Ferrari escape further punishment
Reuters - Wed, 08 Sep 17:40:00 2010
Formula One's governing body upheld a £65,000 fine for Ferrari but kept alive Fernando Alonso's hopes of a third title after deciding to impose no further sanctions for the use of banned 'team orders'.
Race stewards had handed the fine to the Italian glamour team after the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in July when Ferrari were found to have ordered Felipe Massa to allow Fernando Alonso victory in a one-two finish.
That decision was referred to the FIA's world motor sport council for consideration, with the threat of sanctions that could hit the team and drivers hard.
In the end, after a hearing in Paris that lasted some three hours, the governing body decided to review the rule that outlaws such orders and allow Ferrari to compete in their home Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend with a cloud lifted from over them.
The decision was announced by the governing body in a brief statement nearly three hours after the meeting had ended and with reporters pacing the pavement outside with increasing frustration after a wet afternoon.
While sure to dismay those who had hoped for a firm response to the manipulation of races, it would have delighted those who feel such orders have always been a part of the sport.
"After an in-depth analysis of all reports, statements and documents submitted the judging body has decided to confirm the stewards' decision of the $100,000 fine (£65,000) for infringing article 39.1 of the sporting regulations and to impose the payment of the costs incurred by the FIA," the FIA said in their statement.
"The judging body has also acknowledged that article 39.1 should be reviewed and has decided to refer this question to the Formula One sporting working group."
Double champion Alonso, who was not present at the hearing at the FIA's Place de la Concorde headquarters, could have seen his title hopes disappear had the FIA decided to strip him and the team of the points won in Germany.
The Spaniard is fifth in the standings and 41 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren with six races remaining.
Ferrari, who would have had a one-two finish at Hockenheim even without the banned team orders being invoked, are third overall and 80 points adrift of leaders Red Bull.
The team noted the decision taken by the FIA, whose president is former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, and expressed their appreciation of the proposal to review the rules.
"Now, all the team's efforts will be focussed on the next event on track," they added in a statement.
The hearing, attended by Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali and F1's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, was as much about the very nature of the sport as one single offence.
It was also the first big test since Todt, who was boss at Ferrari in 2002 when that team triggered worldwide outrage and the ban on team orders by ordering Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher win that year's Austrian Grand Prix, took the helm of the FIA from Max Mosley.
Mosley had said last month that Ferrari should receive a stiff punishment with points deducted from both team and drivers.
Comment 250 - 269 of 269
mbenham55, thanks for your wisdom and so eloquently put.
You have completely missed my point - Ferrari's arrogance and attitude need to be punished. The crass way in which they executed the order proves they believe they are bigger than the sport and the fans. They made the sport, the FIA and the fans look stupid (just like they did in Austria 2002) and that in itself should have been punished.
We thought we had it bad for Ferrari bias under Mosely, we aint seen nothing yet.
It was only to be expected. Ferrari can get away with anything; they didnt even get a slap on the wrist. F1 has now been brought into even more disrepute. Todt should go, but is he a big enough man! Ferrari should race in white from now on with their sponsors' logo on the front "whitewash"
Dougal
Hi johnny
Was that when he was trying to beat Pirnoi quali time or am i getting confused with another incident?
How many people said that when Jean Todt was appointed head of the FIA that such a situation would arise. I am not saying that Todt has done anything wrong or corrupt, I simply do not know. But that is not the point, the point is how does it look now? Ferrari seem to have gotten off lightly and the head of the sport's organisation is x-ferrari.
If you disagree that they got off lightly then just ask yourself what would have been the outcome had it been McLaren?
Of course had it been Renault they would'nt even have got the original fine. ;-))
so once again ferrari just get a slap on the wrist, so my ? is hows running F1
Guys, all of you who are getting mixed up in the "whether team orders should be allowed or not" argument are totally missing the point in the context of this story.
Did Ferrari break an FIA rule - Yes.
The arrogance of the team showed through clearly immediately after the race with Rob Smedley and the two drivers denying everything - and then Dominicali virtually admitted it on live BBC coverage!!!
This man thinks Ferrari are bigger than F1 and the FIA - but I tell you, if Ferrari walked, F1 would be no worse off. Justice should have been done and them had their constructor points stripped. As much as I don't like the way Alonso has handled this (or how he handled Singapore 2008) this was a team decision and it is the team that should be punished - not the drivers.
Ferrari need to thank their lucky stars they have their mate Jean looking after them.......
Never said it wasnt ok for Rubens to move over:-)
I have never liked this rule totaly unforcable.
Team orders have been a part of F1 since it started.If any one bets on the outcome of an F1 race Well i neednt say what i think about that:-))
Anyone know what happened to Shaun C (aka Kwjibo), I know he was a stupid r sole and an unpleasant little scroat but I do miss him. NOT.
Shaun C, did you ever tell us what the C stood I think we can hazard a pretty accurate guess cn ut.
Also like to add this was Villeneuve take on it.
"Towards the end Mika got very close to me," Villeneuve said. "It was a question of either pushing like a maniac and risking going off with the way the car was handling, or seeing if he made a move and then just letting him through. He made a move so I let him by, and David was very close, so I didn't fight him either." On the tapes, as the McLarens closed in, Williams' technical director Patrick Head says to Villenueve's race engineer, Jock Clear: "To repeat, Jock. We are more concerned with the championship than the race positions."
PS his car was handling badly after Schumacher tryed to take him out:-))
Hi Forza
There is nothing new in one driver "allowing" another to win. Nelson Piquet let Riccardo Patrese by in South Africa in 1983; Ayrton Senna did likewise for Gerhard Berger in Japan in 1991; and Nigel Mansell for Patrese at the same circuit a year later. On each occasion, the championship had been settled - although unlike in Jerez, each driver gave way to a team- mate rather than to members of rival teams. In that respect, Villeneuve's actions were unusual, but not necessarily reprehensible.
i think a lot of people are forgetting that massa was about 3 seconds ahead when alonso started whining about"this is riduculous"the team radio we hear is delayed and the reason felonso appeared to be closing in was that massa was allready obeying TEAM ORDERS.oh and before the spelling police start getting shirty.that is how i meant to spell the cheats name!
MIKEG
Where did you get that from Ron Dennis by any chance?
oh no the spelin police are back
PS. Wonder what all these Ferrari-loving/Lewis hating fans will do when Lewis drives for Ferrari.
Buddy = Idiot. Rules are made and meant to be OBEYED. DOH!
No great surprise at all. Remember that Todt was in charge of Cheatari when the team orders favouring Mr Schunutter were issued at the 2002 Austrian GP, and resulted in the 'no team orders' rule being implimented in the first place. One can hardly expect Todt to preside over a decision that would punish his beloved former employers and show everyone that he was wrong in 2002. Wonder how big the punishment would have been if it had been McLaren in the dock.
its like watching a soap opera f1s become a joke starring ferrari the fia sorry that is ferrari,little bernie and jean its time us the fans stood up to them we have the power.
Verry happy to see that there are god fellow F1 loving fans, that can chat even if supporters of another team. Yes, every family has a bad brother. Be it Italian, English, French, Spanish, etc. World is full of verry nice people, people that will stop on the road to help whatever and whoever you are, then there are always a small minority. I love Formula One racing, I am a Ferrari fan and I am a fan of Hamilton. I would love to see Hamilton drive a Ferrari then read some comments . . . will happen, if ever, only when Alonso retires.
@ Forza Ferrari, on Thu 9 Sep 4:50PM
Hi there Forza
As you are aware, I do not support any particular team or driver. Ferrari, as a whole, are a good team / company. They have contributed immensely to F1 Motor Racing, and Motoring in general.
Like many organisations, the Scuderia have a few rotten apples amongst their ranks and will need to do some housekeeping in order to change that vast segment of F1 supporters perception of them.
3 words! NO GREAT SURPRISE!!
Ferrari can and always have done exactly as they please and then complain bitterly when anyone else does something similar!!
This is why Formula 1 is a joke!
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