F1 Team orders

[John]

Just watched some of the F1 1997 season and got thinking about the last race when DC let Mika past and then Villeneuve let them both pass for a McLaren 1-2.

Obviously the big news of the race was Schumacher's "accident" and JV winning the title, but nothing was made really of the place swapping at the end.

DC clearly pulled over on the straight to let his team mate pass (in much the same way as Barrichello at Austria - if not at the last corner) and Villeneuve clearly pulled out of the way to let the McLarens get past. For some reason this is acceptable though, whereas the Austria race was extremely unacceptable. And I include my own views in this - I wasn't outraged at all by the 1997 incident whereas I found the 2002 incident unacceptable.

Anyone know the reasons for this contradiction in views??

All I can think of is everyone was focused on MS's move and was just pleased Villeneuve had won, the 2002 move was worse because MS benefitted and because it was Ferrari, or because there was much more team tactics in play in 1997 - there was Frentzen holding up MS to allow Villeneuve to catch up etc.

[Claw]

I didn't mind it as long as Ferrari and MS lost in 1997.

I think they swapped cos JVs car was damaged and him and DC are good friends, then they decided to let Mika win as he hadn't won a race and he deserved one coming close about 4 times in 1997! :rolleyes:

But after that win Mika took off and won to titles! Bet they regrete letting him past...

[John]

I dont think the Williams was that damaged - think that was an excuse to let the others close up and past - not that I mind as everyone was a winner really!

If DC hadn't let Mika past and had won the race himself, do you reckon he'd have won the title in 98 and 99 instead of Mika?! ;)

[Claw]

Probably not cos DC isn't consistant enough. He starts the season off really well, and he always tends to fade around half distance in the season.

[bramble]

I think the reason people were so outraged at the 2002 incident was because Barrichello was in the lead the whole race, only to give it up on the last corner. He had also only won one race, and Micheal had a clear lead in the championship, so wasn't really neccessary.

Team orders are used all the time in every type of motorsport, so although not very fair, people really shouldnt complain (although now its banned in F1).

[Ann]

Originally posted by Claw
I didn't mind it as long as Ferrari and MS lost in 1997.


I'm with you on that one! :p

The DC / Mika incident was the result of a "gentleman's agreement". They were fairly evenly matched & agreed that whoever got into the first corner first should be allowed to keep that position to avoid uneccesary battles between team mates (an approach that could be considered by certain BTCC drivers! :p )

This would all have been fine if Mika hadn't made an extra trip through the pits after a communication problem. DC honoured the agreement as, by rights, Mika should still have been in front.

I'm quite sure he didn't anticipate the confidence it would give his team mate from then on nor the fact that it would take about years before the favour was returned, and at a point where it provided little benefit.