The
Malaysian Grand Prix got a little ugly...if you listened to the radio transmissions. Sebastian Vettel ignored team orders to let his teammate Mark Webber win the race and Nico Rosberg was getting hot under the collar because Mercedes wouldn't let him pass his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. Oh, the joys of team orders.I’m not a fan of team orders. For those that don’t know, team orders is where a team will ask one of their drivers give away to their teammate to enable the other driver win or score points.
I don’t like team orders because it’s not right. Sport is about the best competitor winning. I get having teammates work together to benefit the team by slipstreaming during qualifying to help get a better time or not taking each other out, but actively telling one driver to sacrifice their position in a race for the betterment of their teammate is wrong. It cheapens the results, the sport and the spectator. I don’t care if a teammate doing better than the other will ruin the other teammate’s championship position. That’s racing.
And even if you benefit from team orders, it’s no fun because everyone knows your win is handed to you, so it’s a hollow victory. Who wants a championship title that comes with an asterisk next to it.
I'm with you. Let them race.
ReplyDeleteAre team orders no longer banned in F1? I thought they were frowned upon if not out right against the rules. Either way, it's tooooo early in the season to enforce team orders. I agree that they devalue a race wins and a resulting championship.
ReplyDeleteOk, researched on wikipedia...
ReplyDelete"After the 2002 season, FIA announced that "Team Orders that could influence the outcome of a race" were banned"
"As of 2011, the team orders rule no longer appears in the sporting regulations."
I've lost interest in open wheel racing lately due to decisions such as these. Add in the "pass buttons" employed by both Indy and F1 and it's lost it's appeal to me. I'd much rather watch sports or touring cars.