06/10/2006
NEWS STORY
In a move that might have some reciting the old adage about "glass houses" and "stones", Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn has called on Renault to play fair in the two remaining round of the 2006 Formula One World Championship.
With his own team's driver tied level with Renault's reigning World Champion, Brawn has asked that Renault doesn't use its other driver, Giancarlo Fisichella, to try to help his teammate by deliberately blocking or merely holding up the German.
"I think what we mustn't have is the number two drivers blocking or intentionally slowing one of the championship contenders," the Englishman said this afternoon. "I think that would be a bit unfortunate and unacceptable.
As a number of reporters raised their eyes, unable to believe quite what they were hearing, Brawn voiced their thoughts: "I think it's something which we know we were involved in a few years ago," he admitted, "and it was considered normal practice then. But it's been deemed to be unacceptable now so we understand that. Therefore, I think there's a certain level which is logical and fair and another level which has to be avoided because it's not correct."
As Shanghai last week, Giancarlo Fisichella, who was running close behind his teammate, repeatedly ran alongside the Spaniard, making it almost impossible for anyone to pass, a move which was not lost on Jean Todt, who warned; "we have now learned what we can do".