RE: Spa team orders: Time For Tea?

RE: Spa team orders: Time For Tea?

Tuesday 26th August 2014

Spa team orders: Time For Tea?

Eddie Jordan got his knickers in a twist over Hamilton and Rosberg - here's why



If the purpose of history is to learn lessons from the past; here's a video that could have done with some play in the Mercedes pit garage ahead of last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

Even by Spa's high standard for both wetness and crashes, 1998 was something special. This was the race where David Coulthard managed to cause two different crashes, the first one that wiped out nearly half the grid on the first lap, and then - after the restart - when he was about to be lapped by leader Michael Schumacher. DC lifted off but didn't move off the racing line. Schumacher, unsighted in the spray, drove his Ferrari straight into the back of Coulthard's McLaren, finishing his race.

And promoting Damon Hill into the lead. Hill was driving for Jordan and in the twilight of his F1 career - he retired the following year. He'd qualified at Spa in a strong third place and had briefly led after the second start, but Schumacher's misfortune put him back at the sharp end.

As the laps ticked down another problem became apparent. Hill's teammate, Ralf Schumacher, was closing him down in a car that looked considerably quicker. Cue some very tense radio discussions later revealed in this documentary about the team. And Damon's amazingly calm ultimatum, delivered while leading a Grand Prix in the rain: "If we two race, we could end up with nothing... if we don't race each other we've got an opportunity to get a first and a second."

Eddie Jordan clearly agreed and Ralf was ordered to hold station; clearly not a decision he liked. Jordan took its first victory and only one-two finish, Damon scored his last Grand Prix win. It certainly explains why EJ got so worked up in the BBC post-race discussion with David Coulthard on Sunday.

See here.

Lead image: LAT Photo

Author
Discussion

Omaruk

Original Poster:

611 posts

158 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
The cars sounded great

Alapeno

1,391 posts

146 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Omaruk said:
The cars sounded great
You beat me to it. Just the noise of the cars adds so much more excitement.

McSam

6,753 posts

174 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
You forget a bit just how good it was, don't you?

I'm glad I went to the Young Drivers' Test last year, final chance to see the V8s in action. I know they're not quite so dramatic as the V10s and V12s were, but nonetheless, it puts today's soundtrack to shame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84LykwRf1H0

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
IBTT

r11co

6,244 posts

229 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Omaruk said:
The cars sounded great
My first thought too! Will we ever get used to the farting drone of the current cars? This far into the season and I still cringe when I hear them.

CraigyMc

16,333 posts

235 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Any chance of a title for this thread?

Debaser

5,665 posts

260 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
They sounded so much better than this year's cars.

Pixelpeep7r

8,600 posts

141 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
wtf has the subject line gone?

ShayneJ

1,073 posts

178 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
/also IBTT smile

crugbun

492 posts

217 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I was lucky enough to go to Spa last weekend.
The spectacle of being there is very much reduced by the frankly underwhelming noise. Particularly when you hear the GP2 cars.

Won't be going to see F1 again.

garypotter

1,483 posts

149 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Great call from Damon..............

A good situation for Ej to be in.........

And yes what a noise from the cars back then so much more than the racing on the track still sound like they are travelling at a million miles per hour

davidc1

1,544 posts

161 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I recall Damon had a slow puncture and would not have lasted another lap.
Great race , watched it in a bar in Ibiza.
Made up for the heartbreak of Monaco 96 and Hungary 97.

SteveSteveson

3,209 posts

162 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
garypotter said:
Great call from Damon..............

A good situation for Ej to be in.........
Ye, and also shows EJ knows what he is talking about and that sometimes DC should stop talking down to him. EJ may not be able to drive but I suspect he may know more about managing drivers egos and managing a race that "drivers are the centre of the universe" DC.

CSLmarson

209 posts

194 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
SteveSteveson said:
Ye, and also shows EJ knows what he is talking about and that sometimes DC should stop talking down to him. EJ may not be able to drive but I suspect he may know more about managing drivers egos and managing a race that "drivers are the centre of the universe" DC.
yea and david couthard wears st trainers !

eps

6,272 posts

268 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
I thought it was the GP in Argentina 97 that had set EJs mind on this matter..?


TypeR

1,122 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
I was at that race with the wife. We were stood about 200m before the bus stop chicane, surrounded by hundreds of very merry Schumacher fans.
When Schuey went past of 3 wheels, they all packed up & disappeared. One minute they were there, then gone.
I've still got the tickets & programme for the race, I keep meaning to send them off to Damon & EJ for an autograph.....

Rakanisheu

6 posts

170 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
SteveSteveson said:
Ye, and also shows EJ knows what he is talking about and that sometimes DC should stop talking down to him. EJ may not be able to drive but I suspect he may know more about managing drivers egos and managing a race that "drivers are the centre of the universe" DC.
Its worth mentioning that EJ was actually a decent racing driver back in his day. Won the Irish Karting championship and the Irish Formula Atlantic championship. I know a number of guys over here speak highly from racing against him. Christian Horner is a decent pilot too.

truck71

2,328 posts

171 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
quotequote all
Proper bus stop, forgot about that.

BlimeyCharlie

901 posts

141 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
You must watch a different programme to me-give me DC and EJ anytime. Neither of them are daft, both of them have been there and actually done it, but both have different opinions. I enjoy their input and what would we rather have-James Allen?

CraigyMc

16,333 posts

235 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]