All the squirming and weasel-words used after the race have been the most unsavoury aspect of the whole thing.

McLaren showed how it should be done with Hamilton and Kovalainen a couple of years ago.

Alonso should stop his hand waving, and get on and overtake Massa properly, if he's as good as he thinks he is.

Question from the news conference (which wasn't answered)

 

There is the rub, Ferrari know that Massa was quick and that there would have been a big risk element letting their drivers race, you saw in the race that a couple of times when Alonso was pressuring Massa that Massa nearly lost the car off the track, and with Vettel only a few seconds behind they could have lost several positions, or even lost both cars had they taken each other off.

 

Massa was only struggling for the first couple of laps on the new tyres, after that he looked pretty fast, fast enough to make it difficult for Alonso to overtake, and certainly fast enough for Vettel to get nowhere near them, let alone overtake.

The fact that Massa and Smedley made it very obvious what happened, both during and after the race, is really what's stirred all this up.

If they'd done it in a similar way to McLaren 2 years ago, everyone would have been happy enough. A nod, a wink, and off to Hungary.

 

What difference does it make whether it was 'blatant' or 'underhand'? The fact is they manipulated the result of the race, surely this is the issue and not how it was done. Fact is however, that Alonso is much quicker than Massa, he is also a long way clear of Massa in the points stakes, I can fully see why Ferrari did it and I wouldn't be surprised if they now 'tell' Massa that in future he is to give any lead he has in future races up to Alonso without the need for 'radio' instructions, I think we will see a very subdued Massa for the rest of the season, I was very surprised when they gave him (Massa) a two year contract, I now think I understand why he was given one ... and so does Massa I suspect.

 

He wasn't yesterday.

Fernando Alonso 1′15.880
Felipe Massa 1′16.097

They were the fastest laps by both drivers, unfortunately Massa gave up after he was ordered to let Teflonso past so we don't really know how quick he would have gone if he was still fighting for the win.

Teflonso really is a tainted champion, he will never go down as one of the greats in my book anymore.

 

Alonso has been much quicker than Massa all year.

 

It was against the rules, as the stewards have adjudged.

Ferrari have been very stupid over all this. I expect Smedley in particular has got a right telling-off.

 

Thumbs up to Rob Smedley. Yes he could of got Massa to turn down his engine or save his tyres/brakes. But that would of made him complicit in the act of cheating.

He so obviously made it known to his driver and the world media that this was an obvious manipulation of the result ordered by the team management.

 

i hope Rob Smedley hasnt got a horse.

 

I hope the Felippe and Rob show moves to another team now. I bought a Ferarri top for the British GP. I now won't wear it again - feel like burning it!

I don't think Felippe has been that much behind Fernando. It's been much closer than some other teammates, and Felippe's had some rubbish luck this season. Add into that having to get back into the groove after his time off and I'd say he's done a good job. Poor chap deserves so much better.

I wonder whether it would have been better for him to just have ignored the 'orders' and taken the win anyway. So what if Ferrari sacked him, he isn't allowed to win now anyway, so what's the point of competing. It's a very 'all or nothing' attitude I know, but they're all there to win. If you haven't got the equipment, fair enough. But if you have and you're still prevented from winning - that sucks big time.