Schumacher strikes back

[Gerard]

This is an excerpt from Thursday's press conference in Germany.

question: It has been confirmed that the so-called 'one move' anti-blocking rule is not so much a regulation as a piece of advice which is to be taken into consideration in the event of collisions on the track. Both David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve have now made it clear that they fear an accident at the start unless Michael accepts that he must sometimes back off. I would therefore like to ask Michael if, as the sport's senior driver, he feels comfortable to be taking advantage of such advice when he considers that his actions are likely to be followed by younger drivers.

Schumacher: Why don't you put this question to [FIA Safety Delegate] Charlie Whiting?

question: We have done that. Charlie indicates that this is not a firm rule in the sense that it has been written into the regulations ...

Schumacher: So it is a rule so far, about what we can do. And he has said that as long as you [make the move] in a safe way, it's OK. Correct? So what are we doing here? Is this Formula 1 or is it drinking coffee in a happy family situation? We are racing in a very hard and fair way, in my view. Nothing else. It has always been like this. If you want to change the rule, we can discuss it. But this is the way it is. And please don't suggest that it is only me who is doing it. That is completely untrue, because if you look through the field you will see many drivers doing it. And some of the same drivers who complain about me are people who have also done it themselves, maybe not at the start but in other circumstances during the race. I think we can discuss the matter, but don't try to create a story in the direction you're trying to go, because there is no point. If the rules allow us to fight like this, then that's how we will fight. It is part of the business.

question: There remains a clear disagreement between you on one side, and David and Jacques on the other, over the interpretation of the 'advice' ...

Schumacher: That's why we had a meeting before the race in Austria. At that meeting it was made quite clear by Charlie Whiting that what happened at Imola and Magny-Cours - where unfortunately an example was made of me on both occasions - was totally OK.

question: May I therefore ask David if he still believes that the lack of direction on this matter is likely to lead to a major collision?

Coulthard: Every time you put a car on a track, or every time a driver starts a race, there is the potential for an accident. So I don't think there is much point in making a distinction between what can happen in the first few hundred metres of a Grand Prix and what might happen over the course of the entire race. This is an issue of the rules that apply on every lap. As Michael says, there was a discussion about this in Austria. And Charlie Whiting, as an adviser to the Stewards, gave his opinion on what he felt was the line. As long as we all know where that line is, then we can go racing. This is something that needed to be clarified, and as far as the driving is concerned, it has been clarified.

question: Following Charlie's clarification, has the danger mentioned by David now increased? It seems that Michael has one opinion on this, while all the other drivers have an opposite opinion ...

Schumacher: Let me say that two drivers - Jacques and David - have a different opinion. The rest of the drivers have another opinion, and Charlie agrees with all those other opinions. Especially in England, I know that things have been turned to make it appear that I am some bad guy who does things which are not allowed to be done. This is not true. The [things I do] are OK. If not, the Stewards would tell me, and I would have to drive accordingly. But that is not the case. I therefore do not understand this casino. We can discuss within our group whether this should be the case. That is a different matter. But in all the years I have been involved in F1, that has been the case. Did you write something similar after Senna held off Mansell at Monaco in 1992? No! You all reported it as great racing! Didn't you?

[Liz]

And did the handbags come out then? I'll be interested to see if "all the other drivers" ally themselves with TGF or with DC and Jacques. Judging by what Eddie has said, I know at least one who has made his position clear - and it's no longer under the boot of You Know Who.

[EERO]

When I read this earlier today, I thought TGF sounded rarther defensive. He WILL cause an accident at the start of some race if he doesn't cease the cross track weave. His arrogance never ceases to amaze me.

The thing that really concerns me is that the issue has come out in public and I think expressions of animosity between drivers really would have better been left in the Drivers' Meetings. Public bickering and finger pointing, especially about safety issues do the sport litle good.

[downforce]

EERO!
"Did you write something similar after Senna held off Mansell at Monaco in 1992? No! You all reported it as great racing! Didn't you? "
What dyu say to that??...arrogance???
WHY?
Why has blocking become "a criminal offence" to a man who wins 3 races by fluke????
(RB engine blows,MS suspension breaks,MS tyres+engine give up)...sure DCs always up there on the podium ready to snatch wins from technical hassles that befall both MH+MS..he better be!(in Newey built Williams+Mclarens all his life)

Like MS says werent ASs blocking tactics regarded as gr8 racing?????

[neutral]

Totally agree with downforce!!!!
Everyone on this panel craves for more racing, and yet when they see it they start whinging. Montreal was made exciting by the agression showed by DC but more so by MS. If MS had just given up like RB and let them easily by then it would have been another boring race. LET THEM RACE!!!!

[angst]

There seems to be a misunderstanding of holding your line to make good racing. When drivers used to race defensively, iy was to do with positioning your car intelligently on the track to make it difficult for the man behind to pass. Lap times often used to fall dramatically, as the lines used were much slower. What seems to be accepted as defensive driving now is waiting for someone to attempt to overtake and cut accross them, leaving them the option of back 'off or we crash', basically hey play chicken with each other.

[Valve Bounce]

I fear that what TGF has said will provoke some of the other drivers into more agressive tactics at the start with dyre consequenses to follow. As the saying goes, what is good for the goose is good enough for the gander. Can we look forward to more prangs at the first corner??

[Mr.J]

Originally posted by Angst:

When drivers used to race defensively, iy was to do with positioning your car intelligently on the track to make it difficult for the man behind to pass. Lap times often used to fall dramatically, as the lines used were much slower.

Hey Angst,

This still happens. If you noticed in France for the 10 laps Michael held off DC, his car was on a slower pace apparently, and he altered his lines for example at the entrance to Estoril. He rode the curves into Estoril in France and gained some distance on DC which DC was able to draw back at on the straight leading up to Adelaide. This gave Schumacher that cushion he needed to maintain the lead over DC. As for the lap times, they fell dramatically as was indicated by Rubens and Mika being able to catch up to Schumacher and DC at a rapid pace.

Originally posted by Angst:

What seems to be accepted as defensive driving now is waiting for someone to attempt to overtake and cut accross them, leaving them the option of back 'off or we crash', basically hey play chicken with each other.

Now, in my view, this has always been done. Look at Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna at the Suzuka incident in '89. Senna made an aggressive move to the inside which was an impossible line. What was he doing? Playing chicken with Alain, seeing if he would back off or not. What happened? Alain didn't back off and boom, they collided. Same thing in Suzuka 1990 or 1991 i'm not sure on the first lap incident in which Alain again closed the door on Ayrton. They both dove for the inside and another collision. Also, in Dijon in 1979, on the last lap, Villeneuve and Arnoux were at a famous battle. Well I'll let you judge that one for yourself. Check it out.

http://mach.me.queensu.ca/~bakhtiar/...79/Dijon79.mpg

In conclusion Angst, Chicken has always been a part of racing. Although, the only difference is that there's less chances to play chicken today.

[Tristan]

Can someone please explain to me what was so bad about Michael's starts at San Marino etc? He got a **** start and blocked DC. So what? Isn't that RACING? What would YOU have done? Let him through?!

Mangy Cours: let DC just breeze past, right? Turn the race into a procession?? Please....

On the one hand people in this forum are all keen for "great racing" and "reducing aero and bringing back slicks in order to see better racing"

Well BULL**** TO THAT!!! HYPOCRACY!! The moment we get some aggressive duelling between the top drivers (something that I thought we all lusted for) certain people scream "BUT IT'S DANGEROUS!!" or "IT'S DISGRACEFUL!" Is it b ollocks.

SHUT UP WITH YOUR DOUBLE STANDARDS!!! This is what I WANT!!! People RACING! OVERTAKING! DUELLING! Isn't this what F1 is/was all about?? Schumi has done nothing illegal. I am even tempeted to say that, given his situation, I would have done the same.

I am not a particular fan of Mr Schumacher as a person either, BUT GIVE THE MAN A BREAK!! When you can identify to me what he has done so wrong I'll see your point. Most people here seem to assume that he deliberatly drove back onto the racing line in Austria. Personally, I dont think he did. To me the engine appeared dead anyway and, in a car with no handbrake, it is just as likley the car rolled there. May be he should have stopped it, but even from there it was never going to be a red flag anyway. I feel that many people are making very gross assumtions without necessarily knowing all the facts (I conceed that neither do I!)

Anyway, I just thought that F1 was about racing and seeing who was the best driver etc. How naÃ*ve I am........

[angst]

The Villeneuve/Arnoux battle as far as I can remember did not involve either driver chopping accross the other when almost alongside. And as far as Senna goes, well he was the start of the whole problem, nobody took any action against him, so the likes of MS are(according to FIA) perfectly in their rights to drive with no regard for others on the circuit.
If you read any interviews with drivers views on the likes of Villeneuve you'll find that they founfd him "hard, but totally fair..." - in other words he would defend his line, but wouldn't just cut accross another driver if they outsmarted/outdrove him.
But I take your point about MS driving defensively.

[Danielsun]

I can see what you're saying, Tristan, and agree with you to a certain extent, but I think what everyone is going on is Schumacher's history of doing this like this.

It's not the blocking or weaving that started other drivers and fans alike getting annoyed with him; it's what he'd done a few years earlier. It all began in 1994. Championship on the line, Michael faultered and, as soon as Damon Hill approached the scene, chopped him up, therefore winning the title.

Same thing again in 1995 (Dill again) and in 1997. Yet again title on the line, he tried a similar thing on JV, but it didn't work. This is why he has such a reputation. In fact I'd go so far as to say that if he'd been fair in those earlier incidents, nobody would have taken such a grievance about his driving this season...

[Danielsun]

... and to the earlier GV / Arnoux battle, I just wish I'd been around to watch the action. You see, I'm only a baby, so I didn't get to see any racing in the 70s. Or most of the 80s, for that matter. Maybe Gerard and Liz would remember those times!!

What a shame things aren't now like they were then - in terms of racing, not dangers...

[Ralf's Girl]

On the subject of TGF's race starts, there have been two this year (at least) that, though they are not against the rules, they have been regarded as dangerous.
San Marino: He blocks DC and ends up pushing Ralf on to the grass (not illegal, but, had Ralf spun, there could have been a big accident).
France: Again, not illegal, but again, not safe.
And I think the drivers are mostly supporting DC on this one. Eddie has even urged Michael to step down from his position in the GPDA.
And let's not forget Spain 2000, when TGF once again blocks poor li'l bro. Okay, it's not the start, but THAT should be illegal (especially when it's Ralf...).

[Dino IV]

That's indeed the actual problem, Ralf's Girl. And for sure there's a point in it regarding safety.
And there's no need for anyone, let alone TGF pointing fingers at the rich history of F1 looking for other cutting edge examples, if it's about today's racing and in this racing there are arising complaints about one driver. I guess his past career for sure doesn't give him any credit on this one, as Danielsun pointed out.

But I guess it's difficult for anyone to take some criticism to heart, especially with the end of the season approaching, and regarding the current pace of the championship leader, I guess he's gonna desperately need some freedom in blocking his competitors ...

[Ralf's Girl]

I think TGF is too used to leading right from the start. He's perhaps forgotten the difference between rabing and dangerous driving. But another problem of this is that the FIA clarified the rule about defending your position after the 'assassination attempt' on TGF by Damon Hill in 98. The rule is that you can move once across your line. This is what TGF did, and, despite it being dangerous, it is unfortunately within the rules.

[SL]

There are almost two issues here.

1/ The weave across at the start in which TGF is "playing chicken" with the whole field and at a potentialy dangerous stage of the race when 20 odd cars are close together.

and

2/ A battle between two drivers who might have been dicing for position for several laps and only involves themselves and maybe a helpless backmarker.

The first is getting to be TGF's trademark and will I am sure result in a terrible first corner crash. The second has been a feature of all racing for many years and will probably continue to be so.

These two situations must be seperated by a ruling

Simon

PS Thanks Mr J for the link. It was one of the best races for years and my video copy is well worn

[Ralf's Girl]

SL - you're right. Eventually TGF will cause a major crash, and it'll (doubtlessly) be someone else's fault.

[Liz]

I didn't like Senna when he did the same thing. In fact, TGF didn't like Senna when he did the same thing = if you have the 1993 FIA Highlights tape, you will see Senna put a move like that on TGF (a baby TGF in a Benneton) and then see TGF in his pit screaming and crying that someone ought to tell the Stewards and he shouldn't be allowed to drive like that.

How times changed....

We need a Mansell to grab TGF by the throat, pin him to the wall, and tell him, "The next time you try to kill me, you better finish the job!"

I nominate Alesi.

[EERO]

Tristan, I recognize the hypocrisy that you accuse some of us as displaying. I admit that I am ambivalent about the inherent dangers of the sport, close racing and aggressive driving will inevitably produce more accidents. But I think that a distinction can be made between weaving at the Start and aggressive defensive driving during the course of a race.
Given the volatile unpredictable quality of the Start-the heightened emotions-the full fuel tanks, the concentration of all the cars together-one false move could be disasterous. The start line deaths of Ronnie Peterson and Ricardo Paletti are just two examples of the potental risks. Mercifully, DC's shunt at Spa in '98 did not lead to any serious injuries. Need I remind you that the increased risks of the first lap justify the field being trailed by Dr. Watkins in the Safety Car.
Its just that I think that jigging sideways across the track on full tanks and cold tires at the front of an accelerating field is too dangerous.

I won't deny that I feel Schumacher is the best driver out there abd that he puts on the best show. But I think his own awareness of his superiority causes him to consider the other drivers as less important than he is.

I hope Montoya lives up to his promise and gives TGF something to worry about.

[AL Racing]

What Tristan said.

And Danielsun, what Schumacher incident are you talking about? The two most rememberable incidents were Hill ramming Schumacher at Silverstone and Monza

[EERO]

Anders, I believe Danielsun is referring to the incident in Adelaide in which TGF deliberately drove into Hill after being pressured into a mistake by the Williams driver and breaking his own suspension. By knocking Hill out as well, he gauranteed himself the WDC by ONE point.

[Valve Bounce]

Posted after quals. We are going to have a very interesting start in tonight's race. I am willing to bet that neither DC nor MS will be smiling afterwards.

[KC]

I think this whole situation is a case of the press looking to create more of a story than there ever was. Sure it looks bad when a driver swerves over in front of another. But, the FIA has stated that they have no problem with this. MS was not being arrogant when he stated exactly this. DC said the same thing. They each have a different opinion of what racing is and so they agree to disagree. I do think that DC gave MS a taste of his own medicine at Hockenheim yesterday and MS found out just how hard it is to manage your distance to a car swerving in front of you and another approaching your left rear. Thus he moved into GF's car and took both out. He has no right or reason to complain, nor does anyone else in this situation.