Quote:
Originally Posted by Artemis
Rumor has it (leaked via Sky TV) that Mercedes torpedoed the possibility of waiving the 10-place grid drop of Sainz at the Las Vegas race. That grid drop compromised Sainz's race (start from P12 instead of from P2 next to his team mate Leclerc). The setback was a golden opportunity for Mercedes to widen the 20 points WCC gap. However, Ferrari still managed to reduce that gap to merely 4 points.
Would it be OK if drivers "help" Leclerc and Sainz a little during the Abu Dhabi race to collect enough points to get #2 WCC ? Ferrari could use the extra millions awarded for #2 WCC to foot repair bills regarding Sainz's car, which FIA is not willing (yet?) to compensate (cf. the Las Vegas FP1 incident).
Remember the final laps at Jerez in 1997: Hakkinen hesitated to push flatout and Coulthard slowed down in the final meters to ensure that Villeneuve would get WDC in 1997 (instead of Schumacher).
See from 08:30 onwards:
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One of the best vids I have seen of JV explaining and putting into action his challenge for the championship against the tyrannical might of MS and his cohorts Irvine with Fontana who were doing their best to block and frustrate Jacques all through quali and the race.
It's only at the end of the race that Hakkinen and Coulthard did a little to make sure JV finished third on a wing and a prayer with his battery just hanging on two wires (after being rammed by MS) which could have separated at any time.