Ferrari picks its winner at German Grand Prix

Indy Car News

Ferrari picks its winner at German Grand Prix

by Gary Becker
Sports Car Illustrated

You know you are having a good day as a Formula 1 team manager when you can pick which of your drivers will win the race. That’s exactly what happened at the 2010 edition of the German Grand Prix held at Hockenheim when per team orders; the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso led teammate Felipe Massa to the checkered flag. Of course, picking which driver will win during a Grand Prix race is against the rules which will no doubt led to all sorts of discussion in the coming days.

Getting back to the 67 lap race, the green flag fell on a field led by Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull and Alonso occupying the front row. Vettle tried to win the race at the start by trying to force Alonso down and into the pit wall as the field headed towards the first turn. The two nearly made contact which allowed Massa, who started in the second row, an opportunity to take the lead going into the turn one.

After the rest of the field made it through turn one it was Massa’s Ferrari in first followed by Alonso and Vettle. The two STR Ferrari’s of Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi made minor contact otherwise the field survived the first lap.

The Lotus of Jarno Trulli became the first casualty of the day as gear box problems forced the Lotus in for an extended pit stop. Lotus’s bad day spread to Force India-Mercedes as both Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi pitted with handling problems on laps five and six.

The completion of the first ten laps found Mass leading, Alonso second followed by Vettel and the McLaren-Mercedes of Hamilton.

On lap 12 Vettel was the first of the leaders to pit and change his soft tires to the harder compound. Vettel’s stop was followed by the other leaders stopping over the next three laps. The only top tier car not to pit was Jenson Button and his McLaren-Mercedes giving Button the post pit stop lead.

Button finally pitted on lap 23 giving the lead back to Massa followed by Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton, Button and the Red Bull of Mark Webber who was nursing a oil consumption problem.

Over the next several laps Alonso made several attempts to get by Massa but Massa was able to keep the lead. A lead that was to be short lived.

On lap 49 Massa’s engineer came over the radio and simply said “He’s faster” and then a short time later, “Sorry”. Massa got the message that Ferrari team management wanted Vettel and his better shot at winning the World Championship on the point. Massa pulled to the side and backed off the accelerator coming out of a turn allowing Alonso the pass. Alonso then led the remaining laps and Massa was left to fend off a charging Vettel.

When the checkered fell it was Alonso, Massa, Vettel, Hamilton, Button and Webber.

It remains to be seen what if any action the FIA will take against Ferrari and the team orders that possibly cheated Massa out of a victory and definitely cheated the fans out of a better race.