An easy ride for Ferrari?
Dear Nigel,
If the Ferraris and the McLarens had swapped places into that first corner at Fuji, would Ferrari have been penalised for messing up McLaren’s start?
Alastair Warren
Filed under: Ask Nigel, Exclusive content
Nigel Roebuck
It’s been Formula 1 all the way for Nigel – he started covering the sport in 1971. In the mid-1970s he worked for Graham Hill’s Embassy F1 team, before joining Autosport for whom he has written over 400 Grand Prix reports. Nigel joined Motor Sport full-time on Januray 1 2008. As well as reporting on F1 for national newspapers, he has written 19 books on motor racing. His insightful writing and candid interviews with the great names in racing have made him one of the recognised authorities on F1.
Peter Dick:
December 10th, 2008 4:09pm
The FIA bias towards Ferrari is a no brainer…Spa 2008 was just the most blatant example…Mosley talks about ensuring no team has an “unfair advantage” yet Ferrari enjoys the perennial unfair advantage of a governing body that favours them and has a disproportionate number of Ferrari-linked members on their boards/committees. It has rendered the championship meaningless, since the fix is in. And the fact that Mosley has uttered not a single word about Lewis Hamilton/McLaren winning the Driver’s Championship is proof to me that he’s probably stewing that all his efforts to tip the title to Ferrari still didn’t work. This time…
david holmes:
December 16th, 2008 6:41pm
I realize your position makes it difficult to comment Nigel but, honestly, the perception that both Ecclestone and Mosley give every appearance of favouring Ferrari is a pretty valid one. As someone once said, “Not only must justice be done; it must be seen to be done”. Well, injustice via the penalties to McLaren and Hamilton, and lack of same to Ferrari and both its drivers is being seen to be done. And just to add some spice to this opinion, let me say that Michael Schumacher was one of the dirtiest drivers in Formula 1, followed at a little distance by Ayrton Senna, and I’ve been watching F1 since WWII. Both drivers have been almost canonized, but both would cheerfully run their competition off the track if they thought it necessary. Only Schumacher drove for Ferrari, and his tactics were given the “blind eye” many times.
Bob Graham:
December 16th, 2008 9:16pm
Nigel, your reply was priceless!
You continue to be my favorite F1 info source, a worthy successor to DSJ.
Mario Pizzi:
December 16th, 2008 10:12pm
Oh the Ferrari bashing…..must be a hobby of many a British journalist and racing fan. Quite pathetic actually.
Steve:
December 18th, 2008 7:40pm
Just a thought if Schumacher had the gifted “wins”, stolen “wins” and disputed “wins” removed how many Championships would he really have “won”.
Could you look at a trophy somebody else should have in their cabinet and then look at yourself in a mirror?
Schumacher clearly can - but I couldn’t.
Mario Pizzi:
December 28th, 2008 7:47pm
Gifted wins……that would include one. Stolen wins? Maybe Steve you can give us a list.
Disputed wins……every winning driver has had disputed wins. The fact that he gave it his all for all those years was an accomplishment in itself. Stop whining and get over it.