Fernando Alonso has given his version of events following his much-talked about overtake on team-mate Felipe Massa in Germany. Having won at Hockenheim for the second time, the Spaniard has explained that he is unsure why the Brazilian slowed on Lap 48 of 67.
With Race Engineer Rob Smedley having clearly informed Massa that Alonso was faster, before apologising after the pass, the former double World Champion was questioned on the moment in the post-race press conference.
“I think it was a good weekend, overall,” he began. “We did improve the car a lot and immediately from Friday it felt very competitive, all of the setup adjustments felt very good. In the race as well we’ve been competitive, performing very well – at some points we were fighting for third and it was a little bit dangerous but in the end there were no more risky manoeuvres.”
When specifically asked to explain his side of the story which almost all in the paddock are dubbing as team orders, illegal under current regulations, Fernando commented:
“Well I think, I don’t what happened by at the exit of Turn 6. I saw Felipe was a little bit slow and had to overtake with the only opportunity I had. It’s a very difficult circuit to overtake on and I took the chance I had – at that point I overtook the other car and then there were some other cars to lap, some risk at times, but it was not an easy race.
“I think sometimes you are quick, sometimes slow, depending on what the tyres are. At some parts I was maybe quicker than him and sometimes he was quicker and pulling away from Sebastian (Vettel) and I, so it’s difficult to judge but a very strong result for the team, but the gap keeps improving.
“It’s not down to the weather conditions or anything like that, so a good race for the team and hopefully next weekend in Hungary we can continue.”
Rob Smedley, Race Engineer to Felipe Massa, does not expect German Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso to be handed a penalty following Massa’s yielding to the Spaniard on Sunday.
Although Alonso started second on the grid and behind his team-mate, Massa led the pack after Turn 1 courtesy of a stunning pass around the outside of Alonso and pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel.
However, following a radio message stating, ‘Fernando-is-faster-than-you ; can you confirm that message?’ the Brazilian slowed to allow the former double Champion past on Lap 48.
“I don’t expect any penalties whatsoever because Alonso was just faster and Massa made a small mistake when shifting up three gears at once,” Smedley told Germany’s Sky Sports after the race.
‘Where was Webber two years ago?’ - Marko 20 July 2010
Red Bull Racing team advisor Helmut Marko has responded to Mark Webber’s comments at the end of the British Grand Prix by claiming that the Australian ‘is on the wrong track’ if he feels team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who has suffered a number of technical problems this year, is being favoured by the team.
Marko (centre) chats with Team Principal Christian Horner (left)After the first ten races of 2010, Webber is 3-2 up on Vettel for race wins and runs ahead of the German in the Drivers’ Championship; however, with the Queanbeyan man having commented, ‘Not bad for a number two driver!’ via car-to-pit radio after winning in Britain, Marko has responded in the German press.
“If Mark believes there's a conspiracy against him between us and Vettel, then he’s on the wrong track,” he told Auto Motor und Sport at the end of last week. “If I were Vettel, I would have suspected the opposite.
“Which car is constantly breaking? Has Mark had a defective spark plug in Bahrain, a loose wheel in Australia, a failed brake disc in Barcelona, a defective chassis in Monte-Carlo, transmission problems in Montreal and now a broken nose at Silverstone?”
Marko believes that Vettel, rather than Webber, should be suspecting favouritism.However, although Webber won with Vettel’s previous chassis – described by Marko as ‘defective’ – at Silverstone, the Austrian advises the former Minardi, Jaguar and Williams driver to review his own situation.
“Mark is having a great season and has improved big time, but he shouldn’t forget that he also owes much to this team,” Marko continued. “Where was he two years ago? Back then, he couldn’t even dream of Grand Prix victories. Today, we are able to give him a car with which he can win on his own.
“For us, it really doesn’t matter who is Champion - the main thing he that he is sitting in a Red Bull.”
文章節錄自GPUPDATE中 Michael advises Safety Car rule ‘review’這則新聞裡 內文如下:
To keep speeds down, rules state that competitors must not return to the finish line –under Safety Car conditions – before a timer located on the steering wheel has reached zero seconds.
Canada 2010: Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso USA 1991: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nélson Piquet Brazil 1973: Emerson Fittipaldi, Jackie Stewart, Denny Hulme South Africa 1970: Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart USA 1968: Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, John Surtees Mexico 1967: Jim Clark, Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme * Italy 1967: John Surtees, Jack Brabham, Jim Clark Holland 1966: Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, Jack Clark Great Britain 1965: Jim Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees South Africa 1965: Jim Clark, John Surtees, Graham Hill Great Britain 1953: Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Nino Farina
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