Stewards on Schumi
One of the stewards from this weekends Monaco Grand Prix has spoken out about the decision to penalise Michael Schumacer.
The Spanish steward Joaquin Verdegay has said that the decision was very difficult, as the reputation of Schumi was at stake, but after looking at all the data it was all that they could do.
“It was a difficult decision because we couldn’t afford to make a mistake when the reputation of a driver is at stake,” Verdigay told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. “We do not know if the whole manoeuvre was deliberate but it is certain that at that point of the track he had never done anything of that sort all weekend.”
Joaquin also said that the evidence pointed to the fact that the incident could have been avoided, saying “He braked 50% harder than he had on the other laps and made a counter-steer movement which was absolutely not necessary, which lasted for five metres, to the point at which it was no longer possible for him to correctly turn the corner, He lost control of the car when he was travelling at 10mph, which is absolutely unjustifiable and the engine stalled because he wanted it to, losing the time necessary for engaging the clutch.”
He did however mention that if Schumi had taken the 'opportunity' to crash the car, even at slow speed into the barrier then the stewards would probably have never had investigated the incident.
What does this then bring to the sport and Michael? Well Michael will now know to crash it if h has the chance next time as he will not be investigated, and that the stewards do have teeth, and will punish people that break the rules.
This is good for the sport, never before have Ferrari been given a slap on the wrist like this, the FIA have usually stepped in to help them out.
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I think it’s important to note, whether you think he maliciously parked his car or not, that the outspoken steward in question is a Spaniard. So, I don’t think he’s above having a nationalistic spin on it. It’s one thing to have an opinion about the incident, but his vitriol leaves me suspicious.
Agreed he was probably gunning for the home boy, but there are two other members to the stewards grou that are not Spanish, and they all agreed.
Plus even if he was not at fault, it's about time a decision went against the Ferrari / Schumacher pairing.
Michael didnt really mean to do it, after all the media always ran michael down its getting beyond a joke when they do that, but whenever its another driver they say nothing i put it down to jealousy and hatred because michael was always winning, well since he has left formula 1 has not had many viewers only whats made that popular was michael okay we know there is a lewis hamilton frenzy at the moment but he isnt too bad but will never beat schunis records.