Mercedes: Allison on the podium, a jab at Ferrari

While the people of the web were heatedly discussing the penalty imposed on Verstappen, yet another dispute between Mercedes and the poor Ferrari was taking place in Texas. If the defeats on the track weren't enough, after half the championship made up of dreams of glory and recovery, of illusions only touched upon, the Red team had to take yet another low blow from Brackley, a dominant team on and off the pitch, capable of sending signals far too clear.

In front of the American public, a sort of new audience to be conquered, Mercedes decided to send James Allison to the podium on the day of the mathematical conquest of the Constructors' title. Just him! The English engineer who just two years ago was moved by Vettel's first victories in red, the technical director who had to relaunch the Cavallino, overwhelmed by an unparalleled personal drama, but - much more realistically - entered into a collision course with Marchionne .

Allison's departure kicked off the internal restructuring of the Scuderia. No more a sole demiurge technical director of the single-seater's fate, but the way to the now famous horizontal scheme, where there is equal collaboration between the departments and a technical director - Binotto - to act as “primus inter pares”. A model that seemed decisive, decisive, successful. Yet Mercedes kept that Allison very close, the parties immediately entered into harmony. James' words from a short time ago which in many ways put an end to his Ferrari past: "I came to Mercedes to work with Hamilton, he is an extraordinary driver".

When Marchionne, in the aftermath of the disappointing performance in Monza, had thundered that he wanted to see the smile disappear from the faces of the Mercedes men, the three-pointed star had not replied, probably at the same time cautious and aware of his own potential. But the message sent worldwide to Austin was all too clear.

The choice to send Allison to celebrate the world championship victory of the Anglo-German giant on the podium, rather than a reward for the good English engineer who took over from Paddy Lowe, had all the air of a stab in Maranello, delivered with cruel timing, premeditated and longed for . A mocking smile that the men in gray will have saved for the right moment, like a vintage wine to be uncorked only on important occasions, because the battle between Ferrari and Mercedes is also played out from a psychological point of view, with the Freccia d' silver that has also put itself ahead on this level...

Antonino Rendina

Follow @antorendina