- 07 Feb 11, 20:40#238220I have to say, I'm pretty torn on this topic as I can sympathise with both sides of the argument. What I'd like to add as a possible contribution is that it can be very difficult to truly stamp out team orders even if they are illegal at any given time. Sure, blatant issues such as coded messages and pulling over abnormally to allow a team mate to pass is out of order in my opinion, but then how far does it go down the line before it's ok?
What about when Senna went to Lotus in '85 and strategically through the season manipulated the team in all areas, eventually demotivating and breaking De Angelis? Or in '86 when he, now established vetoed Warwick as his team mate and openly ensured that all developments went to him, with very little to nothing going to Dumfries? Is that team orders? Or is that ensuring that with tight resources there is a focus to maximise potential success?
If you'd say it's not team orders, then would it then be ok now for say HRT, Virgin or even Williams to do the same under the same pretence? And in which case, are team orders only allowed if you don't have a large budget, but banned for those that have worked hard and wise through the years to give themselves a financial advantage over their competitors?
My view is that in a perfect world we wouldn't have team orders. But that would be a world of unlimited finance, equal team resources, yet still different levels and identities of teams. That would also be a world where everybody is equally (in a positive way) as honest as each other and never seeking a competitive advantage through even the mildest of 'bending' of the rules.
The thing is, we don't live in this perfect world - we never have, and we never will. Team orders have always existed on some level or another, and all of them (blatant or otherwise) have some bearing on the WDC, whether in a one off situation or behind closed doors over the course of the season. These orders will always continue to exist no matter what anybody ever tries to do, so better that it's out in the open and able to be regulated rather than behind closed doord or underground.
I suppose how I'd conclude would be to say - ok, allow them - because there is no other option, but set some strong regulations simply to avoid the intelligence of the viewer from being insulted as it unquestionably was in the Ferrari situation this year.
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