FROM MATES TO HATES MERC S CIVIL WAR MAÁN ABDUL-HAFEEDH

Transcription

1 82 FROM MATES TO HATES MERC S CIVIL WAR MAÁN ABDUL-HAFEEDH HALF-WAY THROUGH THIS YEAR S FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON CONTROVERSY REIGNS. REALLY. DISSENT OVER DOUBLE POINTS AND WHAT FANS HAVE DUBBED THE MERCEDES CIVIL WAR, IS KEEPING EVERYONE ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

2 SPORTS STUFF PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

3 84

4 SPORTS STUFF PEOPLE EXPECT COMPETITION IN A RACE. THEY WANT TO SEE A FIGHT. BUT NOT BETWEEN TEAM-MATES, AND DEFINITELY NOT A DIRTY FIGHT. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK The announcement that double points would be controversial one. We ve been accustomed to having years given the accumulation of points throughout the season. The case was especially so when Red Bull s Sebastian Vettel sealed the title with three races in hand last year. The rationale is simple. In order to maximise focus and build momentum right up to the end of the championship, the coming November. Let s think about this for a minute. Forget how the new double solely at the present. Any driver leading the season with more accumulated points will have the obvious advantage. But the drivers an edge, a bigger chance to propel themselves onto answer. How fair is it? We are sure that the winners of these double points won t be complaining if it puts them on the podium. But how will a driver who was already set to win, based on his points throughout the And how fair, or should we say deserved, would a win be that is based purely on double points won in the last race? Understandably many drivers, industry insiders and fans are unhappy about this commercially driven rule. In a sense, agreed though, some would say grudgingly, to the proposal before the season started. But since then there s been some mud slinging on and off the track.

5 86 PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK he is against the double points system, referring to it as being mention that the opinions of fans are important and should be heard. However, it s no secret that Ferrari has a lot of bargaining rule against key decisions. Is the new double points rule not publically against it? over the past few years. with the new rule either. The new scoring system, he believes, is unfair to drivers. But Toto isn t in Kansas anymore (sorry, we couldn t help ourselves). The double points rule isn t the cause Whether the double points award is or isn t unfair will likely remain a discussion topic for a while to come. But what is all the wrong ways at the moment. From mates to hates, the

6 SPORTS STUFF fallout between the two friends has been closely watched throughout the year. There has been no sign of tensions cooling down between the two especially after the pair collided during the Belgian Grand Prix in August. At the beginning of the race, Hamilton had a much better start. Then, in lap two, Rosberg attacked. Yes, seriously, apparently attacked his team- mate. Rosberg s chicane. It was a mess. Hamilton s wheel was ripped to shreds causing him to retire from the race. Whether the move was intentional or unintentional, we can t judge. But we know one thing that Rosberg should also know. Never hit your team-mate. To be fair Rosberg sustained some damaged too. His front wing broke and ironically in lap ten a piece of tyre debris, from Hamilton s shredded rubber, caught came second at the end of the race. The incident has left fans a history of not giving room on the track. Perhaps it is a simple racing incident, blown out of proportion given the mounting build-up of tension between the team-mates from the start of the season. In Bahrain, Rosberg felt Hamilton had cut across him in their duel for the lead. In Spain, there was an incident concerning before the Belgian collision, Hamilton ignored an order to allow Rosberg through, leaving his team-mate infuriated in the Hungarian Grand Prix. fracas if you don t count getting booed on the podium. He later released a statement on his Facebook page accepting responsibility for the incident saying: The number one rule for us as team-mates is that we must not collide but that is exactly what happened. For that error of judgment, I apologise to Lewis and the team. I also want to say sorry to the fans who were deprived of our battle for the lead in Belgium. Lewis and I have been given clear instructions about how we NEVER HIT YOUR TEAM-MATE. guess, stating that another incident of the same sort wouldn t be tolerated. Hamilton also released a statement on his Facebook page: Nico and I accept that we have both made mistakes and I feel The facts of the incidents between the two so far are up for public debate. Words such as cheating, mind games and be sure of. Belgium will undoubtedly affect the rest of the season. It s likely that if Rosberg wins the championship he won t be a popular And given the new double point rules, any mistake from this point what we, and many fans are hoping for when it comes to Hamilton both are driving the best cars on the track. So, would it be too