Comments on: What the FIA should do about team orders in Formula 1

By: Josh M

Josh M — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:41:58 +0000

James – any thoughts on this idea? It is already proven in speedway where a team with a 1-2 finish means the second rider gets a “paid” first.

Instead of paying first, we award the points of the leading driver (so long as the team’s drivers finish consecutively) to both drivers: an incentive for drivers to race as a team (could lead to very interesting tactics with drivers backing each other up to help a team mate) and saves the need for team orders to put drivers into set positions.

It does everything the sport needs and puts an emphasis on team tactics.

By: Don M.

Don M. — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:20:42 +0000

My suggestion would be that teams can allocate the points from a 1-2 finish in whichever way they want. I notice this was also suggested by Ben, July 26th @ 3:05. This method gets my vote so I wanted to give it more exposure. It’s not perfect but it solves most of the problems – Massa would have stood on the top step and taken the trophy home, Alonso would have got the championship points. You won’t find a better solution – it would have worked just as well with the Barrichello/Schumacher situation that started this whole team-orders mess.

By: EJ

EJ — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:46:39 +0000

I mean enforce the banning.

By: EJ

EJ — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:41:33 +0000

The fan in me wants individuals; that I can identify with, to triumph, I don’t care about the teams. Ban Team Orders; and enforce them.

By: Nesto

Nesto — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:41:01 +0000

Second that. Its called GAMBLING after all, shall I look up the definition ?? Last thing we need is to run the sport so that gamblers don’t get upset. *sarcasm on* Gambling and sports should be further entwined as that always leads to cleaner sporting events. *sarcasm off*

btw, I think Bruno Senna is still mathematically in the WDC hunt. You can have your mathematics, I’ll take my realistic approach to things.

By: Nesto

Nesto — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:26:39 +0000

Its a stupid rule that shouldn’t be there. Do you think other teams don’t issue “orders”?? This is the first time its been done since 2002 ?

All the teams do it, they just hide them. As I said, blame Massa not Ferrari, it was his decision to follow the team’s thinly disguised SUGGESTION and he did so in a way that was blatant. He did not have to cede position, if he wanted he could have taken the win. You think they would fire him after ?? Theres no way. What else can they do, make him even slower than Alonso than he already is ??

If you are going to blame Ferrari for this, I’ll point you to lists of team orders that have taken place since the rule was made and all have gone unpunished. The main reason everyone is upset is because it was for the WIN. If they swapped 2nd and 3rd, I’d bet there is not outrage.

By: Bill Inglis

Bill Inglis — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:04:08 +0000

I watched my first Gran Prix in 1963 at the Nurburgring and have been an aficionado ever since. The essence of the sport, in my opinion, relies heavily on “gentlemanly conduct”. Gamesmanship requires subtlety, which was lacking on this occasion and viewers were deprived of what could have been an interesting finish. I agree with James Allen’s hint, do it with subtle tsctics at a pit-stop. Unless of course you are a reincarnation of the late great Ayrton Senna.

By: guy

guy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:43:43 +0000

Good idea! I am always scrolling down to find James’ responses.

By: guy

guy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:42:16 +0000

Anyone who claims to be “disgusted” by the incident should watch a different sport.

By: stephen pugh

stephen pugh — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:50:20 +0000

James,

Reread your piece and yes you did say that they broke the rules. But to me it still read like you making excuses for them using the past as reference.

For me thats the wider issue. the past wasnt that great. In the schumaker years other than ferari fans no one cared really because mainly he had the best car and he didnt have to race the whole grid.
Nevermind james just read that mark webber said that alonso deserved to win last weekend.i dont get it, where is the merit of winnig something when, someone was ordered to let you by.
I had a glimmer of hope when Jenson and Brawn were prepared to risque losing so that they could win in a meaningful way, ie no team orders other than dont take each other out. Or do you know different and was this just talk too..
Will go back to enjoying a great weekend camping out at silverstone with my mates, marvelling at the performance of the cars.
the rest of it is just meaningless wider issues.
By the way, didnt mean to cause offence with my original commemts just wanted to vent my spleen.

good luck. hope you read this