Ron Dennis On Driver Equality….Again.
Written by George Katinger · March 15, 2008
Ron has steadfastly refused to quit (good for him) in the aftermath of last season’s “troubles”. My hope was that he would have learned something and spent a quiet 2008 winning a title or two and then retiring. I guess I was asking for too much.
I suspect that Ron is still catching holy hell from all manner of media over last year’s issues, in particular his handling of the volatile Hamilton – Alonso contretemps. To the point where he has once again publicly defended the team’s policy of so called equal treatment. Sayeth Mr. Dennis:
“You can be critical of the way we choose to operate our team in terms of driver equality, but I think it does get the best out of drivers. It’s supportive and gives them guidance and puts them in a position to perform.”
First let me say there is no team that would give unequal equipment to their drivers, with the possible (emphasis on possible) exception of Ferrari during the Schumacher red reign of terror. The fact of the matter is that it was Ron’s mismanagement of his drivers that cost the team the driver’s championship last year. He preached equality and that is exactly what the team produced, both drivers finishing with 109 points: And Kimi Raikkonen winning the title with 110.
Nice job, one you should be proud of. Here’s hoping that if a similar scenario unfolds this year you have the courage to take the two combatants by the scruffs of their necks and clearly establish a pecking order that will favor one of them to win the title. And I really don’t care much which one. Lewis should be the preseason favorite, especially now starting the Oz GP on pole.
Then go off and enjoy your gardening activities.
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What a Jackass. Did you see him ecstatic when HK passed Alonso? He hates Alonso more than he loves LH. Maybe he will consummate the relationship with LH now that he is free… just kidding.
Anyway, HK demonstrated that it’s easier to get better results on a good car, now, could he have done what Alonso did today? I think not.
Hopefully RD forgets Alonso and concentrates in managing his team better, instead of BS everyone and trying to make excuses to why he F’d up last year. Alonso should have been Champion.
I beg to differ with your assement of Ferrari giving Shuey’s teammates different equipment George. They all had the same specs as Shuey but were under strict orders as to what to do with said equipment. As it should be. If number 1 car has a problem then number 2 is in postion to scoop up some points, it’s the logical and sensible way to run a team.
The “no team orders” rules were a result of one team’s dominance (we won’t bring up which one).
In my widely appreciated opinion, the “no team orders” rules have to go and let us get back to racing the way God intended, may the fastest man win and if he doesn’t his teammate will.
I couldn’t have stated the case any better mo. For once we totally agree, except possibly on one minor point. We can’t have a driver deliberately pull over to “allow” his teammate to pass to gain more points or a win, ala Schumy in Austria. That and the Indy 1-2 Ferrari wins are what brought out the “no team orders” ban.
Everything else should be a part of team strategy to gain as many points as possible.
Georgie, Georgie, Georgie.
How soon we forget.
Back in my day (or a few days before that) drivers used to not only let teammates pass, they used to give up their leading cars to the driver leading in championship points. Perfectly legal and I never once heard a complaint about it. Not in the press, not in the stands, not even from disgruntled team owners who were trying to find anyway possible to slow down their competitors. This rule is clearly the most defining of the Shuey rules. If Ferraris hadn’t walked all over the competiton for so long there would have never been one word spoken of this farcical rule. It happens every weekend in NASCAR and after the pass the driver’s teammate will even block the competition after letting his teammate by. The no blocking rule is a correct one though, it keeps the fastest drivers in touch with the leader.
I seriously can’t ever remember anyone whining about a teammate letting another teammate by. In fact my memories are of when a teammate didn’t let his championship leading teammate by, leading to the possibilty of losing the championship. Why would they be called “teammates” if they didn’t help each other? Is this a team sport or an individual sport?
Damn mo, when you’re on a roll, you’re on a roll! Can’t disagree again. But the other instances you cite were probably never orchestrated on the last turn of the last lap as in Austria.
But you ask the right question: Why shouldn’t anything go when it comes to team orders, short of Senna/Schumy collision tactics?
You should take this up with your compadres Maxine and Bernice, I’m sure they’ll listen.
Yeah that Austria race was Rubens way of showing the F1 fraternity he was unhappy playing 2nd fiddle to his vastly superior teammate. He was called over the radio many laps prior to the end to let his teammate by. During the last lap there was quite a bit of foul language being used to encourage him to listen to his team boss.