The 2012 United States Grand Prix (Circuit of the Americas)

[ArrowsFA1]

@SkySportsMike: Official confirmation through: 'Fact - An FIA Seal on the gearbox of Car 6 has been damaged...
https://twitter.com/skysportsmike/st...23553490743296

[Dave B]

if this would happen it would be a travesty

there are team orders, and then there is race manipulation with a very very murky ethical and sporting influence
Its bad enough one has to endure team orders during the race, but to try and deliberately change the starting grid to suit a driver lower down is really beyond the line.
Remember, that unlike an in-race team order to let your #1 pass your #2 or to hold station, doing what they are thinking of doing would affect all those 5 cars below him and put 3 of them on the dirty side.
i am 100% against this. It will set a bad precedent and open the door for all kinds of direct manipulation by teams. The terrible ramifications are too many.

Amen. Team orders where one driver fulfils the terms of a contract which he agreed to are one thing (I still don't like it, but hey); deliberately manipulating the grid in a way which interferes with other drivers and teams crosses a line. It's legal, but it stinks.

Alonso is reinforcing his reputation as a driver who struggles to win fairly, and it's a shame because he's clearly brilliant - one of the best in fact. He spits his dummy when his team mate is faster than him, he whines like a baby when he doesn't get his own way, and he refused point blank to acknowledge that his Singapore win was tainted even though his sleazeball of a boss ordered his team mate to deliberately crash - one of the most unsporting and sickening incidents I've ever witness in any sport.

Ferrari can go to hell as far as I'm concerned. They're treating the fans like mugs. It beats me why Massa would want to drive for this cynical bunch.

[donKey jote]

my oh my... big brock is throwing an ioan

[N. Jones]

Hold on a second....I am coming in after this story started making the rounds.

What happened, exactly?

[donKey jote]

Ferrari read TMorel's post and sacrificed Massa so Alonso can start on the clean side of the grid.

[TMorel]

Can any blame be put on the track owners / FIA / The Grease Fairy for making such huge (alleged) difference. There's always been a preferred side (think back to Prost / Senna in Japan '90?) but if Horner is even admitting there's a difference then blimey it must be a massive disadvantage today. Any lessons for the future to be learned on the physical grid Tarmac as opposed to the sporting regulations?

[donKey jote]

BBC Sport - US GP: Ferrari admit to deliberate Massa penalty to aid Alonso

Engineers believe that those on the dirty, even-numbered, side of the grid will lose two positions at the start.

The new Circuit of the Americas is very slippery off the racing line. Massa did a practice start from the even-numbered side of the grid on Saturday after qualifying and said there was less grip than would be in wet conditions.

[N. Jones]

Ah, okay. Thanks.

A dirty move but it's legal. Alonso still has to pass Vettel and I don't see that happening

[Dave B]

my oh my... big brock is throwing an ioan

Blah blah never watching again blah blah worst sport ever blah blah toys out of pram

[truefan72]

errr...pit hamilton now please while he still has a gap to p4 car
wtf?