It is time Kimi Raikkonen is allowed to drive for Ferrari and not just for Sebastian Vettel. Events in Hockenheim illustrate why.
What started like a dream for Vettel soon turned into a nightmare. Starting on pole in Hockenheim, the race appeared to offer up an easy win for the German. But everything was turned upside down for Ferrari when a loss of grip in the rain caused Vettel to run straight into the barriers. This was a disastrous end for the driver. His pain was heightened by crashing right in front of the Dutch fans who celebrated his misfortune joyously. The DNF allowed Mercedes to reclaim their place at the top of both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings. Budapest will be Ferrari’s last chance to retake the lead before the summer but this incident has left them vulnerable to the German team.
This left us questioning Ferrari’s tactics. Hockenheim is not the first time that we have seen Ferrari pull rank on Raikkonen. The team asked the Finn to allow his colleague to pass. This move clearly did not pay off, as Vettel’s DNF meant any possibility of victory was lost and Raikkonen had to take third place behind the two Mercedes drivers. Perhaps if Ferrari had not put all their hopes on their No 1 driver they may still have taken the win by leaving Raikkonen in the lead. Ferrari may reconsider the way they use Raikkonen in Budapest and move away from a one-driver strategy.
The Italians are not the only ones dishing out team orders. Mercedes will hope to recreate their success in Hungary. After duelling with his teammate, Mercedes asked Valtteri Bottas to hold his second position instead of taking on Lewis Hamilton and competing for the win. The Finn complied with the orders, which were understandable if a little frustrating. The team boss Toto Wolff wants to avoid the same fate Red Bull suffered in Baku when both drivers took each other out while vying for position. Although it may seem unfair to stop the two Mercedes drivers from going wheel-to-wheel, the team showed that they were unwilling to risk the chance of dropping points, especially after the opportunity Vettel’s crash had presented.
As we approach Budapest the true colours of both leading teams have been displayed. Mercedes team orders, although harsh, demonstrate their reluctance to create situations where they can take themselves out of the points. Ferrari’s orders, on the other hand, tell a different story. They appear to rely on using Raikkonen as a buffer between Vettel and other competitors. Ferrari’s Finnish driver may be the oldest on the grid, but he still has a lot to offer. It is sad to see the team constantly using him as Vettel’s wingman. Hopefully in Budapest Ferrari will give Raikkonen the freedom to race.
Wheels on Fire 77 