Ferrari have escaped any further punishment in the team-orders row following a disciplinary hearing of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris. And the thorny subject of team orders – which have been banned since 2002 but have basically carried on much as before – will be clarified, the FIA revealed.
Most teams have paid only lip service to a rule which is largely unworkable; Ferrari’s mistake was that their transgression was so blatant. The team were fined a maximum US$100,000 (£65,100) in July for appearing to give Felipe Massa a coded message to allow Fernando Alonso through to win the German grand prix in Hockenheim that month.
The World Motor Sport Council was right not to ruin a compelling Formula One season by taking away the 25 points Alonso collected in Germany. That would have put him out of the five-man title race. But the council was widely expected to increase the fine and possibly deduct points from the team, as opposed to the individual. In the end, it could be argued that common sense prevailed. But the decision will dismay those who were upset by the way Ferrari handled the situation as much as anything else. Former team boss Eddie Jordan spoke for many when he said, before the meeting: “It was very blatant. I think they should get a bigger penalty. What happens if Alonso gets away scott free and goes on to win [the title] by two points from whoever?” The Guardian
“What Ferrari did was they showed no respect the public, they treated us all like muppets, they broke the rule and they have to pay the penalty.”
Ferrari’s argument will centre on the fact that no explicit order was given to Massa for him to cede the lead, and eventually the win, to Alonso.
Instead, Massa was simply told twice by engineer Rob Smedley over the pit-to-car radio that Alonso was faster than him, the message repeated as the Brazilian did not respond to the initial remark. The Press Association
The FIA statement in full:
On 25 July 2010, at the Grand Prix of Germany, the Stewards of the meeting found an infringement by the Scuderia Ferrari to the prohibition of team orders interfering with a race result and then decided to impose a fine of $100,000 and to forward the dossier to the World Motor Sport Council for further consideration.
The Judging Body of the World Motor Sport Council held an extraordinary hearing in Paris on 8 September 2010 to examine this matter.
After an in depth analysis of all reports, statements and documents submitted, the Judging Body has decided to confirm the Stewards’ decision of a $100,000 fine for infringing article 39.1 of the Sporting Regulations and to impose the payment of the costs incurred by the FIA.
The Judging Body has also acknowledged that article 39.1 of the Sporting Regulations should be reviewed and has decided to refer this question to the Formula One Sporting Working Group. Formula1
Ferrari – which has always held that F1 is first and foremost a team sport – welcomed the WMSC’s conclusion, and noted its ‘appreciation’ of the resolution to closely examine the current team orders regulation.
‘Ferrari has taken note of the decision of the FIA World Council, relating to the outcome of this year’s German Grand Prix, and wishes to express its appreciation of the Council’s proposal to review article 39.1 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, in light of what emerged during the discussions,’ read a statement from the Maranello-based outfit. ‘Now, all the team’s efforts will be focussed on the next event on-track, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend.’ Yahoo! Eurosport UK
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