Behave or face ban, drivers warned

Hakkinen and Schumacher should have the track to themselves

Formula One drivers not involved in the battle for the world championship have been warned to stay out of the way of title contenders Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen.

F1's race director, Charlie Whiting, has warned the drivers that anyone who deliberately blocks leading cars could be banned for up to three races, Williams driver Ralf Schumacher, Michael's brother, said.

Whiting said any drivers going slower than they would normally be expected to be able to in the race would be warned by a waved black and white flag and then disqualified from the race by a black flag, the usual signals for drivers who compete unfairly.

Ralf Schumacher said: "It is right. They (Michael Schumacher and defending world champion Hakkinen) should be left to fight it out for the title. A three-race ban would be about right."

Ralf Schumacher says drivers have been warned to keep out of the way

This could leave race officials, including Whiting, with a difficult call to make in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

In the last two races at Suzuka, McLaren and Ferrari have used their second drivers to employ tactics designed to slow the field and influence the result.

But McLaren in particular has also been concerned about drivers from back-of-the-grid teams seeming to get in its drivers' ways more than Ferrari's.

David Coulthard claimed at this year's Hungarian Grand Prix that the Minardi drivers seemed to block him more than Michael Schumacher when he was lapping them.

Fair

And at the 1997 European GP at Jerez in Spain, during which Schumacher and Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve were disputing the title, a Sauber using a Ferrari engine conspicuously held up Villeneuve more than Schumacher.

Whiting's words this time show that the FIA, motorsport's governing body, is keen to ensure that this year's championship is decided fairly.

Controversy surrounded Michael Schumacher's involvement in the deciding race of the championship in both 1994 and 1997, when he deliberately collided with rivals.

In 1994, he came off best, when both his car and that of his rival Damon Hill were damaged in the incident, and Schumacher won the title.

In 1997, Schumacher tried to drive Villeneuve off the road when the Canadian moved to pass him, but this time Schumacher slid off the road and Villeneuve continued to the end of the race, claiming the championship.