Autosport Plus

Why Germany 2010 is different to Austria 2002

Ferrari's decision to hand Fernando Alonso victory in Germany has caused a huge uproar, similar to that of the 2002 Austrian GP. But, as Tony Dodgins explains, the situations are completely different...

Eight years ago Ferrari made a cretinous decision at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Nobody was remotely close to it in terms of a credible championship challenge. Michael Schumacher had won four of the first five races - Australia, Brazil, Imola and Barcelona. Then came A1-Ring, a track where Rubens Barrichello was often quicker than Schumacher, probably because Michael put so much energy through the front tyres in the long left-hander that he wore his right front too much.

In 2001, Barrichello had been forced to move over and give his second place to Schumacher. He was less than thrilled. He was told that it would never happen if a win was at stake. A year later, of course, it was. But with Michael under the huge pressure of having won just those first five races, unbelievably Jean Todt had the call put out to Rubens.