IF you’ve listened to our Canadian Grand Prix race review podcast, then you’ll know that both Paul and I felt the Force India situation during the race was a great problem to have for the team.
While we both thought Esteban Ocon had officially announced himself in Formula 1 and he had a terrific run on Sunday as well as the best chance of passing Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull for a podium position, we also understood Sergio Perez’s dog-eat-dog approach and unwillingness to move for his quicker teammate.
Having said that, I explained that Force India made an error by not recognizing their best chance for a podium and initially they were fine with the altercation and result of Perez ignoring the team hints to move over for his teammate. It now seems that team boss Bob Fernley is reconsidering that position slightly and probably for the reasons I mentioned on the podcast.
“I think we have just got to look at it.
“If we have to change the policy of how we work, that is a separate decision.
“We have always allowed the drivers to race. We should not have recriminations on that at the end of the day.
“From a fan point of view, you cannot have it both ways.
“You cannot complain when people make switches [between drivers] and say they want them to race, and when they race say you want it the other way around.
“So, our policy has been let them race and that is what we did.”
When the team has a chance to get its car and sponsor on the podium, you do it. Period. Regardless of the virtuous notion of letting the drivers race, you have an obligation to maximize your potential for those who are paying the bills.
The team should have demanded Perez move over and returned the position should Ocon failed to pass Ricciardo. HOWEVER, he does have a very salient point to make here and while I may feel this way, there are many fans who feel very differently about team orders or moving cars around during a race.
Would you be put off by giving Ocon a shot and them moving him back if he failed? Some might be and that’s what Bob is speaking about. I’m not one of those fans as I feel it’s a team sport and using all your weapons during a race is fun to watch. You may feel differently though.
hat tip: Autosport
Ocon, Perez brings more money than you. Do you understand the message?
Force India understood well, which is why they defended him. However, Ocon is Mercedes property, if they are unhappy with how Force India treat him, they will take him elsewhere.
The situation at Force India. One of their drivers asks his team so as his team mate lets him through, the team first tells his team mate to let him through and after that they then gave him three laps to overtake the car in front before having to let his team mate through, (when it was too late and so useless) they then tell him that if the scope is not successful his place will be given back. As regards team interests and them putting their sponsors on the podium, Sponsors wise, both their drivers are regarded as sponsors,… Read more »
Their drivers do have backing for sure and I am not in their team management meetings to discover which logo on their cars are there because of the driver that brought them but I also know FI is really good an running down new sponsor opportunities and they have their own sponsors as well. Do they equal the amount both drivers are bringing? To your point, perhaps not. I think a team still has to maximize its opportunities and seek the podium if it is possible and it is rumored that Perez is leaving t the end of this season… Read more »
If Perez walks next year and Force India with a car that have the most stickers on the grid couldn’t get another driver with similar sponsorship money, even with Ocon’s Mercedes connections, it would be difficult for Force India to survive.
Two car teams is the problem, each team gets one car, one driver, one set of engineers and mechanics, no more team orders, no more problem.
I think asking a proud Latino man to drive a pink car is already so immasculating, one must understand when he feels the indignity has got to stop somewhere.
I found this today at TheJudge13!
I found this today as The Judge13 … pretty funny!
Nothing like a good scandal or controversy to maximize exposure.
FOM cameras were glued to those two pink cars while they were fighting on and off track.
Plus, we are still talking about what is clearly an internal matter, even after a couple of days later. Sponsors must be delighted.
I’m glad Perez defied his bosses but I am equally glad that Ocon felt shafted. Now there are two more entertaining intra team battles going on in F1. Makes for good watching and hopefully, racing.
BOB FERNELY:> “There were no orders given, so no orders were ignored”. can anybody figure that out?.
I think it means ‘nothing to see here, no story, no argument, no fight, move on’
“I think it means ‘nothing to see here, no story, no argument, no fight, move on”. That is exactly what Bob Fernely meant, no mistake about it. A lot of people tried their best to kick-up a lot of dust on this matter, Fired-up by that section of the usual media, but this time the villain was the driver and not the team, and a note here so as not to be misunderstood, if I was his team manager, no matter the amount of money he brings to the team, after the flag he would have had to go looking… Read more »
I remember Pat Symonds talking about Williams having ‘rules of engagement’ for the drivers. It would make sense that the teams would set out their expectations about team orders, not hampering your team mate, not abusing the team, team mate, sponsors etc, etc. I expect that all teams have something like that, so that if the circumstances we saw at the weekend arise, everyone knows what they have agreed to do. If F.I genuinely have ‘no team orders’, ‘race your team mate’ rules of engagement, then fair enough, there is nothing to see here. But if that’s not the case,… Read more »
I believe that every team on the grid will have “rules of engagement”. I don’t believe it is possible for any team not to have team orders when need be. as to a driver refusing team orders, in my opinion there should be no IFS OR BUTS, there should be no other way about it, but for him to be fired on the spot whatever the Consequences.
Another delusional comment to attack Lewis Hamilton and his supporters. He really does live in your head. How tedious and boring. All racing fans were praising both Lewis and Seb in Montreal, Lewis on Saturday and Seb on Sunday. Great efforts from both champions. But you, on the other hand still managed to make it just about Hamilton. Seriously, how do you connect the controversy at Force India with Hamilton and his fans? It’s delusional. Worse than fanboy mentality bordering on obsession. Where is the proof that Hamilton supporters were the only one upset about the Force India situation? None.… Read more »
As I said, this Force India kicked-up “BY SOME” melodrama was this time different to previous once, this time the villain was the driver and not the team for “SOME’, a reaction which really exposed these “SOME” for the principles they stand for when and where it suits them.
As to the Senna family tribute in regaling a replica helmet, it being a replica speaks a lot, within twenty four hours we got to know (and this time was the second time) that an original being regaled was sold for peanuts by the receiver.
Who are these “SOME” you are talking about and how can you prove that these “SOME” were upset at Perez because it allowed Vettel to move up the points. You seriously cannot provide proof. None. You did say that it was your opinion because it was obvious it stood for what you represent, when and where it suits you – delusional. Once again, like always, it comes down to your obessession with Hamilton and his fans. Great first half of the comment and then the second half is a dig at Hamilton and his fans. You can’t help yourself because… Read more »
The ‘SOME’ I was talking about were all over their usual F1 discussion sites complaining that while Perez did not let his team mate through he let Vettel through with easy, actually made way for Vettel, and that was why they bad mouthed the driver (Perez) this time and not the team. The actually used helmet I was talking about was one that Senna actually used/raced in when he switched from McLaren to Williams in 94, he gave it to Silvester Stallone who in turn later on sold it for 40750 US dollars. And yes no doubt that Vettel’s pace… Read more »
There is still no proof from you that those “SOME” were the only ones kicking up dust about the FI team orders controversy. In fact, everyone is talking about this. Not just publications or supporters that are pro-Hamilton. Everyone. It is being talked about in German, Spanish, French, Italian and even Maltese newspapers. From the Malta Independent: “The pink Force India cars of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon were fifth and sixth after battling each other on the track — and over the radio — for position down the stretch. After Perez was told to let Ocon pass so he… Read more »
Birds of feather not only flock together but they only sing what the others in the flock would like to hear. The “SOME” I was talking about where all over their usual nestling places, egged-on by their usual pushers, they were all out expressing their deep sympathy for the team and their anger for the driver for not letting his team mate through but then letting Vettel through. This was different, this was not FERRARI giving team orders and screwing one of its drivers, this was like when Mercedes gave team orders to one of its drivers to let the… Read more »
Taipan, Nakagoli and Sunny, birds of a feather flocking together singing only what the flock wants to hear, “We want to hear more Hamilton comments please. We know it’s not a Lewis article but we want to hear more about him and his hair and tattoos. Please, pretty please.” Oh, the hypocrisy. Hypocrites of the first order indeed, who knows no shame and are devoid of any principles in life. That’s why the flock died. Only Nakagoli is left preaching but hardly anyone is listening anymore. No principles. Of course, this is different. It’s not about Ferrari or Mercedes. It’s… Read more »
The same recycled BLAB BLAB BLAB, practing the same act here.
I’m not the one who keeps bringing up Hamilton on every article, including non-Hamilton ones. It’s an act that we have been accustomed to every time you post. There is only one actor in this one man play and it isn’t me. SOME”, “SOME”, and more “SOME”. Sounds a lot like the same old BLAH, BLAH, and more BLAH. Meanwhile, the whole world, from UK to Malta is pushing the narrative that Perez defied his team’s order, which the radio transcripts confirmed. No one, however, has confirmed that they are pointing a finger at the driver because it affected Hamilton’s… Read more »
and yet the “stand-up” still practicing the same acts.
Yup, you are actually the longest running show on the internet.
everybody and his dog knows a stand-up comedian practicing when they read one.
Yup, that’s why you’re the longest running comedy show on the internet. Even the dogs know.