Any international cricket team visiting the Indian subcontinent expects a rough time, both on and off the pitch. One could say that it is enshrined in history. If you can’t be beaten on the field, they will try to beat you off the field which, in turn, will result in losing the overall series. The difference between what happened in the final race of the DTM Series over the weekend and what can happen in the subcontinent is that one is subtle while the other was blatant and an embarrassment.
Two incidents in the final deciding race of the championship have tarnished what should have been a fantastic DTM season. Let’s recap on what happened:
So, Kiwi driver, Liam Lawson, in an Italian team (AF Corse Ferrari) is on pole for the final race of the season. If his two other title rivals finish higher than him, he only has to finish sixth or better to clinch the German series title.
However, in a repeat of Saturday’s opening encounter, title rival, Kelvin van der Linde (Audi), tried to dive past Lawson under braking for Turn 2, taking the inside line into the hairpin. Van de Linde ran to deep clipping Lawson, who in turn hit team mate and fellow Kiwi Nick Cassidy. Once Lawson got going, at the rear of the field, he soon realised that he had broken steering and eventually continued to circulate finishing 24 laps down on the winner.
Van de Linde received a five-second penalty for his part but with Lawson effectively taken out of the race, the South African fought back through the field only to have a tyre blow, knocking him out of title contention. Karma?
Meanwhile out in front, Austrian Lucas Auer held a comfortable lead over Phillip Ellis followed by Maximillian Gotz, the only other rival who had a chance to win the title (all three driving Mercedes).
At this stage, the title was still Lawson’s who had enough of a points buffer if Gotz finished in third.
In the dying laps, team orders were issued, both Auer and Ellis slowed down to let Gotz through, with the German driver taking the lead on lap 64 of 67 to clinch the title.
Van der Linde should have been given the black flag (disqualification) as he effectively interfered with the outcome of a championship in an unsportsmanlike manner. It was no different to the Schumacher/Hill crash in the 1994 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide or the Schumacher/Villeneuve clash at Jerez in 1997. Both incidents either altered or tried to change the course of the Formula One season in question.
Then there is the obvious team order issued by Mercedes which saw both Auer and Ellis slow, allowing Gotz to win and beat Lawson for the title by three-points. The result giving Mercedes both the drivers’ and the manufacturers’ championship on its return to the DTM.
As they say, it is just not cricket. It is blatantly unfair and has an element of dishonesty. It is a hollow victory for Mercedes and unfortunately for Gotz who, as a very good driver, deserves better. Both will be tainted with what has turned out to be a weakly governed, or spineless DTM Series. (I would love to know what conversation has taken place between Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of Red Bull, and his first ever sponsored F1 driver, Gerard Berger, who runs DTM.)
Van de Linde has made his reputation and it is not a nice one. Mercedes blatantly and so publicly made sure their car won, it is an embarrassment to them. With the German DTM Series allowing this fiasco to take place, it does send a certain message.
In the end Lawson leaves with his reputation intact, huge respect for the way he has conducted himself on and off the track and with enough Super Licence points to drive in Formula One. It may be little consolation for a young driver who just wants to win. That day will come, and like victory for an international cricket team playing in the subcontinent, it will be more the sweeter.
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