It might not be the first time Ferrari have ever done such a thing, but they dropped the ball last Sunday in Turkey. When the caution came out there decision to not call Schumacher in first and let Massa come in the next lap was one of two things either done on purpose because the Constructors' Championship is more important, or plain stupidity and  a complete collapse in concentration of the master tactician Ross Brawn.

The decision should have been clear, as to my mind, the more immediate and hard fought battle is the Drivers' Championship. Surely the Ferrari team has the best car at the moment and could risk Massa trying to come back after the caution period. It is also pretty clear that Massa in a Ferrari is stronger that Fisichella in a Renault and the Constructors' Championship will surely be Ferrari's in the long run with 4 races to go.

This mistake by Ferrari is the most massive strategic error I have ever seen this Schumacher era team make and It may well have cost Michael his eighth World Championship. We shall see and I will be in Monza to see for myself.
 

August 30, 2006