger in article in the Sunday Times.

In it Patrick goes on a great length about how it is Williams fault that Ferrari are better than them. He also points out that the recent DSQ in Canada are very stupid errors and only the team is to blame. There is not shunning of blame or trying to hide behind something else.

Then there is the question of how you run your team, especially in respect of team orders. Williams and Ferrari do run their teams differently. There is a lot of overlap with how they do it, but there are also differences. It is as incorrect to suggest only Ferrari have driver orders as it is to suggest that Williams have the same orders as Ferrari. A lot of orders, be careful, save your engine etc... are the same for Williams as they are for Ferrari. However there have been and will be again times when Ferrari do something that Williams wouldn't. This I feel is undisputable. As such Patrick can comment on what he thinks a team should do. He can't tell Ferrari what to do, but he can comment on it. It is the same as how Ferrari are allowed to say that they are there to maximise the chances of winning. They are allowed to say that too.

I defend Ferrari for what they do - its their choice and their team. I also defend Williams for running their team how they want - even if it comprimises their chances.

FWIW (nothing) I prefer the Williams method.

Patrick brings up the point that he thinks that extreme team orders are bad for F1. This is almost a different situation IMHO. Firstly we have whether team orders are jsutifiable. Then we have are they good for the sport. Which is very difficult to sort out. He says he thinks fans prefer it if teams have a situation more like Williams and McLaren. He might be right. Maybe the problem is education, I don't know.

However I find (and I'm sure Ferrari do too) it annoying that all questions to Brawn or Todt before the race are about what they will allow Rubens to do. Now, to a certain extent, they have brought this upon themselves. However it is ridiculous to ask before the event. If they do order something it should be understood after the event and as I say Ferrari can do what they want.

However, back to the other point, Williams would do some things differently (their choice) and Patrick is not using it as an excuse for other, separate, failings.

Gt_R · 28 Jun 2004, 13:39

I'm not surprised that Head takes a shot at Ferrari..it's really respectable to be DISQUALIFIED 3 times out of 2 races...

Basically, it's not new...Head is trying to divert the bad press onto a rival team. Admit it...their team is getting lots of bad press and Ferrari getting lots of good ones, and what better way to balance it out with a well timed comment such as this?

Whether it makes sense or not isnt important. What's important is that the motive of this comment isn't lost to us, and it makes one wonder how a sore guy Head can be. It's not the first time he makes such cheap comments about Ferrari anyways.

I respect his skills, but sometimes, Mr Head just loses his head when he speaks..Ask Ralf

"I don't respect them", for a man of his position, to say such things is nothing short of lack of sportsmanship, but if it's the way he wants to take things, so be it.

Let me stress again, what happen in USGP is all SPECULATION on his part, and to try to pass it off as a fact and condemn ur rival is shameful.

Rubens did not lose "the edge" he had over Michael in the race as Head claims. In fact, RB had the edge over Michael throughout the race, but situations beyond Ferrari's control resulted in Michael finishing ahead. Of course, how come the Williams which took so many poles in 2002 cant transfer that superiority on race days?

Interest of F1 at heart? Boy oh boy..what a brilliant thing to hear from Head. I don't really think he works with more "interest of F1" in his heart nor head than anybody from Maranello.

Oh yeah..the brake ducts were an honest mistake.... Look at the Autosport description and race pictures and you would think how HONEST it can get..to claim it's an honest mistake isn't really respectable either.

The fact that his accusations hold so much flaws signal that it's an attempt out to take in those simple-minded enough to be believe it.

**Adam43** · 28 Jun 2004, 14:10

It strikes me that Head is harder on Williams for the brake ducts than even you are. Anyway its a separate issue.

Names reversed. Are Ferrari not allowed to comment on anything because of Malaysia 1999 or perhaps another separate incident where they are just accused of cheating, but nothing is actually proved? Of course Ferrari can, it is a separate incident.

Blindly accusing one team of deliberately cheating (with no proof) is the same as blindly criticising another (with no proof).