A throng of Formula One's finest won't be inhibited by recent goings-on in the grand prix stewards' room or FIA tribunal.
At Hockenheim, Ralf Schumacher was penalised 10-grid places for Budapest for dangerous driving before his BMW-Williams successfully had it overturned.
But the FIA Court of Appeal also questioned the racing tactics of Rubens Barrichello and Kimi Raikkonen, also involved in the shunt before exonerated.
Raikkonen, fingered for blame but not punished, said the events would not alter his intention to race 'as hard as ever' in the final three races of 2003.
'It was just one of those things that happens sometimes,' said the Finn, 'and hopefully it will not happen again.'
Barrichello, Ferrari's driving ace, thinks the same. 'I was really aggressive at Silverstone because I had to move forward.'
Rubens said, in contrast, there was 'no aggression' from his side at the start of the Hockenheim race 'but suddenly there was a crash.
'I don't think we were actually trying to fight,' said the Brazilian. 'So I don't think the racing will change. We're just going to race the same.'
Jaguar's Mark Webber says being a Formula One driver is all about 'making split second decisions' and a crash like Hockenheim is 'all over in a blur.
'I think what Ralf did was absolutely normal. We will race, make decisions we think are right, and not worry about having a touch here and there.'
Written: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 23:47:54
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