Drivers are employees. Their contracts almost certain include agreement to follow team orders.
The team ordered both drivers to conserve their cars, hold position, and take one-two.
Webber SLOWED to follow team orders. He did not do so in the spirit he was STILL RACING with Vettel.
Vettel, on the other hand, took UNFAIR advantage of Webber slowing. He has admitted he was in the wrong.
I have no idea what type of racing you did. F1 is a sport with history, tradition, and drivers form a fraternity, so to speak.
If the team ordered hold, but BOTH drivers ignored it and continued to race hard, it would be one thing. That would be a FAIR RACE.
Vettel’s win is tainted in the eyes of almost everybody watching.
But you are free to have your opinion. I agree to disagree, agreeably.
This is one driver who would never sign an agreement to hold back for anything other than mechanical issues.
To do so is dishonest and we have enough dishonesty in everyday life.
To follow the “team orders” excuse would have precluded F1 fans from viewing a great battle between two great drivers and NOTHING is gained for the sport by preventing the fans and advertisers from that level of competition.
Were I running F1, such team orders for things other than mechanical would be banned with stiff penalties for any violation. We have seen it with deliberate spin outs to bring out cautions or blocking and that is not clean racing.
Racing unfortunately has always had a cloud of dishonesty over it be it some crew chief thinking they can skirt the rules or an owner playing with which car gets certain parts. None of that helps the sport.
I want to see passionate drivers willing to push their cars to the absolute limit without, if possible, taking out another team mate. Had Vettel and Webber touched this debate might take a different tact.
So, if Vettel followed the CHEAT order would Webber have really WON the race. NO.
By the way, I like Webber over Vettel but have to admit, Vettel is the man to beat and if I were a team owner he would be the man I would try and get in the cockpit.