Fantasy Scenario - you the F1 driver - what do you do?

[Mr V]

Something i was thinking about last night -

Ok, you are F1 driver

It's the last race of the season at China 2005, your currently 3rd place in the WDC, 10 points behind the championship leader, but even if you won the race, you couldn't win the WDC because you don't have enough race wins. Your teammate is 1 point ahead of you and can win the WDC if he wins the race and the championship leader doesn't score.

Due to internal politics within the team, your contract hasn't been renewed, so this is your last race for the team, and more importantly you don't get on with your teammate.

The championship table looks like this going into the race....

Championship leader 90 points
Your teammate 81 points
You 80 points

Right, the race is 7 laps from the end, the championship leader is leading the race, you are second and your teamate is third. All pitstops are complete, so the team can't "interfere" with the stratergy due to a "dodgy stop" , when disaster strikes the championship leader and he goes out of the race, you are now leading the race with your teammate behind you, you know it's coming, and it does "let your teammate through to win the race and the championship!"

You have nothing to lose, what do you do?

Do you obey the order so the table finishes....

Teammate 91 points - WDC
(previous) Championship leader 90 points
You 88 points

Or do you refuse to let him through, taking the win, and more importantly, 2nd place ahead of your teammate in the WDC so the table finishes...

Championship leader 90 points - WDC
You 90 points
Teammate 89 points

Man, i have too much time on my hands

[Russfeld]

Team comes first.

[mac]

Originally Posted by Russfeld

Team comes first.

I agree.

And the best way to endear yourself to another team is to show such an attitude.

[Knowlesy]

I'd refuse.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Russfeld

Team comes first.

Maybe, but in 7 laps time your no longer a driver of that team

I have to say, i think i'd refuse, given that i was being "let go" by the team and i didn't like my teammate!

[Kicking-back]

I'd let him through.

I'm employed by the team to help them win the title.

And showing myself to be petulant won't impress any potential new employers.

[joe rossi]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

I'd let him through.

I'm employed by the team to help them win the title.

And showing myself to be petulant won't impress any potential new employers.

Spot on there KB...Any new team will remember what happened and it wouldn't do you any favours in the future.

[ensign14]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

I'd let him through.

I'm employed by the team to help them win the title.

And showing myself to be petulant won't impress any potential new employers.

Yep.

[Boro]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

I'd let him through.

I'm employed by the team to help them win the title.

And showing myself to be petulant won't impress any potential new employers.

but in this scenario we don't know the constructor's championship standings. Furthermore, regardless of whether I let him by or not, the total points scored by the TEAM is equal in both scenarios.

If it was me, I'd say **** the teammate, i'm going for the win. If HE wants to win, come EARN it. That's assuming if he and I had no pre-race arrangements to begin with. If there was, then that's another story.

edit: furthermore, with only 90 points between the leader and myself, chances are that I COULD theoretically be the WDC if I had more wins / podium finishes than the current "leader"

way too close to give that up. I don't think even DC would move over in this situation

[gfm]

Good question Mr V.
The answer is, as so often in life, is ' do I have an alternative?'
If you have next year's contract confirmed and in your pocket, you're OK to take the win yourself.
If you haven't, your unlikely to drive for a top team ever again if you have shown yourself capable of not doing the right thing for the team.

[Don K]

I assume my current team already has assigned their 2 drivers for next year.


1. If I do not have a contract for next year, I know I will probably lose the possibility go get any contract for next year if I win this race, so I will let my team-mate win.
And if there would be any doubt as to whether or not a team order would be allowed in this situation (and provided there's a sufficient gap with the driver in third place), I would probably use the team radio to tell my team I think I have a slight problem with the car, and *ask* whether I can come in to let them have a quick look. (This way my team would have proof beyond doubt that it was *not* a team order)


2. If I *do* have a contract for next year, and the team that contracted me happens to be the team that currently employs the championship leader, things are slightly more complicated.
If in this situation I would think that team orders would be illegal, I would probably try to win the race.
If in this situation I would think that team orders would be perfectly legal, I would probably let my team mate win the race. This would show my next employer, that I am a professional who will honour his contract under all circumstances.


3. If I do have a contract for next year for a *third team*, things are even more complicated.
For instance, if there would be some FIA rule saying that nobody was allowed to interfere with the two remaining WDC-competitors, that rule would in fact force me to let my team mate win ...

[frederick]

I would probably move-over for the sake of appearances but only after asking......................"What's it worth to ya!"

and maybe .............."patch me through to the other team,..........what are they offering?"

[ASCII Man]

I would do exactly the same as Rubens did in Austria '02, wait untill the last corner to let him through as to show everyone who's the real driver of the day.

[f1_carzy]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

I would do exactly the same as Rubens did in Austria '02, wait untill the last corner to let him through as to show everyone who's the real driver of the day.

In the last drive of teh champ, u got to be loyal to the team!

[Kicking-back]

I wouldn't have moved over earlier in the season - but when the championship is on the line it is a different matter.

[krt917]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

I wouldn't have moved over earlier in the season - but when the championship is on the line it is a different matter.

Yes, I agree. Unless I really, really disliked the guy, I'd move over. It might be different if 'I' hadn't won a GP before, but your senario suggests that 'I' have!

It wouldn't really have anything to do with what future potential teams thought, though that is a sensible consideration, it would have more to do with doing what I perceived was the correct thing to do.

[Alex Hodgkinson]

ooooooh didn't read it properly

I'd let him through.

[Fantasy GP610]

GP victories are hard to come by and i wouldn't give the win away.........and i wouldn't expect any teamate to do it for me if the situations were reversed.

In my view teams should not ask drivers to do this whatever the situation.

If you win a WDC in this way ........would you not feel it was devalued (it would be to me).

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

I'd take the win, without a doubt.

If you're lying 3rd in the Championship and your current team hasn't renewed your contract it's pretty likely you bagged a drive for next season 5 months a go so how it looks to potential employers is largely meaningless.

The team gets the same points regardless so they can't kick up to much of a fuss.

[Kicking-back]

Presumably when anyone signs a contract with a team this sort of scenario is discussed.

[DougK]

Being a World Champion puts you well into the record books, so not reaching it would be a downer but...... I hate my team mate (we don't get on!)

The controversory caused would give you great publicity ....so......

I'd refuse - win the race, win the constructers championship for the team and then if the team didn't re-sign me as No. 1 Driver I would make it clear that the team is using team orders which under the regs is not allowed and earn my £500k from Max!

I'd then drive in Champ car and win the title to prove a point!

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by DougK

Being a World Champion puts you well into the record books, so not reaching it would be a downer but......

The controversory caused would give you great publicity ....so......

I'd refuse - win the race, win the championship for the team and then if the team didn't re-sign me as No. 1 Driver I would make it clear that the team is using team orders which under the regs is not allowed and earn my £500k from Max!

I'd then drive in Champ car and win the title to prove a point!

Team orders would be allowed in that scenario, I believe.

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Team orders would be allowed in that scenario, I believe.

Well, according to the regs it shouldn't. It leaves no room for the distinction of different scenarios. It says no orders are allowed that effect the outcome of the race. So it shouldn't be allowed at any point.

Thankfully, it is all totally unworkable anyway and teams will order away whenever they want.

[Bellof]

no way I let this moron pass. I rather take the win and hand the titel to michael...

[neil_davidson2]

I'd let him through - and yep this is why team orders need to be in the sport. And I doubt there would be any uproar from the media/public in this case - although those that had put money on you winning the race might be a little put out.