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[myownalias]

Jenson has shown that he can match Lewis in lap time on a number or occasions but I can agree; if Lewis was always on a four stopper; then it would have made sense for Jenson to allow Lewis pass in the early stages instead of eating up tyres for both drivers.....

Perhaps you would have approved of the team sending an informative radio message - "Jenson, Lewis is faster than you, do you understand"

No informational message needed; team orders are allowed now!

we can't compare the two drivers today as they were on completely different strategies.

I beg to differ. On their first stint they were on exactly the same tyres, same fuel, same track in the same car setup how they each wanted. Blind Freddy could see that Lewis was faster and was being held up.

In the beginning, yes, I am not arguing that point; then their strategies diverged and if Jenson made more of his strategy and/or the tyres lasted better, it could have been a different result!

I can even accept that Lewis is the faster driver

Yesterday - yes.

There's nothing more to add to that really!

.... As for those saying that Jenson is screwing other drivers (chiefly Lewis), what the hell are you talking about? Jenson is there to race; he is a racing driver; if he isn't there to race; he should just stay at home in his cushy Monaco apartment!

Yesterday Jenson's actions were clearly only for himself. If he had acted in a more selfless way, and put the team (who pays his wages) ahead of his personal ambitions, he would have let Lewis pass IMO.

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

[spankyham]

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

Hasn't the team made it clear to the world, including Jenson, that they are there to get the best possible result every time they race?

[myownalias]

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

Hasn't the team made it clear to the world, including Jenson, that they are there to get the best possible result every time they race?

That maybe so but if you are going to let your team mate through 'for the good of the team', then what's the point of being a racing driver? that's not racing driver DNA, Lewis Hamilton would not move aside for Jenson if the situation was reversed; unless he was stupidly slower and had not way to defend his position; as seen today in the closing stages when Jenson allowed Lewis through!

[spankyham]

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

Hasn't the team made it clear to the world, including Jenson, that they are there to get the best possible result every time they race?

That maybe so but if you are going to let your team mate through 'for the good of the team', then what's the point of being a racing driver?

The point would be to help your team win. Yesterday, Jenson would have served that best by allowing Lewis through and running his own race the best he could.

that's not racing driver DNA

It is if the driver is more team and less self oriented.

Lewis Hamilton would not move aside for Jenson if the situation was reversed

Jenson would first have to be faster than Lewis

[Hammer278]

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

Hasn't the team made it clear to the world, including Jenson, that they are there to get the best possible result every time they race?

How does Jenson know that it would end up great for the team if he let Lewis through? As a racing driver the info you have is what the team gives you. If you have your teammate behind you and the team says nothing, you rely on your primary focus - racing.

[spankyham]

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

Hasn't the team made it clear to the world, including Jenson, that they are there to get the best possible result every time they race?

How does Jenson know that it would end up great for the team if he let Lewis through? As a racing driver the info you have is what the team gives you. If you have your teammate behind you and the team says nothing, you rely on your primary focus - racing.

Which gets back to my original point - perhaps the team should have sent Jenson this radio message "Jenson, Lewis is faster than you, do you understand"

[Hammer278]

You might not be too familiar with equal racing policy...McLaren showed it in Turkey.

Yes, it might have hurt them to an extent in terms of result though they come away with no controversy/negative effect on racing! A sacrifice they have to live with (like Redbull did last year and still won).

That being said, it would be wise of McLaren or any team for that matter to establish a clear no.1 status at a later stage when 1 driver is out of contention. Which will be pretty soon, looking at how Jenson is driving these days.

[f1ea]

Schumacher was also slower than Petrov.... but he didnt let him through. Lewis was also slower than fernando in Sepang. Racing is racing, equal is equal. Guys, don't change on me now

does anyone think Perez's 2-stop in Australia is still giving some teams the false impression that you can baby the Pirellis enough to forego one pitstop?

Correction: 1 stop

That being said, it would be wise of McLaren or any team for that matter to establish a clear no.1 status at a later stage when 1 driver is out of contention. Which will be pretty soon, looking at how Jenson is driving these days.

Nope. You guys said its wrong.

[Hammer278]

We never did. Or at least, I never did.

What Ferrari did in Germany was definitely wrong, as it was ridiculously early in the season. Which race was that?? This is the 4th race and I am maintaining it is too early in the season to establish a status in the team.

I smell the possibility of this turning into another team orders thread...

[bud]

Lewis went to Plan B remember, I think plan A was for both drivers to pit 3 times. Thus Jenson didnt need nor should have let Lewis through. It's good seeing team mates race like that.

[F1er]

, what the hell are you talking about? Jenson is there to race; he is a racing driver; !

Racing and holding up your teammate are two different things.Lewis had the pace Jenson didn't and McLaren are starting to look like fools along the way. Jenson is obsessed with beating Lewis. Lewis wants to win WDC and doesn't care about Button.If Alonso didn't phase him as a rookie you think Jenson does?

[F1er]

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

Hasn't the team made it clear to the world, including Jenson, that they are there to get the best possible result every time they race?

Jenson doesn't see it that way clearly! To me it's clear that if Jenson finishes 5th and ahead of Lewis he's happy,while Lewis finishes anywhere but 1st he's gutted. This is the same Button that had troubles with Barichello and he's paranoid beyond belief with equality even if it means the team not winning anything. Lewis is gonna take him to school this year,mark my words.

[billindenver]

, what the hell are you talking about? Jenson is there to race; he is a racing driver; !

Racing and holding up your teammate are two different things.Lewis had the pace Jenson didn't and McLaren are starting to look like fools along the way. Jenson is obsessed with beating Lewis. Lewis wants to win WDC and doesn't care about Button.If Alonso didn't phase him as a rookie you think Jenson does?

Is my mind playing tricks on me or were you not one of the loudest protestors back when Massa was holding up Alonso and was told to move? You can't argue both sides of the aisle mate. Well, you can....but people will talk.

[Hammer278]

Did the team ask Jenson to move aside? if no; then Jenson did what he is paid to do... race the car he has as fast as he can!

Hasn't the team made it clear to the world, including Jenson, that they are there to get the best possible result every time they race?

Jenson doesn't see it that way clearly! To me it's clear that if Jenson finishes 5th and ahead of Lewis he's happy,while Lewis finishes anywhere but 1st he's gutted. This is the same Button that had troubles with Barichello and he's paranoid beyond belief with equality even if it means the team not winning anything. Lewis is gonna take him to school this year,mark my words.

Exactly. Nail on the head mate, it is so clear to see this mentality through interviews and their attitude ontrack. Jenson is turning into a liability, but I can say confidently I saw this coming.

[F1er]

, what the hell are you talking about? Jenson is there to race; he is a racing driver; !

Racing and holding up your teammate are two different things.Lewis had the pace Jenson didn't and McLaren are starting to look like fools along the way. Jenson is obsessed with beating Lewis. Lewis wants to win WDC and doesn't care about Button.If Alonso didn't phase him as a rookie you think Jenson does?

Is my mind playing tricks on me or were you not one of the loudest protestors back when Massa was holding up Alonso and was told to move? You can't argue both sides of the aisle mate. Well, you can....but people will talk.

Like I said before,if Jenson is running 1st and Lewis 2nd he can hold him up all he wants and I would be mad if he moved over. This is different because Jenson was going for a 3 stopper and was on a different strategy and his competitors were disappearing in the distance. He would have even benefited because his tires would had lasted longer if he didn't spend the whole 1st stint defending Lewis.
Apples and Oranges Bridgestones and Pirellis totally different scenarios