Sebastian Vettel: Right Or Wrong?

[ChillDoubt]

For anyone who didn't see it, Vettel ignored team orders whilst Webber was in the lead and passed him with 10 laps to go.

Whilst I understand there are team orders and responsibilities to sponsors, team mates etc was it really that wrong? Isn't this what we want to see, the best drivers in the world battling it out wheel to wheel?
Vettel is a triple world champion, how do you ask a proven winner not to compete? Yes, there is history between the two and yes they drive for the same team, but that was some ballsy move by Vettel to take the lead, let alone ignore the team order.

I've never seen an F1 winner look so dejected at the end of the race when really, he ought to be applauded for giving F1 fans the real thrill of racing.

Thoughts?

[Sharingan]

I hate team orders plus in any other sport ' throwing' a race would be illegal because of the betting implications. I enjoyed it.

[Baldric]

Good race, he was right.

[cazzz1975]

Webber had been told to fuel save, he was assured that he wouldn't be overtaken, vettel was wrong imo, I would prefer to see a race but the FIA's rules mean we see cars driving slowly to avoid wear to engines, tyres and saving fuel zzzzz

[Mattk]

Vettel was wrong and his apology empty.
To say he didn't understand the instruction is rubbish as he could have let Webber past again at any point.
Sorry but he behaved like a spoilt little boy today disobeying his team.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Its early season so he made the right call and it paid off for him and the fans,but he wont be taking that risk in Texas or Brazil unless they have a good constructors and drivers lead.

[ChillDoubt]

If I'd paid to watch that live I'd feel very cheated.
Maybe the FIA need to look at this. A season or two back, team orders were forbidden, so why the change?
And why in only the second race of the season? Again, maybe the FIA need to implement a 'no orders in the first half of the season' instruction or similar.
As Sharingan rightly points out, there are betting implications in this too.
It's just not right to have a sterile race this early in the season IMHO.

[jim360]

From a spectator's point of view it's annoying to have team orders but then the Drivers are employed by the team, and so the team are their bosses, and you are supposed to do what the boss says, right? So Vettel was wrong to disobey - he's lucky to some extent to get away with it, there was a tiniest fraction separating the team from gaining nul points today and then he would have looked very stupid.

[wardlaw]

Save fuel, save tyres, bring the cars home blah-de-blah-de-blah!
Never once in my sporting past did I take to the water to come second.
These are the best drivers in the world so let them compete as such. The paying and, dare I say the betting public (although I am not a punter) had a good day today with loads of excitement.
I feel that it is time for F1 to become a pure sport again rather than a money driven game of chess. Fill the cars with fuel, let the drivers decide on what tyres they use, when they can employ DRS and KERS and when they pit etc. Then we will see a winner who is delighted with his result - as I suspect Vettel is inside - instead of having to be shame faced in front of the world's media.

It's time to scrap team orders!

[cazzz1975]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_orders

team orders have been allowed for a while now, another nail in the coffin of racing. Today however there was an agreement that both cars would turn down their engines to conserve fuel to get to the end, vettel decided to use this opportunity to overtake webber and snatch the victory

[ChillDoubt]

I don't like the term "let's take the positives out of this" but.....

Conversely, doesn't this now give Webber carte blanche to race his socks off, knowing that when it comes down to any gentleman's agreement between the two, all bets are off? If he does decide to do something similar, it may change the mindset of Red Bull and maybe give the FIA cause for a re-think?
Vettel can have no complaints if Webber goes for a little payback, can he?

[cazzz1975]

the team are more behind vettel than webber, I would imagine if webber caused problems he would be replaced. you dont need to be a raw talent to drive these superior cars anymore, I remember a few years ago when vettel was a backmarker.

[excelsior-1]

quite simply .. i have never been a fan of team orders, they are all out there to compete with each other

[wardlaw]

///doesn't this now give Webber carte blanche ...///

I agree. I think it now gives everybody the incentive to race their socks off.

[cazzz1975]

"I agree. I think it now gives everybody the incentive to race their socks off."

....unless they need 15 laps to preserve fuel ;)

[Mattk]

"Save fuel, save tyres, bring the cars home blah-de-blah-de-blah!
Never once in my sporting past did I take to the water to come second."

Surely in most sports you have to pace yourself to last the distance?
As the saying goes to finish first, first you must finish.

[Mick-Talbot]

I don't like team orders but he was under team orders ......... he ignored them, making him a arrogant disrespectful Snag

[cazzz1975]

formula 1 never used to be like that though matt, now they only have 8 engines per year so more pedestrian driving, its supposed to be the top echelon of racing, the fastest and most dangerous. team orders means there is only half the amount of racing than there should be as well

[wardlaw]

//to finish first, first you must finish,///

Very true but I made these decisions for myself and not some coach/manager/boss. Once players take to the field the decisions are - or should be - theirs and theirs alone to take.

[grumpy01]

Is anybody really interested in this totally boring "sport"

[BRIGHT SPARK]

grumps.........should you be doing a crossword or something equally exciting?