lukenwolf
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,058
- Location
- Nordschleifistan
- Car(s)
- Alfa 145 2.0 Twin Spark 16V, dedicated ring toy
Too funny that people still think it is acceptable to issue team orders that early in the season. Ferrari were raked over the coals in 2002 and 2010 for issuing team orders in the middle of the season. Suddenly it's acceptable in the second race
And let's be honest here, most of those who blast Vettel now for disobeying the team order would have screamed bloody murder, if the roles would have been reversed and Mark had been asked to stay in 2nd, because it's not what happened, but who did it.
Another thing that's 'conveniently' overlooked. After dropping behind due to the first stop, Vettel had caught up to Mark again by lap 26. His team told him to leave a gap to Mark, because 'you are too close in the fast corners'. That was effectively the first team order. Mark was doing delta times and Vettel forced to stay behind at a gap. This allowed Hamilton to close in and Vettel wanted to go past Mark instead of doing forced delta runs. That lead to the infamous "get him out of the way" exchange. A few moments later he was told 'be patient, it's only half race yet'. All this happened on lap 28. The result of this was, that Hamilton got past at the second pitstop, so the team's ridiculous order to leave a gap to Mark cost him a position.
At the third stop he got past HAM again and since he was on a brand spanking new set of softer tires, he closed in on Mark at the speed of light. All easily visible in the Lap Charts.
When Mark came out of the pits, Vettel had caught up and Mark barely stayed in front and ONLY THEN came the "Multi21". BTW a "turn down engine" order wasn't issued at that point yet, or at least both ignored it, because both Vettel and Webber drove their fastest laps in lap 45. At the start of lap 46 the battle started, lasted for several corners and Vettel squeezed past. Only AFTER being overtaken Mark turned down the engine and dropped back about 2 seconds per lap, exposing all those conspiracy theories as utter claptrap, because no mere mortal could have fought as long as Mark did with a neutered engine.
From a team-player point of view Vettels disobedience was wrong on so many levels, but considering the bullshit he was issued by the team throughout the race and the fact that a team order this early in the season is unacceptable to begin with, his move is understandable. The biggest gripe I have with all this is, that he didn't have the balls to say what's what. Instead he cooked up this lame apology, which was cringewothy at best.
And let's be honest here, most of those who blast Vettel now for disobeying the team order would have screamed bloody murder, if the roles would have been reversed and Mark had been asked to stay in 2nd, because it's not what happened, but who did it.
Another thing that's 'conveniently' overlooked. After dropping behind due to the first stop, Vettel had caught up to Mark again by lap 26. His team told him to leave a gap to Mark, because 'you are too close in the fast corners'. That was effectively the first team order. Mark was doing delta times and Vettel forced to stay behind at a gap. This allowed Hamilton to close in and Vettel wanted to go past Mark instead of doing forced delta runs. That lead to the infamous "get him out of the way" exchange. A few moments later he was told 'be patient, it's only half race yet'. All this happened on lap 28. The result of this was, that Hamilton got past at the second pitstop, so the team's ridiculous order to leave a gap to Mark cost him a position.
At the third stop he got past HAM again and since he was on a brand spanking new set of softer tires, he closed in on Mark at the speed of light. All easily visible in the Lap Charts.
When Mark came out of the pits, Vettel had caught up and Mark barely stayed in front and ONLY THEN came the "Multi21". BTW a "turn down engine" order wasn't issued at that point yet, or at least both ignored it, because both Vettel and Webber drove their fastest laps in lap 45. At the start of lap 46 the battle started, lasted for several corners and Vettel squeezed past. Only AFTER being overtaken Mark turned down the engine and dropped back about 2 seconds per lap, exposing all those conspiracy theories as utter claptrap, because no mere mortal could have fought as long as Mark did with a neutered engine.
From a team-player point of view Vettels disobedience was wrong on so many levels, but considering the bullshit he was issued by the team throughout the race and the fact that a team order this early in the season is unacceptable to begin with, his move is understandable. The biggest gripe I have with all this is, that he didn't have the balls to say what's what. Instead he cooked up this lame apology, which was cringewothy at best.