1997 Jerez Incident: As Boring As Ross Repeating “We Were on a Break”

In the long months of winter, separating season ending race from the first one of the new season, avid Formula One fans search for even the smallest connection to the sport.

With no teams located in North America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, or South America, and the test tracks used by F1 squads being located exclusively in Europe, fans of the sport outside of Europe are forced to rely on limited exposure to the sport.  Unless a fan has much vacation, money, the opportunity to visit a test session for a weekend is like an unrealizable dream. 

The windows into that magical winter session are random F1 updates from tests, interviews with team members, and to some such windows are too opaque, too random, too spaced out.  Even in midseason, the windows called grand prix races are too spaced.

For those seeking a deeper insight into F1s world the wait for the next season, or even those seeking to occupy their time between each grand prix with more F1, those seeking to add to the already three dimensional perception of a sport, DVDs and books are really the only avenue.  

While the quality of the DVDs and their subject matter addressed is often better from one year to the next, books tend to provide a deeper insight into the sport, history, and business of Formula One.

F1 books can be written on so many pages, in so many words, but the actual ideas that they try to get across are much deeper, and can often address something more than visible at first sight.

In the last year there have been several books available to the fans on the bookstore shelves that have brought their readers an insight on many subjects of F1. 

New books are released almost every month, and thus some of them may have sat on the shelf of that Chapters, that Indigo, Borders, Virgin, HMV, or many other book stores; sometimes the story from season gone by is much more insightful on the past, present, and future, than those published at a later time. 

There have been five titles in particular that have addressed specific subjects of F1 that have brought their readers closer to the sport.

• The  Mechanic’s Tale – Life in the Pit-Lanes of Formula One
• Author: Steve Matchett
• Published in:     1999

Steve Matchett is best known as the F1 reporter, the lucky, Formula One Fans watching Speed Channel’s F1 transmission of each Grand Prix.  During the 2007 and 2008 seasons he hosted RPM - Racing per Matchett, available to F1 fans on Speed channel. 

Before becoming involved with Speed he spent 20years in the engineering business, working as a qualified mechanic for both Ferrari and BMW, before joining the Benetton Grand Prix team.  

From 1990 to his departure from the team he participated in exactly 100 Grand Prix for Benetton, which culminated in Michael Schumacher winning the F1 Drivers’ Championship in 1994 and 1995, and the Constructors’ Championship in 1995 alone. 

The Mechanic’s Tale is not Steve’s first book; it is a follow up to his very successful book, Life in the Fast Lane.  That particular book dealt with Benetton’s second most successful season to date, 1994, as well as the drama and tragedy that surrounded the motor sport. 

While that book gave the reader an insight of the frantic and unending behind-the-scenes activity in the effort to be fastest and the best in the world, the second book in the three book series replicates the superb writing style while not repeating what has already been written. 

The Mechanic’s Tale is an autobiography of a portion of his life, taking the reader on a compelling journey giving the reader eye-witness views of the great drivers, including Schumacher, Senna, Mansell, Prost, and many more. 

The key personalities of Benetton are not omitted, and for the first time the reader is given an insight look on what it took for the small outfit to win three World Championships.  

Steve does not skip any of the important portions of his life, as well as occurrences in Benetton’s career. His work as an engineer and pit crew member provides the reader with an educated look on the technical aspects of F1 through the seasons. 

His writing fluid style makes the book an enjoyable read and a combination of the subject matter as well as that style makes the book a page turner.

• David Coulthard The Autobiography – It is what it is
• Author: David Coulthard
• Published in:     2007

David Coulthard is the fifth highest points scoring Formula One driver of all time, having won 13 grand prix and enjoyed 61 podiums in his career in excess of 200 races.  David left his job of F1 driver behind, retiring at the end of a long career which, while successful in several areas never culminated in a world championship.

David will be missed on the F1 grid by some and not really missed by others, however while he no longer occupies place in a cockpit, his presence remains felt as he reports for the BBC. 

In the last few years books about current and past champions were written and published, and while David Coulthard’s career may have not been a stellar one, a book written about him and by him makes for a fascinating year. 

It is what it is does not cut any corners, and David writes as if he were chatting with the reader at a pub. 

The chapters in the book are not lengthy making it easier to read, and engage the reader without boring him with long repetitive entries.  Like David Coulthard, his autobiography is straight to the point, and often as a result enjoyable and comic. 

His description of the flight that nearly ended his life some years ago turns from sadness to a laughable subject when he describes being asked by airport authorities after climbing out of the still smoking wreck in France. 

He addresses other matters, such as those covered in the tabloids throughout his career, conflicts between himself and other drivers, and the most awaited subject of Coulthard vs. Hakkinen, Coulthard vs. McLaren, Coulthard vs. Ron Dennis, and Coulthard vs. Coulthard, one and the same subject.

David Coulthard’s book could have been written to make David out to be an innocent and misunderstood racer whose career success was robbed of him and he now demands justice. 

While David does make factually backed accusations against his previous employer McLaren, he is neither unfair, nor insulting; that subject matter, touched upon in many of his interviews has not been used by David as an excuse.

In his autobiography David shows he is not vengeful or bitter but understands the actions of certain persons while not agreeing with them. 

The book is a surprising find in any bookstore and with each new re-read brings a smile to the reader’s lips

• Michael Schumacher – The Edge of Greatness
• Author: James Allen
• Published in:     2007

Michael Schumacher has been described by many as a misunderstood, ignorant, brilliant, arrogant, best ever, and simply lucky driver. 

The facts, however, do not lie; typing in Michael Schumacher into Google search will bring up a Wikipedia page on the driver citing details of his life, and successes as well as controversies; should one look up driver records the Name Michael Schumacher will appear on many of the records at the top step or in the top three.  The fans that do not like Ferrari or Michael tend to still respect his achievements. 

Michael came into F1 at a time when the sport was changing; his achievements span the time period preceding the major changes and in the sport as well as the time period in the seasons post those changes. 

His actions in 1994 and 1997 are a remnant of that old style of racing, and while it looks inexcusable at this time at some point in history it would have been. 

It is still a fresh subject to address, but James Allen pulls no punches when he describes Michael Schumacher’s drive to achieve the extraordinary in Michael Schumacher – The Edge of Greatness. 

His book on Mr. Schumacher describes the price that Michael and the three teams, he has occupied in his F1 career, had to pay to achieve greatness.

Ayrton Senna once said that “Nice Men don’t win,” and James Allen never tries to paint a picture of a nice man in his book.  Mr. Allen addresses much of the misconception about Michael; Michael was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and James Allen never shows Michael as a person that had this silver spoon nor as a person that was mistreated; Michael has worked to achieve his position and that is what James Allen has shown him as. 

In The Edge of Greatness, James Allen addresses many aspects of his career painting a clearer picture of Michael through the years, and Michael at this very moment. 

Michael has never been a flashy individual with in the spotlight of the media, and often he has been seen as a quiet and private individual, and James Allen allows the reader to gain an insightful look at the life and personality of Schumacher.

The book deals with the bright and dark moments of Michael’s career.  Like in David’s book that addressed the greatest conflict of his career between him and McLaren, James Allen does not shy away from the subject of the 1997 crash between Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve. 

The dramatic incident changed F1, and while the media has always made Michael out to be the criminal in the incident, few have bothered to look at the whole picture. 

The fans of F1 can relate to followers of the high profile television show Friends; Ross Gellar’s constant repetition of “WE were on a break,” when someone questions why he cheated on Rachael Green is tiring and frustrating.  The repetitive mention on the subject of 1997 Jerez almost mirrors Ross Gellar’s annoying excuse. 

1997 Jerez incident is a dark part of the career, and James Allen makes no excuse on behalf of Michael Schumacher, but in addressing the subject from a new point of view allows for an insightful look into why what happened really happened, and what was overlooked by those that quickly crucified Michael and Ferrari. 

James Allen has worked in Formula One since 1990. His father Bill raced for Lotus at Le Mans in the early 1960s and was in the sport's administration, on the RAC motor sports council. Allen started his F1 career with the Brabham team in 1990 and in 1991 worked with future TV colleagues Mark Blundell and Martin Brundle.

He was news editor at Autosport magazine from 1992 to 1994 and in parallel worked as F1 pit lane reporter for American network ESPN from 1993 to 1996. With Nigel Mansell's move to Indy Car in 1993, Allen was hired by ITV in 1994 to help present coverage of the season.

When ITV gained the rights to broadcast the Formula One championship in 1997, he joined the team as pit lane reporter.

James Allen has written a very enjoyable book that is an interesting and insightful read. 

Should any fan gain an insight on his life, this is highly recommended book, especially as it is written by a sport insider, and a member of the most ruthless wing of the F1 media, one that is willing to crucify a British driver once and vindicate him the next race.

• Chequered Conflict
• Author: Maurice Hamilton
• Published in:     2008

The conflict between team mates Hamilton and Alonso is still quite fresh in the minds of many F1 people.  In the eyes of the majority of people Alonso was to blame not only for the presence of the conflict, but also for the loss of both championships. 

Yet while that conflict is quite fresh because not even two full seasons have passed, the other conflict between team mates described in Chequered Conflict, has been forgotten by the younger generation. 

Maurice Hamilton describes in his book how even the passing of the decades does not affect the essence of the sport.

Maurice makes comparisons between two seasons, seasons that while set apart in decades can easily resemble each other; in both instances the squabbling between two team mates has resulted in the loss of championships. 

In 2007 Kimi Raikkonen helped Ferrari clinch their first constructors’ championship since 2004 and take also the Drivers’ crown fro himself as McLaren self destructed from within; in 1986 the same occurred as Mansell and Piquet, both racing for Williams, battled between each other as Prost took the crown and so did McLaren. 

Maurice Hamilton has been the Observer's motor racing correspondent since 1990. A published author, he can also be heard on BBC Radio Five Live as their formula one summariser.  He is an award winning motor sport journalist who has written several successful books on the subject of F1.

Maurice in this case has chosen to address a subject previously untouched, and while in the past Maurice has addressed the subject of what is wrong with Fernando Alonso, in Chequered Conflict he gives a very “neutral” point of view. 

His “neutral” point of view can not be truly neutral because the media can only build their articles based on information provided and not given. 

The British media, while often brutal when addressing Button’s performance, Lewis’ poor showing, however it becomes nationalistic when it comes to the type of conflict that occurred between Alonso and McLaren, and Alonso and Lewis; the same occurs in Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada, etc. 

When the conflict within McLaren did take place the articles and opinions written were based on what information is provided willingly or can be wrestled out of their mouths and minds, and it became difficult to gain a truly neutral picture of the situation.  

What Maurice Hamilton has done when addressing both conflicts in his book is collect all the information that was available to him, and present it to the reader including some interpretation based on his years of involvement in motorsports. 

Because the information is incomplete due to choice to maintain the privacy by McLaren, Lewis, and Alonso, Maurice like the reader the picture of the 2007 conflict remains somewhat incomplete.  Even 23 years later the reader still is kept outside the inner circle of Williams and why it all went wrong in 1986 is still a mystery.

While Maurice never points a finger at any one person, in the book he seems to imply that really all the parties are to blame. 

Pride and ego in both cases was not put aside and the larger picture not looked at; championships could have been won, but it was one driver or the other that wanted to bring that glory home, and thus they both squandered their possibility, their potential.

Chequered Conflict is not an easy read; there are parts that flow quickly and others that require re-reading to gather the complete picture, and however such is the style of Maurice’s writing.  Maurice requires that the reader consider the situation and outcome, and at times really question the situation.

What the book tends to show is that not every person reacts properly under pressure, and so where Lewis has kept his cool Alonso was made out to be the criminal in the eyes of the media, of the fans. 

The failure to keep his cool, to become the villain, in the end has had the opposite effect because Alonso continues to race unaffected by the fallout of that 2007 chequered conflict, while McLaren followers still bear a grudge against the Spaniard.  Where the seasons differ is that Piquet still remains bitter about that fateful season. 

• Jackie Stewart – Winning is not Enough
• Author: Jackie Stewart
• Published in:     2007

Dyslexic, Champion, F1 safety promoter, F1 safety founder, father, Team Owner, F1 pilot, shooting champion, Ford test driver; the list of identifying factors can go on for several paragraphs, and these will all describe Jackie Stewart. 

The Triple F1 champion has achieved much in his life, and each year the list of achievements stretches out further and further.

Reading Jackie Stewart – Winning is not Enough, is a learning experience; his book is an F1 book, but it is also much more.  The book covers Jackie Stewart’s career prior to Motor racing, as well as involvement within and outside the sport since his early departure following tragedy.

The book is extremely well written and like its subject and author it is three dimensional in many aspects.  Winning is not Enough demonstrates that the road to F1 is not a quick an easy path, and some of the difficulties in reaching this sport have remained constant since the fifties and sixties until today, while some have been truly eliminated in the twenty first century.

The book is far more than an autobiographical piece about one man’s F1 career; the lessons Jackie Stewart has learned in his career he attempts to pass on to the reader so as to apply towards every situation in life.

Jackie Stewart was the first F1 involved driver to realize that a successful champion must be successful in various aspects.  In the book Jackie shows that a successful champion is not just concerned about winning, that there is something more too achieving victory, and that this formula can and should be applied to life itself. 

Jackie addresses being able to communicate, understand, and much more.  Jackie Stewart is proud of his achievements and while this pride is felt in his words that he has chosen for the book, he does not come across as an individual that is arrogant and full of himself.

Jackie Stewart is an interesting individual and his character translates in the pages of the book; the paragraphs often bring smiles, tears, and understanding of how decisions made, and various events in life can affect many lives or just one. 

As the book has been written by someone present in the sport in one way or another, as well as an understanding of F1 a clear cut and apolitical image of many situations is presented.  Jackie Stewart does include much of his personal life details which many autobiography writers have conveniently chosen to omit in their books. 

Moreover Jackie Stewart, unlike many autobiography authors does present views of the opposition, and in a calm manner he demonstrates why the decision was what it was. 

Perhaps it is his understanding of being respectful of others; perhaps it is simply his character as Jackie Stewart that he is not insulting to even his opposition.  The respectful view of even his greatest opposition is visible in his description of dealing with Ford; attempt to introduce safety measures, and relationships between himself and Ferrari.   

The book features a very extensive description of F1 and Jackie Stewart’s life through the decades.  It is not a small book by page count, however by page 535, it is a shame that that it comes to an end. 

Jackie Stewart’s ability to write and fluid autobiography displays yet another one of his many talents, and poses the question why Jackie could not write more of the F1 books.