Paddock Consensus: Schumacher Made a Mistake

Formula One team bosses concluded on Sunday that the controversial position-changing finish to the United States Grand Prix was a "cock-up" from World Champion Michael Schumacher.

German Schumacher looked flush with embarrassment as he answered questions from the world's press after the race, admitting that he had tried to stage a dead heat finish only to be passed by teammate Rubens Barrichello on the line.

And British American Racing boss David Richards concluded the overall impression in the paddock, as he said: "That wasn't a stage finish, it was a cock-up. They are covering up for a complete cock-up.

"Michael backed off and Rubens didn't. He wasn't letting Rubens past. They were going to come over the line side-by-side, great show, great showmanship, waving at the crowd as they went past.

"You watch the body language at the end of the race and you can tell - that was not meant to happen. There is no conspiracy theory. These things happen. They probably thought Michael had won it.

"It's another storm in a tea cup. It's not a disgrace for F1. We all make cock-ups in our lives and that was Michael's one cock-up this year. The guy is too perfect he must make mistakes sometimes."

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart was taken aback by the events and was left as bemused as the rest of the paddock. "I reckon it's a mistake," he added. "I can't believe they meant to do it."

But Eddie Jordan was baffled by world champion Schumacher's belief that he could orchestrate a dead heat considering the current state of Formula One technology and timing.

"How can you do that?" he asked. "In modern technology when one thousandth of a second is possible, dead heats are gone out with Roy Rodgers, the Lone Ranger, Roy of the Rovers and all that stuff.

"There is no such thing as dead heats in anything any more, timing is too accurate with beams and lasers and stuff. Michael is good, but he isn't that good yet."

But Ferrari's closest rivals, McLaren and Williams, took a sterner view, criticising the Italian giants for a lack of respect for the sport they are dominating.

McLaren, in their most famous years of dominance, at least allowed their two drivers, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, to race one another for victory right to the last.

Team boss Ron Dennis said Ferrari should make more of an effort to put on a real show, and added: "I don't really want to be drawn into the debate but it's not how we go about motor racing. I don't think you should ever trivialise what is a very challenging sport.

"To win in motor racing is very hard and if you are in a wonderful position of being able to explore a performance advantage I don't think that should give you the platform to trivialise any race or world championship."

Williams technical director Patrick Head was also critical of Ferrari's efforts to put themselves ahead of the sport that is making them more and more famous around the world.

He was furious after the Austrian Grand Prix result and showed as much dismay this time around when he said: "I think it reflects the fact that the senior people at Ferrari think that Ferrari is more important than motor racing.

"They think that finishing races that way reflects better on Ferrari. But they don't seem to have an opinion of what it does for motor racing. We don't hold the same opinion.

"Ultimately, though, they are the people doing the best technical job at the moment and if they wish to use it you could say it's their privilege - but I don't think they did the crowd any favours."