Wow. He should just be happy to have a job . . .

 

Wow, something tells me he isn't kidding around about retiring for good. I would really love to see him win some races since it's been about 5 years since his last win, iirc.

 

It would be unjust to see Reubens depart F1 under these pressures. We have to understand that he is no spring chicken, he's been around the block. Playing #2 to Schumi had to be frustrating but at this age, I imagine he figures that he has had enough.

There's no doubt Reubens is a great team mate and would continue to play his part in helping the team win. I think where he will draw the line is if he isn't given the chance to win, i.e. if the team draws up a strategy for him that is obviously slower than Jenson's. He is too much of a veteran to allow being beat on the track by a quicker car/driver to bother him to this extent (early retirement).

Telling a veteran who is just as quick as his team mate to slow down from the lead so the younger driver can get the W is not a good recipe.

This is one of the unenviable parts of being a team principal. Would you keep helping your championship leading driver win at the risk of pissing of your veteran driver whose input into car development is priceless?

 

YouTube - It's in the contract

Ahhh... The good ol' Schumi days.

 

You and Fernando Alonso would get along swimmingly.

 

I would have wrapped the jack around his neck!

Refresh my memory Dana, was Freddie given orders to let Lewis by when he (Freddie) was quicker?

 

That pic is from the famed 2007 Hungarian GP where Alonso intentionally refused to leave the pit in order to prevent Lewis from completing his final hot lap.

Alonso won the pole position and Lewis got second. But Alonso was penalized for the move and Lewis moved up to pole - he also won the race.

Ron Dennis tried to fall on his sword and say it was his fault. Alonso didn't win another race all year while Lewis went on to win 4 more.

Lots of team orders there going all over the place!

 

I am well aware of that scenario captured in the pic you posted. I've been witness to team orders for a loooong time.



You didn't answer my question though bud.

 

No. Fern was NEVER faster than Lewis. But he would argue that it was because Lewis got all the upgrades and the best engineer and pit crew help. Also, I think Fern expected McLaren to slow Lewis down to support him - kind of how Ferrari pressured Massa to support Kimi until it became painfully obvious that Kimi's career is over.

As you know, the Hungarian GP fiasco was Ron Dennis trying to show the world that it swung both ways.

It really is too bad because the Lewis/Fernando pairing could have been one of the best in F1 history and lead to many constructor championships for McLaren. But it is tough to ask a 2-time - and then reigning - champion to "take one for the team."

 

I just can't quite understand Brawn's motivation for wanting to screw Barrichello. If both of your drivers are going to give you the maximum amount of constructors points in that particular race anyway, isn't that all that should matter to the team? Let the drivers fight it out for who will win the WDC.