Ranked: The most controversial F1 team order rows:

— 5. Max Verstappen vs Sergio Perez – Sao Paulo 2022:

Red Bull asked Verstappen to let Perez retake sixth place to assist in the battle for second in the Drivers’ Championship. Verstappen refused, citing an earlier grievance. Perez responded, 

“It shows who he is really.” Despite the controversy, the points gap meant Perez would still have finished third overall even if Verstappen had complied.

— 4. Sebastian Vettel vs Mark Webber – Malaysia 2013:

Vettel ignored Red Bull’s “Multi-21” instruction to stay behind Webber, overtaking him aggressively for the win. Webber called Vettel out in the cooldown room. Weeks later, Vettel justified his move, saying, 

“I was racing, I was faster, I passed him, I won.”

— 3. Lewis Hamilton vs Fernando Alonso – Monaco/Hungary 2007:

A tense battle at McLaren saw Hamilton disobey team orders, leading Alonso to delay Hamilton’s final qualifying lap in Hungary. This culminated in Alonso being stripped of pole and McLaren losing Constructors’ points for the race. The incident was a prelude to McLaren’s spygate scandal.

— 2. Fernando Alonso vs Felipe Massa – Germany 2010:

Ferrari infamously told Massa, “Fernando is faster than you,” instructing him to let Alonso through for the championship fight. Massa complied, and Ferrari was fined $100,000. Team orders were re-legalized in 2011.

— 1. Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello – Austria 2002:

Ferrari ordered Barrichello to let Schumacher win on the final lap for championship reasons, despite Schumacher’s already dominant lead. The podium ceremony was awkward, and Ferrari was fined, leading to a temporary ban on team orders.

#Formula1

VIA: [RacingNews365]