Team Orders/#1 driver - The only way to win championships

[internetf1fan]

I am hoping RedBull and McLaren change their policies regarding team orders. Ferrari have known all this time that focusing on only one driver is the way to win championships. Red Bull in particular are about to lose out the championship because they didn't focus on one particular driver.

What I would like to see is the team backing one driver for the whole season. So anytime the #2 driver in front, he would move so that the #1 driver would get more points.

For sake of fairness, I would suggest alternating the #1 status between the two drivers each year, so that each gets a fair shot and winning the WDC.

[Miguel]

I disagree. Red Bull might lose the championship because of reliability issues and because of driver management issues. McLaren have been able to tame their drivers' egos a bit, which is a good sign from the 2007 season. IMHO, not taking into account raw car performance, McLaren have been the best team this year. The most complicated moment, at Istambul, was well solved. Other than a setup looking for too much top speed in the first two races, they are perhaps the team that has extracted the best out of the car. On the other hand, Ferrari, due to their points disadvantage, could have lost a championship for not supporting the driver with the realistic options.

[Just_a_fan]

@internetf1fan

If you had been Whitmarsh at the start of the season, which of your two world champion drivers would you have chosen as No. 1?

And if McLaren had adopted such a policy at the start of the season, which of their two drivers would have left? Neither would accept No. 2 status. Indeed, I think that's the reason Button went there - to be able to race against a world champion on equal status. He wouldn't have got that at Ferrari, for example. No way Alonso would accept a world champion in the other car. Schuie might have these days but, again, I'm not convinced he would have. A little bit of me thinks that part of the reason Button left is because the team had an inkling of Schuie's return and Button knew full well he wouldn't be treated well if Schuie came back and was as quick as he used to be.

McLaren's handling of two world champions in the same team has been excellent. They obviously learnt some lessons back in the Senna/Prost days. Indeed, I think they're the only team who could have pulled it off. We'll see how the season ends before casting final judgement though. If they go in to the last race both needing the win for the title then it could get messy.

As for Red Bull, that's also tricky. Both guys have been quick this year and both have dropped the ball at times too. I would expect that Red Bull would have, if pushed to do so in March, selected Vettel as No. 1 just because of the well known politics within the team. They would look a bit silly now if that had been the case. Vettel has thrown a bag full of points at the weeds this year. Webber conceding in Silverstone and Turkey would have altered the points picture I suppose, but even so, Webber would still be ahead.

Definite No.1 and No.2 drivers works well where you have a very quick driver coupled with a quick driver. One picking up points behind the other as happened in Schuie's day at Ferrari. Had McLaren had a competitive car last year, they would have done this with Hamilton and Kovi. But not this year (although Hamilton appears to be a couple of tenths quicker than Button at most circuits, it's probably not enough to say "you're the tail gunner" to Button).

[internetf1fan]

So there you go. Had RBR backed either Vettel or Webber from the start, allowing them to score maximum possible points at each race, they could afford one or two DNFs here and there. With two drivers taking points away from each other, any DNF is costly.

Ferrari knows how to win championships. RBR look stupid with their decision not to back a single driver.

[mep]

Ferrari looks stupid since they have kicked Kimi to hire Fernando. During Hockenheim GP it became very obvious. They lost massive support by this and many people just hope that anybody can win except Alonso.
Every driver can have a car failure or do a mistake you can't know what happens before the season. Nevertheless McLaren and RedBull both have two drivers with championship chances until the end of the season whereas Ferrari has just one because Massa doesn't have a intention to give 100%.

[zeph]

So there you go. Had RBR backed either Vettel or Webber from the start, allowing them to score maximum possible points at each race, they could afford one or two DNFs here and there. With two drivers taking points away from each other, any DNF is costly.

Ferrari knows how to win championships. RBR look stupid with their decision not to back a single driver.

If RBR are to lose the WDC, I think they lost it in Turkey.

[beret]

There is a high possibility that Ferrari will repeat the Hockenheim story in the Sao Paulo. Massa will definitely try hard to compete with top drivers on the grid and if he'll get ahead of Alonso anyhow on the track then Hockenheim 'ghost' will again haunt Mclaren and Redbull's.

[vall]

I kinda disagree with the title. The only way is to have:
1) luck
2) fast, cool head drivers
3) fast car
4) reliable car+engine
5) good team management

RBR clearly lack on 3) and a bit on 4). But if they loose the title it will be mostly for reliability issues. Without the reliability problems, they would still lead by a margin.

[zeph]

I kinda disagree with the title. The only way is to have:
1) luck
2) fast, cool head drivers
3) fast car
4) reliable car+engine
5) good team management

RBR clearly lack on 3) and a bit on 4). But if they loose the title it will be mostly for reliability issues. Without the reliability problems, they would still lead by a margin.

I presume that is a typo (bold print)? They have by far the fastest car this year. Reliability has only been an issue for Vettel, not for Webber, who has finished with points in all but two races. Both DNF's were because of crashes, not mechanical failure.

My take is that if RBR misses out this year the blame lies with management. If they had been as sensible as Ferrari they would have had it in the bag by now.

[manchild]

internetf1fan, the problem is "technical" - honest teams don't have whores as second drivers, and their former team boss on top on FIA.

It's better to loose sticking to fair-play, than to have pile of shameful Schuey-like titles that will never be generally accepted.

Go RBR, go McLaren.

[internetf1fan]

At the end of the day history doesn't remember how the WDC was won. Schumi is still considered a legend and when Alonso wins this year he will be another great.

We've seen this countless times. Two team mates taking points away from each other is the easiest way to lose a championship.

[Kristis]

It has to be very obvious decision for Horner to promote WEB to #1 now... I mean, VET must help WEB win remaining two races (220+50=270). Even if ALO finishes both GPs in 2nd, then 231+36=267... I will not understand if VET and WEB are allowed to race each other as before
But having one driver as #1 from the very start of the season is not what F1 is about.

[manchild]

At the end of the day history doesn't remember how the WDC was won. Schumi is still considered a legend and when Alonso wins this year he will be another great.

We've seen this countless times. Two team mates taking points away from each other is the easiest way to lose a championship.

Try search function on forum. Schumacher titles were never generally accepted, not even today. Dirt on them stays forever, so it will on Alonso's if he wins WDC this season.

[WhiteBlue]

In an interview with Sky Germany Button has rubbished the idea that he should drive for Hamilton as long as he still has a mathematical chance.

[vall]

At the end of the day history doesn't remember how the WDC was won. Schumi is still considered a legend and when Alonso wins this year he will be another great.

We've seen this countless times. Two team mates taking points away from each other is the easiest way to lose a championship.

Try search function on forum. Schumacher titles were never generally accepted, not even today. Dirt on them stays forever, so it will on Alonso's if he wins WDC this season.

I don't like the guy and what he did sometimes, but let's be honest: MS trashed every teammate he had. It was only a few cases when he needed to be let through. But it is also true the knowing that your teammate will not be any trouble and help you helps a lot.

Alonso without any doubt trashed Massa this year and he earned the No.1 status and the support form Ferrari. He was clearly their only hope to with the WDC. This was not the case with RBR and McLaren whose 2 drivers until today had real chance. Button dropped out today practically, so let see what happens in McLaren in Brazil. Though LH beats Button on regular basis, so perhaps there is nothing Button could, but crashing into Alonso or Webber )