I dread the thought that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could be the sad setting for an awful accident unless something is done to quell the ongoing feud between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.
Common sense in the form of a genuine truce, a public handshaking or some other sign of the relaxation of enmity, has to prevail for fear the Yas Marina circuit could fall victim to a serious crash scene with a life-threatening clash of cars at 200-plus mph.
Six times already this season Hamilton's McLaren and Massa's Ferrari have been in crash-bang-wallop incidents and the anger that has been triggered has spilt over into the public domain and through official channels with penalties for both offenders.
Neither team manager, Martin Whitmarsh at McLaren nor Stefano Domenicali, has opted to enforce a high-profile resolution between their drivers and if I were Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is always rightly concerned about the spectacle and safety, I would bring pressure to bear on the culprits, both equally guilty, to be seen to be making up.
What is there to lose? Absolutely nothing. And there is plenty to be gained. We all enjoy watching closely-fought, open and honest rivalry on track — but when it spills over with an edge of bitterness or revenge we fear the outcome.
I heartily dispute Whitmarsh's contention that they are both grown men, not boys, and they can sort it out themselves without any dialogue between the team bosses. Apparently not.
And in truth the mess has deteriorated quite dramatically after the fierce rivals' latest coming-together at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix when each man steadfastly refused to accept he was at fault. It was Massa who was punished — but their crash was a marginal issue so far as I could see. Either man could have been guilty
Between them, with each petulantly blaming the other, Hamilton and Massa are on crucial career countdowns with each needing to upgrade both their tempo .... and their temper.
Ted Macauley is a motorsport expert based in the UK.
