23/04/2007
NEWS STORY
In an extraordinary move, former team owner Eddie Jordan has accused Ron Dennis of "nannying" rookie-sensation Lewis Hamilton, believing the Englishman is being over-protective of his driver.
Jordan claims that the media should be given more access to Hamilton, and that Dennis' hands-off approach is not in the best interests of the fans, sponsors or indeed F1 as a whole.
The Irishman is particularly angry at Dennis' ruling that Hamilton is not interviewed on the grid prior to a race, claiming that the "exposure" would be good for the fans and sponsors.
He also says that while Hamilton might be prevented from taking part in grid interviews, there are at least ten other drivers (and their sponsors) who would leap at the opportunity.
Now, ignoring the fact that Eddie famously sacked his driver on the weekend of his home Grand Prix - Heinz-Harald Frentzen at Hockenheim in 2001 - a move which has never been satisfactorily explained, and which will have hardly gone down well with fans or sponsors, there is the legendary legal action against Vodafone, which Jordan claimed reneged on a massive sponsorship deal.
The best evidence that the Irishman could offer in court was a handwritten note - the work of his commercial manager - bearing the words "you've got the deal". The case was thrown out, with Eddie being severely criticised by the presiding judge. Nobody in the paddock, and very few outside it, understood why the case ever went to court, and the Irishman never fully recovered from the damage incurred by the action, and, to a lesser extent, the mysterious sacking of Frentzen.
On the other hand, McLaren, under Dennis' guidance, appears to be fighting off sponsors, and though the team might have a somewhat sterile and corporate image, it has a proven track record and looks set to add to its tally of titles.
Though sponsors might like to see their logos during grid interviews, they are probably far happier to see their logos next day in newspapers and on news bulletins as Hamilton takes his place on the podium.
In the final years of Johnny Herbert's career, it became a standing joke that following his latest technical failure (ITV broadcaster) Louise Goodman would be on hand to offer a consoling word and to hear the whys and wherefores. The whole; "so Johnny, can you tell us what happened?" became part of the Sunday afternoon ritual. Sadly, his place now appears to have been taken by Jenson Button.
Part of Jenson Button's problem - and make no mistake he had the ability to win races and titles - is that he was managed badly, and subsequently began to believe his own hype. Ron Dennis is right to not want that for Hamilton.
The ten other drivers that Eddie mentions with regards being eager to do grid interviews are not (jointly) leading the World Championship.
Ron Dennis admits to taking his eye off the ball a few years back, as he focussed on the construction of his new factory and the Mercedes-Benz SLR, he will not allow this to happen again. Nor will he allow Lewis to miss out on his date with destiny for the chance of a few 'media opportunities'.