...team orders

[indyracefan]

...something many don't like and understand in F1 is team-orders.

Looks as though Williams is now going to en-act it's own team-orders as Montoya races for the WDC.

Williams technical director Patrick Head admitted that when one driver is not in a position to mathematically win the title the team will be forced to use team orders to help their championship cause.

"Our agreements with both drivers is clear and accepted by both," said Head. "They are free to race each other, but not in a manner which puts the team result at risk, until one has no numerical possibility to win the championship. Then we request one to assist the other. This is not an ideal position for the team, but it is the basis on which we employ our drivers."



Williams planning to use team orders

[slinger]

No surprise. It's been that way forever. It's the way it's done in F1.

[roadracer]

I read it as "we will if it comes to that point". Ralf is what, 12 behind Juan and 18 behind Michael? With 4 races to go, it's a little early to relegate Ralf to the support role.

Team orders make perfect sense, what with hundreds of millions invested. One just hopes that they're carried out with a little more finesse than Ferrari have displayed in the last couple of years.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by roadracer
Team orders make perfect sense, what with hundreds of millions invested. One just hopes that they're carried out with a little more finesse than Ferrari have displayed in the last couple of years.

Ferrari's problem was that they used team orders in Austria when they really didn't need to. The last corner, last lap manner in which it was done didn't help, either.

The problem at the USGP was that Michael wasn't upfront that he goofed on the attempted "photo finish".

No one raised a fuss when Mika Salo moved over for Eddie Irvine in 1999(?).

[GrandView]

I'll take a flyer here and say that Hungary is Ralf's last legitimate shot at getting back into the championship race. If he doesn't make an impact there, he will then support Montoya of his own volition.

Frank won't force team orders until a driver is mathematically eliminated, but Ralf will turn out to be the team player. He will also be the driver with most the Williams longevity.

GV

[IndyIRLman]

Originally posted by mnkywrch

The problem at the USGP was that Michael wasn't upfront that he goofed on the attempted "photo finish".

I really enjoyed last years USGP until the end. That sucked.

[naz]

It's not just F1 that have employed team orders.

It's part of racing.

The stakes are high. A championship team needs to guarantee that it wins the championship.

Just my humble opinion.