Ferrari escape punishment for Hockenheim team orders.
- Published on Sep 8th, 2010 by Jack LamureFerrari will not be punished further for their use of team orders at this year's German Grand Prix. The team were brought before an FIA disciplinary hearing today, but their original $100,000 fine will not be increased, and nor will the Italian team or its drivers face a points deduction.
The controversy stemmed from a poorly coded message to race leader Felipe Massa to let teammate Fernando Alonso through in to the lead of the German race. This breached the rule banning team orders (article 39.1), which itself had been brought in after the Italian squad told Rubens Barrichello to allow Michael Schumacher into the lead of the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.
The FIA released the follwoing statement on the 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 1 Sporting Working Group.
The FIA had little choice but to consider revising or scraping the team orders rule, with today's judgement making the current rule effectively meaningless.
On a busy day for the FIA it was also confirmed that neither Epsilon nor Villeneuve Racing would be grated the 13th F1 grid slot, as neither outfit was felt to meet the combined financial and technical requirements needed to join the F1 circus. As such the field will remain 24 cars strong next year, assuming no one drops out.
The sport's governing body also confirmed a 20 race calender for the 2011 season, with the championship kicking off in Bahrain on March 13th and concluding at Interlagos, Brazil, on November 27th. As such F1 folk have less than a month to do their Christmas shopping, though we don't reckon that'll bother them too much.
But, let's be honest, today was all about the Ferrari judgement. We're absolutely certain you'll have an opinion on the FIA's ruling- or lack of- so why not let us know what you think in the comments section below.
oh and i’d love to see a mark webber movie he is the most...
Comments and Discussion
What a joke ..... If ferarri go on to claim either championship it will be a sham. A message should have been sent loud and clear to ferarri and all teams ... "No team orders" ... Instead we get the message "err, hide it better next time" once again the FIA bring the name of F1 into disrepute ! Rules are there to be followed - I guess Ferrari had the better lawyers
the joke is all the teams do it,and no 1 gets done for it , but ferrary had the guts to show what really goes on,or have we forgot in 2008 hamilton won the world championship by 1 point ,this happens only coz kovalainen got TEAM-ORDERS.
Well bugger me and holy crap on a cracker. What a ridiculous decision.
The WMSC seem to have basically said "1. We agree that Ferrari broke the rules. 2. In this case we have decided that the rules were wrong and Ferrari were right. 3. Therefore Ferrari get away with it."
The team orders rule should never have been introduced in the first place. Having said that the rule is in place and it should be adhered to by the teams. The stewards in Germany said the rule was broken, the WMSC has upheld the decision and yet the team walk way with a fine which is miniscule relative to the budget of the team.
One of the charges brought against Ferrari today was "bringing the sport into disrepute". I sometimes think it would be an idea that the FIA should be charged with the same offence.
I support this decision, as this artificial rule should be scrapped. Issues of championship points aside, if a team has a faster driver behind a slower one, they must be able to let the faster one through. This happens all the time, as it should, further down the grid and nobody says anything about "manipulation" when, say, one Virgin machine lets the other through to take 15th place. This was only controversial as they were running 1-2 at the time. F1 is a team sport. Rules preventing a team to act in its own best interest are ridiculous. Forcing teammates to fight for position when points are at stake would be akin to football players on the same team fighting each other over the ball as they wanted the goal, and the coach being powerless to stop it.
Regardless of whether the rule should be scrapped or not, it was broken and Ferrari got the benefit of Ferrari International Assistance yet again! If this had been any other team, I'm almost certain there would be a one race ban, but with the next race been Monza, they couldn't turn up at Ferrari central without Ferrari!!!
I've said before, either enforce the rule or scrap it, don't have it and not enforce it, it shows weakness and a lack of control
So if you make noises about Civil Courts then you can break any rule for the bargain price of $100,000... A bargain for one of the big teams.
Also, surely this is match fixing, which is causing real controversy over in Cricket-land. If I had stuck a fiver on Massa for the win I would not be best pleased.
Finally, no one seems to have pointed out that Massa was finally getting his mojo back with that race after a lack-lustre start to the season (for obvious reasons) and Ferrari may have shot them selves in the foot, by pulling the rug out from under him. They could have had two drivers challenging for the big points, instead of just one. Remember, the team comes first eh, Fernando.
""It's a shame, not for us because this is racing, but for all the fans who came here to watch a manipulated race," - Fernando Alonso after Lewis Hamilton's victory at the European GP, June 2010.
Ferrari should have been stripped of points and given a suspended ban, as was the case in past FIA rulings. But Ferrari always have a knack of getting away with it don't they?
The rule is a silly one and does need to be looked at, however. Ferrari are guilty of being so blatant when they should have been more discreet about it all...