Competitive Advantage

A little sordid F1 history. Flavio BRIATORE was directing the Renault team at the time. It had not been a good season so far. The Italian marketing guru needed a little something to peak the interest of potential future sponsors to put money into the team. A win would do nicely. Conspiring with technical director Pat SYMONDS they ordered second driver Nelson PIQUET Jr to intentionally crash producing a safety car and enabling his teammate Fernando ALONSO to go on and take the victory. Both were banned for “life”. Junior never recovered his racing career. Flavio now heads the Alpine F1 endeavor and the last I knew Pat was a consultant with the FIA. Everybody tries to get an edge over their competitors. George RUSSELL and Max VERSTAPPEN were following the safety car. The Briton slammed on his brakes catching the Dutchman flatfooted. The tactic was subsequently ruled illegal. Max slightly bested George by a couple of meters as a result.You know who got on the radio. Max had passed him under the safety car. He should be penalized. No one was fooled. Russell looked foolish. Not for the last time if the first lap of the Singapore Sprint is recalled. Foolish. In the Sprint one teammate crashed in his opposite number. I’m the World Champion. So you are obligated to let me through was the vibe. Then getting passed by Kimi ANTONELLI in the closing stages of the race. In Singapore there was only unfair advantage needed. Number 3 at the keyboard. Simply Lovely.