Hello Edward,
I agree with your views on the Hungarian grand prix. However, my feeling is that Lewis indirectly broke the rules of the sport when he did not obey team orders,...and that he also definitely limited the fairness of the final qualifying session. At the end of the day Fernando got the pole with one extra lap of carburant, with more weight on his car than expected, and after the same number of laps Lewis did.In other words indirectly Lewis prevented Fernando from reaching (probably) an even better lap time.If the stewards are prepared to step in and sanction this type of team issue, then they need to be prepared to take complete decisions, and it is not news that Lewis left unharmed this time.From a team point of view we'll see if Mclaren stands this situation long, as this is the second time that Lewis obtains an investigation action against the team that has financed and backed-up his life and career -remember Monaco-. Villany can be forgiven, not ungratefulness.

javi, Madrid, Spain

I do not agree with the comparison between what Schumacher did in Monaco and what McLaren (should I say McLewis?) did in the pit stop. The reasons are obvious:

- First case involves two rival teams.
- The fault was committed on the track during classification.
- There in no regulation regarding how long the car can stay in the pit during service.
- The disagreement was purely internal and there was no justification for the FIA to intervene.
- The alleged harming to the spectacle was worsened by the penalty. The spectators were deprived of a true race between the two main contenders.
- Ferrari as a team was never involved. It was a driver’s (MS) decision to block his rival.

Your comment that Dennis and Alonso made misleading comments, it is just that, misleading.

Cheers.

Paul, Hamilton, Ontario

F1 team sport (hahaha)..
Please Formula 1 is about sponsorship!
RD would have got rid of Hamilton if he was a bad driver!
So loyalty is not an excuse for people to use for Hamilton to disregard team orders!
If he does go to Ferrari it will be the best move of his career - more money more problems - but infinitely more class!
Forza Hamilton win the WDC and let's see you in ferrari next year!!

Tunde, London, England

No doubt that Hamilton is real fast, but he better start maturing. I think at McLaren they are starting to realize they should have allowed at least a year for him to learn at a medium level F1 team. Again, when I say learn, it has nothing to do with driving, but with following orders, analysing situations and taking smart decisions (for instance not insulting your boss).
Hamilton has already created two conficts for McLaren, one at Monaco and the second at Hungary....he better learn to follow orders or he will just be a fast driver without a team behind him. It will be a one man/car team.
Ron Dennis will not forget this last incident for sure. My wish is that McLaren will allow Alonso to go to another team at the end of the season.
If you want fairness, you need to first look at yourself, otherwise instead of fairness is hypocracy.
Interesting times to come.....Cheers!!!

Mike Tinsley, Madrid, Spain

Finally! A British journalist that says Hamilton disobeyed team orders and got away with it, at the expense of his teammate.

Also, as you can read everywhere, Hamilton keeps on saying to everyone, I just showed up with a smile the next day and got on with my job. Which is ... charm your way to a title? And then he "cannot understand why Alonso does not want to talk to him, even though he is a very forgiving person." Ha. What a bloody loser. Extremely talented, but nonetheless a loser.

Sergio, Baltimore, USA

(and no, I am not Spanish. In fact I am British)

Sergio M., Baltimore, MD, USA

Both drivers are guilty, Hamilton for defying his mentor and team; Alonso for waiting those 10 seconds; but I don't think team or Dennis are guilty at all. They just try to give the same opportunities to both drivers, since they are proving themselves worthy of world title. And FIA rules say sanctionable team-orders shall take place only in the race, not in qualifying sessions.

But it all happened on the pit, and there are no rules on the FIA stating penalties for such things happening at each team box. Hamilton had a kind of childish attitude with that conversation with Ron, together with his father, by accussing Alonso and the team to proposedly delaying him, and then by denying Ron's declarations to FIA (if I did something like that to my boss, I'd be fired next day).
So, what I really think is that FIA should have not taken part on this, it's a team problem they must solve themselves. Sanctions were unfair, IMO.
And press both in UK and ES is acting so stupid, it's very sad.

Luis G.H., Madrid, Spain

Agreed Mclaren is not above reproach!
This whole Daddy phrase is twisted! Ron gave him the chance because he was ready, besides his talent was out there waiting to be snapped up by another team. The plan was for him to learn under Alonso but with him outperforming the champ in the same car - the game has changed, do we expect the next WDC to play second fiddle to fernando... This sport is about moolah bottomline - RD is his boss who made a bad decision, Hami called him up on it albeit wiv colorful language (Note Hami new friends!). Truth is Alonso races for himself (Historical fact). Hamilton is a quick study, realises fernando did not win championships only by driving, changed tack.. He would never have spoken to RD like that without just cause so Alonso can get stuffed with that "get in your place boy attitude".
Hello this is motor racing - not the cub scouts, if it getting to hot to watch on your settee - watch the golf, I think Le tigre might win something soon!

Tunde, London, Engerland

If I spoke to my manager the way Hamilton did to Dennis, I would be fired immediately.
I think he should be punished for ignoring team orders, to be a good pilot implies something more than driving fast.
Who does Hamilton think he is????

edushan, Madrid, Spain

The reason why we all have an opinion on this is because we are enjoying what is happening, F1 is now very exciting. The question now is that if we are enjoying this season, why are we urging restraint on both drivers? Surely that will lead to a boring an non eventful F1, predictable and boring, something we where all accusing F1of being. I suggest that each driver be allowed to be as competitive and cunning as they can be, that will spice up the championship. Dull drivers who are content with operating within confines do more damage to interest than individuals who have ambition and can do anything to win.

F1forlife, Luton, UK

So what someone predicted at the beginning of the season has happened. All the praise and adulation in the British press has gone to Hamilton's inexperienced head and he thinks he can do whatever he wants. The team must now get him back under control. This won't do his career any favours. "Stupid boy!" as Captain Mainwaring would have said.

Sheona Hutcheson, Chesham,

So who informed the stewards Lewis or Anthony?

James Ryan, Birmingham, West Midlands

If you look at statistics they both did 17 laps in qualifying what hamilton wanted was to have an extra lap advantage over Fernando, the agreement on the team was that this time Fernando has the extra lap and not Hamilton since Hamilton had have it last time. Therefore Hamilton had the same chances Fernando did, and the FIA has entered into a no return rute, by allowing Hamilton to come back to race in Germany, and no benefitting him in Hungary.

John, Plymouth, England

I wish Ayrton Senna da Silva was still around, none of this would matter

Mark, Preston, England

Congratulations for the article, Mr Gorman. Well, there are a lot of good professionals but just some of them know what team work means. Nowadays, the ability to coordinate team efforts is as important as knowledge and ability. You have to give orders and to listen to orders, both things are difficult and important. Hamilton should learn that even if Alonso is out of McLaren at tehe end of this season
Regards

Javier , Seville , Spain

"We have to be brave taking some decisions in the team ..." said Dennis just 5 days ago.
Does Hamilton refuse to obey team orders?
Well, Hamilton to see the race from the paddock and dela Rosa driving the car.
As simple as that.

Svenson, Stavanger, Norway

Mclaren seem to be self destructing, and I am amazed at how naive Ron Dennis has been, especially after the Senna Prost years.

I think Alonso will be going back to Renault. And Hamilton guided by his father will do a multi multi miillion dollar deal with Ferrari for next year as the confirmed number one driver.

Despite many objections to Schumacher's status as the No 1 driver, it obviously makes sense and they will do it again!

And then maybe Ferrari will get some technical information from Mclaren for a change!

Richard, London, London

I have followed Ron and the McLaren team for the past 25 years and I will be amazed if he doesn't sort this farce out quickly and quietly.
Alonso is a true Champion and should concentrate on his driving. 6 races to go , so plenty to drive for. Hamilton has an incredible future ahead of him but must also realise who put him there and also understand there are rules and understandings that must be obeyed - regardless !! What can be given , can also be taken away. The Prancing Horse boys must be having a good laugh at this at the moment , the Constructors gap has narrowed significantly over the past 3 races and with Luca Di Montezemollo and Max M getting ready to attack Ron again, this season is not yet over by a long stretch of the imagination. Ron, sort this mess out please !!

Peter Kaminskas, Milan, Italy

Hello Edward,
My compliments for your article, I could not agree more with your analysis.
In a society where everything is acceptable to achieve goals, time to time it would not be a bad thing to remind people that it is not only the final destination which counts by also how you made it.
Fair play and good luck for those who respect others as much as they respect themselves.
Regards

Carlos Blasant, Madrid, Spain

I think the most honourable thing to come out of all of this was the obvious passion and sense of personal distress that Dennis exhibited during his post race interview.

It's inspiring to see someone so passionately devoted to something . I've always thought he was a bit of a cold fish, but I have seen a whole new side to him.

What a great championship season.

Mark, Birmingham, UK

What is still unclear to me from all the reports is who or why the issue of Alonso delaying his exit on his second pit stop made it to the stewards in the first place.

Did the stewards themselves find it strange that Alonso didn't pull away when the lollipop was raised; was it complained to them by someone (from within McLaren?) or were they listening to the frenzied television reporters commentary? :)

Having re-watched the Q3 session many times now and compared the recording with the many reports, not all adds up. In particular, surely Alonso's lengthy first Q3 pit stop (approx 50 seconds) followed by the string from the tyre warmer getting caught in his wheel (add another 9 seconds) would have put any carefully planned qualifying out of schedule, irrespective of passing Hamilton or not...

Paul, Bournemouth, UK

This debacle is the last thing that Mclaren needed when they are due in court over the Ferrari spying affair. The fact that Ron Dennis defended Alonso and even provided him with an 'alibi' that the stewards deemed false would suggest that his much vaunted 'integrity' isn't that integral to the way he runs his team.

Jason Coles, London, United Kingdom

After reading this and other articles, I realized that Hamilton is ambitious, which is a great attribute, but it blinded his judgment and consideration for others as well as agreements within the team to carry certain tasks. If he doesn't have the capability to be a team player, he may as well play golf or tennis. If he keeps this up and not change his behaviour, I'm not sure he'll last long in F1 as it is a TEAM sport. He's made a rookie mistake, so he should learn his lesson and hope not to go at it alone again.

Brian Tan, LOS ANGELES, USA

This article is obviously much more objective and balanced than your posts in the blog. Congratulations! Just one thing. Fernando and the team's reaction to Lewis's disobedience cannot be compared to Schumacher's in Monaco last year. For one thing, what McLaren tried to do on Saturday by holding Lewis in the pit was to restore the previously settled agreement, which, by the way, Fernando accepted/obeyed in previous Grand Prix in whcih Lewis had been given an extra lap.

Daniel, Gijon, Spain

The worst thing about this whole fiasco are the drivers behaving like little kids and their daddy who couldn't do anything about it...what i say is for them to have a nice family picnic and settle it there and then like a man.

F1 enthusiast, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The problem is the script has not gone to plan. With Hamilton showing he is just as competitive as Alonso instead of being the apprentice. Ron Denis should let them do their fighting on the track without knocking each other off.

Alan Walton, Leicester, England

What ever the rights and wrongs of Hamilton disobeying the team instructions, it seems to me to have been poor judgement by McLaren to so publicly punish him by holding Alonso in the pits longer than necessary.

McLaren would have looked rather silly had Alonso not beaten Hamilton's time, spun off, got a puncture or broken down. The would have looked even sillier had another team somehow managed to get in a very fast lap and be on pole with Hamilton not able to get another go.

Surely it would have been better for all concerned had the punishment, for not following the team agreement, been to give Alonso extra fuel burn off advantages in future races. This would not have involved the stewards, reminded the rookie who pays his wages but still give him the chance to prove he is as good as I think he is.

Pat Thornton, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

I would like to see Hamilton on his own, without a master driver in his team to do the hard job tuning the cars to optimus performance while he is playing videogames. No doubt Hamilton is a fast driver, but it will ber a few years until he becomes a good driver, if ever. Alonso will join Ferrari next season (a dream!!) and we will have another seven years of red dominance. Give the best driver the best car, and the best team, and races will be boring, very boring

Emilio, Madrid, Spain

I think that Alonso doesn't more help for win the championship.
It's enough.

Who is more intelligent?
Mc Laren?
Mercedes?
Ron D.?

Michael S., London,

It's clear that there's enough blame to go around to everyone at McLaren for the events of this weekend. Hamilton for defying orders, Alonso for deciding retribution was his to take and Dennis for trying to hedge his bets about the whole mess when facing the public. It's clear that the only thing to do is for all parties to meet, vent and move on. I've said it before: this should be the best of times for the team. They have a 2x world champion and a champion rookie and a car that's doing its job. There's much at stake so the silly season has got to end. They have to get down to it--be competitive but race clean. Otherwise, even without "Stepneygate" it could all just slip away from them. They are both great drivers. I would hope that they can rise above petty trickery and give us fans the kind of exciting season we deserve.

esmerelda, Cannes, France

The team owner needs to carpet the lot of them and fine them all a month's pay!

Gunpowder Plod, Sai Kung, Hong Kong