Vettel Victory Highlights how Team Orders ‘damages the reputation’ of F1, says Expert
March 25, 2013
Sebastian Vettel’s controversial victory at the Malaysia Grand Prix further highlights the struggle between team orders and the reputation of Formula One, according to an expert.
Vettel disobeyed Red Bull’s team orders and dangerously overtook team mate Mark Webber to secure first place.
The debate about whether team orders should be banned to stop team’s controlling the competiveness of a race has since arisen, and F1 expert Mark Gallagher, who has worked for Jaguar, Red Bull and Jordan Grand Prix Ltd, has told iSportconnect the reputation of the sport could be damaged in the eyes of the media and fans.
Gallagher, Managing Director of the CMS Motor Sport consultancy said: “It damages the reputation in F1 amongst media and the fans for there not to be clear racing up until the chequered flag and in that sense, team orders are still an extremely controversial issue that no good solution has been found for.
“It doesn’t lie comfortably with the media, or the fans, or the viewing public, that we have a sport where when the final pit stops are finished, the leading teams quite often tell their drivers not to race each other when it is supposed to be a race.
“If Red Bull and Mercedes are holding station for second, third and fourth then the viewing public are being robbed of a fight and of course television companies are being robbed of action that could help to build their viewers.”
However, Gallagher suggested that the Red Bull brand would not be affected by the contentious race, because it is a case of ‘any publicity is good publicity.’
On the issue of banning team orders, motorsport sales expert, Brian Sims added: “The FIA has tried banning them, but the teams just resort to subterfuge instead. At least it’s now out in the open.”
The former Head of Motorsport for the API Agency, who represented the Benetton F1 team added: “On the publicity aspect, I can understand where people are coming from, but just think for a moment of the potential for disaster.
“The battle on the track in Malaysia over the closing stages was fortunately incident free, but at 180 mph plus, with hearts so close to ruling heads, it doesn’t take much for that to suddenly turn into a lethal concoction, with dire consequences.”