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Adam Cooper
RACER Magazine http://www.racer.com/speedtv
RACER Magazine http://www.racer.com/speedtv
07/23/2007 - 07:00 PM
Baelen, Belgium
Scott Speed (LAT photo) » More Photos
Scott Speed was one of the unfortunate group of drivers who ended their races in the Nurburgring gravel trap last Sunday, but for the American, the consequences were to be rather more far reaching than for the others.
After he returned to the pits Speed was involved in an altercation with Scuderia Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost. The American said nothing to the media at the time, but nevertheless the story subsequently emerged from other sources. Today in the German language media Tost played down the incident, saying that he had merely touched Speed on the shoulder.
In response, Scott has now decided to break his silence and tell his side of the story. While on the way to a Mugello test he spoke to me about what happened in Germany – and how it might impact on his future. (Editor's note: SpeedTV.com's Robin Miller reported earlier today that Scott will be released by the team. Click here for the story.)
Q: We heard the story on Sunday night that you had a problem with Franz Tost, and then today in the German language media he has been downplaying it. Can you tell us what actually happened?
"Initially I didn't want to come out in the press and talk about this, because after the race Franz spent 15 minutes apologizing for his behavior, because it was clear to everyone that he was way out of line. But after coming out and denying this stuff, it's just another very dishonest thing that Franz or Gerhard have said in the media to damage me and Tonio. And at this point, I've had enough. I know that it's going to hurt Red Bull, and that's definitely not my intention, because Dietrich Mateschitz and Red Bull have been a huge support to me. They're the reasons I have achieved everything I have in motor racing. But Franz Tost, in particular, is out of control.
Speed's position with Toro Rosso is less important to him than his relationship with Red Bull, he says. (LAT photo) » More Photos
"The fact of the matter is when we left the pit wall, Franz was furious that I'd crashed in Turn One, regardless of the fact that nearly every single driver behind Button did the exact same thing, including Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. He was furious that I crashed. When I asked him about the pit stop he said it doesn't matter because
Q: So did anybody see what happened when he grabbed you?
"There were a couple of people who saw. He grabbed me right below the neck, on my fireproof T-shirt, and jerked me back and forth, let go, and then pushed me into the wall behind where the cars are. There were two team people there, and another person, who saw it."
Q: What happened next – is it true that you went to Gerhard Berger and said something?
"Immediately after that situation, as you can imagine, I was furious. I walked to the pit wall and wanted to inform everyone that this happened. So I looked at my team manager, the technical director, and Gerhard Berger, and told them that if my team chief ever touches me again, I'm going to knock him out. They said, 'OK, let's try to calm this whole situation down.' I said fine, and I went back in my room [in the motorhome] and I stayed there until the end of the race. At which point Gerhard and Franz both came back. Franz was calmed down and spent 15 minutes apologizing for his behavior."
Q: And that was the end of it, as far as you were concerned?
"Yeah. At that point I as well had a talk with Gerhard, and it was very clear that they have a different expectation of what they think is possible to do in the cars, and they are going to continue to point the finger at us drivers until they get the change that they want."
Q: And you haven't talked to them since Sunday?
"No, I haven't talked to anyone since Sunday."
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