PUTTING THE TEAM BEFORE YOURSELF
ALAN JONES & CARLOS REUTEMANN- BRAZIL 1981
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| Carlos Reutemann leads team mate Alan Jones in Rio, but that should be Jones leads Reutemann |
The rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix in 1981 saw both Williams drivers running in first and second. But reigning champion and points leader, Alan Jones was behind his team mate Carlos Reutemann on the track, and the team principal Frank Williams wanted the order reversed. Reutemann repeatedly ignored signals from his team to move over, an act of defiance which irrevocably soured relations between the pair, Reutemann would go on to score more points than Jones as the season progressed, but Jones would not forgive the Argentine's disobedience and would offer no help in his quest for the championship, which subsequently went to Brabham driver, Nelson Piquet.
GILLES VILLENEUVE & DIDIER PIRONI- SAN MARINO 1982
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| Didier Pironi takes the chequered flag at Imola, with a furious Gilles Villeneuve following him home |
At the height of conflict between the governing bodies of Formula One, only 14 cars entered the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix, and the two Ferrari drivers were left unchallenged as they headed for what should have been a perfect finish in front of their adoring fans, the tifosi. But Gilles Villeneuve was both stunned, and appalled to see his team mate Didier Pironi showing no regard for his Ferrari team orders and re-passing him on the final lap and take the victory. Villeneuve felt betrayed and vowed never to speak to Pironi again. Tragically, just two weeks later the Canadian, who was still livid with his team mate was killed whilst attempting to beat Pironi in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. Pironi's career also ended when he suffered a serious accident at the German Grand Prix.
ALAIN PROST & RENE ARNOUX- FRANCE 1982
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| Three French drivers on the podium at Paul Ricard, but even that wasn't the main story regarding the French Grand Prix |
Rene Arnoux led a Renault one-two to victory at the 1982 French Grand Prix. But his team mate, Alain Prost was not impressed at his team mate deciding he’d rather win the race for himself than yield to Prost as per team orders. Their deteriorating relationship divided the world of French motorsport. Arnoux left Renault and joined Ferrari for 1983 but the rivalry between the compatriots never ceased for as long as their careers lasted, not least when Arnoux infamously blocked Prost and cost him any chance of victory in the 1989 Monaco Grand Prix, talk about holding a grudge!
MIKA HAKKINEN & DAVID COULTHARD- EUROPE 1997
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| David Coulthard reluctantly allowed team mate Mika Hakkinen to pass him in Jerez |
The result of the 1997 European Grand Prix has gone down in history as one of the most cynical in Formula One history, both McLaren and Williams were alleged to have fixed the final outcome. As Jacques Villeneuve was cruising home to take the championship, the silver McLaren's were closing fast, but David Coulthard was surprised to be told let Mika Hakkinen through. The Finn then overtook Villeneuve on the last lap and Coulthard followed suit, giving the McLaren team their first one-two for six years and Hakkinen his first career win, while Villeneuve took 3rd for the title. Everyone was happy, except Coulthard who was quietly furious. There was more to come.
MIKA HAKKINEN & DAVID COULTHARD- AUSTRALIA 1998
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| Mika Hakkinen crosses the line to win the Australian Grand Prix, ahead of team mate David Coulthard |
The final race of the 1997 season had brought a controversial result, as did the first race of 1998. McLaren dominated the weekend with both Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard leaving the rest of the field for dead in the race. But then Hakkinen lost the lead when he was mistakenly called into the pits. Coulthard generously gifted Hakkinen his position back and followed him home but the Scot along with his McLaren team came under fire for their actions. Hakkinen would go on to win his first World Championship that year.
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER & RUBENS BARRICHELLO- AUSTRIA 2002
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| Rubens Barrichello sacrifices a well deserved win to let Michael Schumacher through, creating widespread outrage |
At the 2001 Austrian Grand Prix, Rubens Barrichello was not impressed at having to allow Michael Schumacher through on the last lap and take his second place in the interest of the drivers championship. 12 months later, after dominating the race he found himself in the same situation again and this time he had to forfeit a win, was that an order too far?
No it wasn't. Barrichello held his position for as long as possible, just letting Schumacher pip him across the line to the utter disgust of millions of fans worldwide. Instead of the crowd applauding the podium ceremony, they booed the most traditional F1 team loudly for their outrageous decision making. At the penultimate race of the season in the USA, attempts to repay the favour were not helped by Schumacher's clumsy attempt to stage a dead heat with his team mate, Barrichello just narrowly edging him out. Ferrari had made a mockery of the sport, which threatened to seriously tarnish it's image. Team orders were banned from 2003.
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| Their faces say it all, both Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were left embarrassed by the hostile reception from the crowd, the German handed his trophy to Barrichello, but the damage was done. |
FERNANDO ALONSO & FELIPE MASSA- GERMANY 2010
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| Fernando Alonso looks satisfied with victory, which is more than can be said for team mate Felipe Massa |
By 2010, team orders had been banned for seven years. But questions regarding their usage were still being asked, with instructions such as "conserve fuel" being constituted as a team order to prevent inter-team squabbling, nonetheless this was not a major worry, until the incident at the German Grand Prix. Ferrari were beginning to get back into championship contention after a dip in form following Fernando Alonso's victory at the season opener in Bahrain. The Spaniard's team mate Felipe Massa led at Hockenheim from the start but Alonso began to close, soon the former champion was right on his heels. Then the now legendary radio message from Massa's race engineer Rob Smedley came calling, "Okay, Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?" Massa did just that as he slowed to allow Alonso through and claim an important victory in the race for the title. With team orders now illegal, the actions of the famous Italian team once again sparked unanimous criticism. Ferrari were handed a $100,000 fine for breaching the regulations.
For 2011 FIA president Jean Todt, who interestingly was the team principal at Ferrari at the time of the Austria 2002 calamity, lifted the ban on team orders.
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