Morris Minor Owners Club

Although not my 'favourite' F1 driver - I had to feel heart sorry for Rubens today. He was almost in tears - as he made his career suicide statement on TV about the Team losing him the race. He is absolutely right of course - they DID lose him the race - and it's not the first time either. The 'fuel rig' failure was no doubt accidental - it was the general strategy before and after that ruined it for him. He could - and should, have won the race today. He would be better to walk away with his head up now - rather than struggle on with Brawn - even if they let him!

Nope, disagree BM, the Brawn simply could not do a 2 stopper on either tyre, witness both Jensen and Rubens suffering over the last 8-10 laps with graining.
I really warm to Bubens driving and general manner but think like Coulthard that he probably kmows already that he will not be at Brawn next year. Shame he let his emotions get the better of him, and not talk to the team before his interview.
I sympathise with him but do not think he has helped his cause

I think they only got 'graining' by running the tyres at too low pressure - to try to get some 'heat' into them. Earlier on they had been swerving about on the straights to try to heat the tyres! I believe their strategy was based on 'rain' coming along - when their low ful loads and need for more frequent stops would have paid off nicely. But I certainly agree he should have discussed with the Team before TV - and I'm sure he would have clauses in his contracts against doing exactly what he has done - hence my career suicide comment!

I believe their strategy was based on 'rain' coming along - when their low ful loads and need for more frequent stops would have paid off nicely.

If it had rained the Red Bull cars would have lapped the Brawns judging from their previous wet weather performance againt the Brawns in the wet so that argument doesn't hold water so to speak.
Especially as the Brawn cars really work at there best in the hotter track temperatures.
The five seconds Rubens lost because of the fuel rig problem was really the only thing that went wrong with his race and all that would have done is put him ahead of Jenson nothing else.

Hello BMCE,

I got the impression that the drivers race engineer decided the strategy rather than the team principle, i.e Ruben's side of the team?
He does seem to make too many mistakes for a driver of his experience though?

Alec

Actually I think it's good to see people's emotional side occasionally! He might be a very very rich racing driver, but he's not a robot. After so many years of loosing to team-mates it must be hard to be a big margin in front of your golden boy team mate and to be put onto a 'fall back strategy' then not to be given the right amount of fuel.

Skumy would have expected the second fuel rig to have had the right fuel settings just in case...
It reminds me of when the orrible-red team put 3 wheels on Irvine's car - although having seen a bit of him on tv and heard 1st hand reports from people who met him, it was hard to feel sorry for him! Rubens is certainly less big headed.

I see they are now claiming that Rubens radio wasn't working - sounds like excuse # 11a to me !