"It takes very little to change the hierarchy among the teams and this rule is even more true when the differences are just a few tenths or even hundredths, " he said.

CNN: Ferrari put pressure on faltering Massa

The instincts of the Orthodox hierarchy to resist change and support the worldly and powerful are nothing new.

ECONOMIST: Russia

But he was only thought to be fourth in the junta's hierarchy and his demise seems unlikely to change things.

ECONOMIST: Why ASEAN should be worried about Myanmar