AMD shamed by Ferrari fiasco

SUNDAY'S AUSTRIAN FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX ended in high farce as popular German world champion Michael Schumacher was gifted the race after the team ordered hated Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to let him pass to take the chequered flag. [You sure this is the right way round? - Ed]

Barrichello had comfortably out-performed his team leader all weekend, securing pole position and leading the race from the start to six feet from the finish when he pulled over, letting Schumacher take the win. This despicable, cynical and unsportsmanlike move was prompted by a call from Ferrari top management to ensure sponsors were kept happy by letting the most overpaid sportsman on the planet to cross the line first.

Schumacher's inflated salary is justified by his being the best driver currently in F1. But he wasn't the best this weekend. In an identical car, he was comprehensively outperformed by his team mate, who is paid a fraction of the wedge Schumi receives.

The boos from the crowd; the burning of Ferrari flags and the criticism of the action by other team bosses must call into doubt the wisdom of sponsoring such a discredited team. AMD, Vodafone and Marlboro should today be asking themselves what on earth they're doing being associated with a totally dishonoured 'sporting' team.

Schumacher had been working hard to improve his image, but that now looks a hopeless task. If he had disobeyed team orders and allowed Barrichello to take a well-deserved win, Ferrari bosses might have been pissed off, but they would hardly have sacked him.

Formula 1 was once a 'must see' sport, but increasingly-dull, processional races have seen many fans drift away. Ferrari's action could well prove to be the final nail in its coffin. Suddenly cutting the grass or visiting IKEA looks considerably more entertaining than watching a Grand Prix.

Come on AMD, prove that you have spine - pull the plug on Ferrari sponsorship now. If the only way they can win is by using the automotive equivalent of PR ratings, surely, oh, hang on a minute… µ Inq Factoid:
Sun sponsors the mirrors on McLaren F1 cars - a singularly pointless exercise as everyone else is in front of them these days

See Also
What BBC readers think about the debacle
HP to continue Williams BMW F1-orina sponsorship