The Emperor

Nine years after the fact, former Sauber racer Norberto Fontana has threatened to deepen the saga of F1's championship finale of 1997.

Fontana, who at the age of 22 was replacing team regular Gianni Morbidelli and never again raced in Formula One, told a newspaper in his native Argentina that he was instructed before the race to deliberately block Michael Schumacher's title rival, Jacques Villeneuve.

"And I did it," Fontana, now 31, told Diario Ole.

In 1997, Sauber was powered by customer Ferrari engines. Fontana explained that, prior to the green lights in Jerez, he was visited in his motor home by Ferrari boss Jean Todt.

"It was two or three hours beforehand," he said. "Jean Todt came in and said that we must block Villeneuve if he comes up behind me. 'It was a strict order."

"To this day I regret what I did.
"

Indeed, after pulling over for Schumacher whilst being lapped, video evidence shows Fontana impeding Williams' Villeneuve for three or four corners.

Later, Schumacher collided infamously with his French Canadian rival and was disqualified from the championship.

But during the race, F1 commentator Murray Walker suggested that Ferrari should send Fontana a 'case of champagne' for so assisting Schumacher's quest.

Fontana said: "Schumacher and Todt never thanked me, because they lost."

Unbelievable!!!

C.Charles

Thats the past.. let us move on shell we.

Just_me

LoL, you like the Ferrari team?

AdvEvo

If you must win like that youre not a champ.

The Emperor

Those are the things that'll never be forgotten, my friend...

Top Secret

Is it just me, or does seem like not that big of a deal? I mean, it's all strategy (albeit dirty strategy) and aren't all races more or less won by which team had a better strategy? And blocking him for three or four corners - doesn't seem that harsh really; I mean, traffic in modern races often prevents drivers from going all-out against their rival as well.

No big deal for me.

Imhotep Evil

This comes as no surprise, both Ferrari and Scumacher are proven cheaters.

So what else is new.

I'm sorry for Damon Hill, he really deserved to win the title in 1994, but F1 isn't exactly a fair sport, sadly...

Just look at this :

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No comment necesary...

The Emperor

Yes, it's just you...

RikfromBelgium

sure there is. ***, this isn't a pussy sport; he went into the corner first, on the right line and damon Hill tried to get past him inside the corner. No way to go because of the wall and they hit. Just a racing incident IMO. Get over it.

siko

The Schumacher-Villeneuve incident was a clear display of poor sportsmanship...

The Schumacher-Hill incident could have been debatably categorised as an incident... but considering Schumi’s behaviour on the track, past and present, it is hard to side with Schumi.