So, this last weekend was the German Grand Prix. I'd say it was generally an okay race. The first half was a lot more interesting than the second. Well, until that happened.
For anyone who doesn't know, Felipe Massa, who'd basically led the whole race after a cheeky move at the first corner, was given a veiled order by the team to let Fernando Alonso through to win. He duly did so, and of course a shit-storm has blown up about it.
It's a bit of a tricky thing is this. Back in 2002, Rubens Barrichello - driving for Ferrari - was ordered to pull over and let Michael Schumacher through to win the Hungarian Grand Prix. Now the way Rubens did this was to slow right down, just metres from the chequered flag and let Schumacher through.
In other words, there was no attempt to disguise the fact it was a team order. Back then of course we didn't get to hear the radio messages and it was always suspected that Rubens had deliberately done it that way in order to highlight the fact it was a blatant team order.
A huge shit-storm followed (I remember there were lots of boos when Schumacher was on the podium, for example) and the FIA tweaked a wholly rule that was meant to stop team orders so that it explicitly banned them. And so of course what went on last Sunday was in contravention of that rule.
It should be worth noting that Ferrari did not technically issue a direct order to Massa. However, the sub-text of the message and what subsequently happened mean it was not particularly well hidden. Of course, since we now have access to the team radios it's difficult to think how else they could have hidden the order.
And it's also difficult to really justify the order. From the constructors point of view, the net result is exactly the same - a one-two gives them exactly the same points independent of which driver is first and which second.
Now, Alonso is ahead of Massa in the championship, but it's not by a huge amount, and we're only just over half way through. However, you have to say that, generally speaking, you would normally expect Alonso to out-perform Massa and we've no idea, though it seems likely that Alonso's contract says he's the number 1 driver and Mass's that he's the number 2.
Which brings us to the fundamental question - is it right to have team orders? Or more specifically, since team orders as a general thing aren't banned, is it right to tell one driver to step aside to let the other drive through?
A lot of people will tell you no. And to some extent I agree with them. Really, if Alonso wants to get through he should do so via a proper overtake. He should prove that he's the better driver.
But to think that's the end of it is not to know what Formula One really is.
In most sports you're talking about individuals going head-to-head. Two runners racing each other or two teams of footballers trying to beat each other, etc. But in most motorsport you have a weird situation where you've got a team, but also two individuals.
However, the reality is that F1 is a team sport. Because you have the driver there a lot of people think it's an individual sport, but it really isn't.
F1 is also a massive commercial enterprise. Millions of pounds is spent and most of that money comes from sponsors. So there are commercial realities - Alonso carries with him some really big sponsorship.
And adding to that, overall we're talking about a championship that runs for an entire season - not just a set of individual races.
So when you factor in stuff like that, you can see why team orders like this happen. Yes, it doesn't change the constructors points, but it does boost the points of the driver who is already ahead. And when we get to the end of the season, if Alonso were to end up winning by a small amount, that's where it really matters.
Is that fair on Massa? Not really. Is it fair on the fans? Not really. Is it part of the sport? Yes, and it always has been.
Next weekend it's the Hungarian GP and then there's the summer break, where they have a few weeks off. Hungary is not normally the most exciting of races, but then Valencia is normally as dull as dish-water and that was quite good this year.
We do seem to have ended up with a spectacularly good season this year.
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