F1: Inter team politics vs Instinct

Like every other petrol head in the country, I spent yesterday morning watching the Malaysian Grand Prix. What an event full race it was too for the obvious reason which has undoubtedly trended on twitter and graced most back pages today.

I am talking the team order fallout which has surrounded Red Bull Racing & Mercedes. 

For any of you who didn't catch the race I will simply go over the key points of the battle between the Red Bull boys:

• Vettel starts on pole and leads the race
• Webber managed to overtake during a pit stop
• Seb ends up behind Webber and puts a radio message out telling the team "Mark is slower, get him out the way"
• Rocky (Seb's engineer) tells Seb to keep the distance as it is only half race distance.
• Seb overtakes Mark, apparently disobeying team orders to hold station
• Seb wins the race and is told by Rocky "Well done but there is some explaining to be done"
• Mark finishes 2nd and lets his anger show in an awkward post race podium interview 

While this is going on, Mercedes have a similar experience but those on the pit wall refuse to let Nico Rosberg overtake a slower Lewis Hamilton, who has been slowed by a poor fuel strategy throughout the entire race. Nico reluctantly holds station and finishes the race in 4th. Lewis Hamilton has since said that he believes that Nico should've been on the podium instead.

My thoughts

Yesterday's podium 'celebrations'

Watching the race I truly didn't think anything negative of Seb's overtake on his team mate, in fact I was extremely impressed with the inter team battle (when i stopped hiding behind my cushion) given their past coming together on the track in Turkey 2009. It wasn't until the chequered flag had dropped and Seb received his "There will be some explaining to be done" radio call. What followed has got to be one of the most cringe worthy exchanges i have seen. Webber uttering the now infamous "Multi21 seb??" was only the tip of the iceberg, the podium celebrations were rather subdued from all parties. Then when it came to the interview to follow, Webber let his feelings towards his team mate and his team out in the open for the world to see and in flooded the world's sympathy for the Aussie.

 I am quite frankly proud of what Seb did! He is a red blooded racer and was following his instinct to race. Why should he have to hold station in only the second race of the season! I understand the team view of wanting maximum points from the drivers but i question the system of team orders so early on in a season. Nor do i like how Seb has been attacked by the press

The polar opposites happened during the race. Sebastian went with his instinct and went for the win while Rosberg followed orders but yet  Sebastian has taken all of the abuse from the F1 paddock, fans and the media calling him a spoilt brat etc but i don't understand why so when Nico has received criticism for not taking advantage. Contradicting yourself much??
Aren't we forgetting Silverstone a few years back when Mark chose to "ignore a radio message" but then, he was given the sympathy. Why is Vettel always the one in the wrong?? 

Could it be a case that the public are simply attacking the person who has been at the centre of the sport for the past number of years? The public being bored of the sport's golden boy??

I wonder if the public would hold the same view if it was Senna or Hamilton in Seb's position???