By Harland Bulwer.
What should have been a joyous occasion for Australian F1 fans, the proverbial rug was pulled out of from underneath the legs of the Formula 1 faithful, as Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified from the Melbourne GP. Whilst the FIA have hidden behind technicalities in the new rules of 2014, this reporter has been able to sift through the red tape and find possibly what, or should I say, whom, is behind the disqualification.
Without going into detail about all of the changes for 2014, a quick google search can satisfy that hunger, the sport is entering a new phase into territory unknown, and as yesterday was testament to, territory that is unpredictable. But this isn’t the first time there have been dramatic changes to the rule book, we can all of course remember like it was yesterday the 1970 rule change stating that spectators have to be at least 3m behind the guard rail, almost finished the sport for good. The greater public threatened to stop coming to races because they were no longer allowed to lean over the guard rails and throw mint juleps to their favourite drivers. As scandalous as it was at the time, the people did keep coming. And how.
Out of all the rule changes there have been, I chose that one because of the eerily similarities between 1970 and 2014. And it’s not because the number of recorded UFO kidnappings in Gawler in 2014 match those in 1970. No, we have to look at the retired drivers from the year before. In 1969 there was a Canadian driver by the name of Victor ‘Al’ Pease. In his home grand prix he was sensationally disqualified for being too slow. A first and only of its kind. Scandalous at the time, but as soon as the ’69 season ended, people had put him and Canada, to the back of their minds. So, being another face in the crowd, Al went along to the first race in South Africa in 1970 as a spectator.
In an incident that isn’t well known, as the record just states DNF, Pease situated himself on treacherous turn one, Crowthorne Corner, ready just behind the guardrail with his packet of mint juleps. What everyone at Kyalami didn’t know, was that Pease had replaced the mints with Schwinn Crank ball bearings. As the field approached that first turn, Pease hurled his disguised bearings at the breaking cars. Being more weighted than normal mint juleps, they flew further, to the outside line. Two of the ball bearings struck Piers Courage’s visor, causing him to understeer the turn and end up in the gravel. After an investigation and determining the cause of Courage’s retirement, the 3m rule was instated. The reason behind the rule change was never made public.
Fast forward to 2014 and we look to the weekend Red Bull had and ask some relevant questions. Where was Mark Webber during Q2 when Kimi Raikkonen spun out, holding up Sebastien Vettel to not progressing to Q3? Why was Mark Webber in the Red Bull pits during fuelling? Why was Mark Webber having post-race drinks with FIA official Hans Mistral about an hour before the disqualification of Ricciardo was announced?
Whilst it would be highly unethical to say categorically who/what was behind Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification, one must be cognisant of all the information available, to make their own conclusions….
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