The Prancing Horse is back on top in Formula 1 with it’s 1-2 victory at the 2010 German GP. This was Ferrari’s second 1-2 victory of the season after the same was achieved at the season-opening Bahrain GP. Fernando Alonso was the first Ferrari driver to cross the finish line ahead of team mate Felipe Massa but Alonso’s victory came with a bag of controversy.
Alonso’s victory was pretty much ‘handed’ over by Felipe Massa on Lap 48 after the Brazilian enjoyed a good start and was running in first. Nearing to Lap 48, Massa received a radio message from race engineer Rob Smedley indicating that Alonso, who was running in second, is faster than him. Subsequently at Turn 6 on Lap 48, Massa let Alonso through, a move that clearly sparked the return of the term “team orders”.
Furthermore, Smedley later said ‘sorry’ to Massa over the incident which clearly proved that team orders were employed. After the race and during the post-race press conference, Massa who currently trails Alonso by 38 points was clearly not happy about the situation, judging by his demeanor.
The controversial overtaking move didn’t go unnoticed by the FIA and the motorsport governing body later summoned Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, team manager Massimo Rivola and both the drivers and eventually slapped the Scuderia with a hefty US$100,000 fine. Furthermore, the matter will be referred to the World Motor Sport Council and the final results of the race may change, which means that there is a possibility for Ferrari to lose it’s 1-2 victory.
The body concluded that Ferrari breached Article 39.1 (the ban on team orders) and Article 151c (bringing the sport into disrepute). Team orders were very much apparent prior to 2003 especially with Ferrari. I can still remember the times when Rubens Barrichello (then racing for Ferrari) allowed Michael Schumacher through for victory. Remember the first ever Malaysian GP in 1999 when Michael Schumacher let Eddie Irvine trough to take the checkered flag? Team orders were also evident in McLaren, during the days of Mika Hakinnen and David Coulthard. Such acts were banned altogether in 2003.
Away from the controversy, third place went to pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel who pretty much lost the lead on the opening lap. The McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button settled for fourth and fifth places respectively followed by Red Bull’s Mark Webber. Renault’s Robert Kubica finished in seventh ahead of both the Mercedes drivers, which like previous events, was led by Nico Rosberg.
Tenth place went to Vitaly Petrov in the other Renault. It wasn’t a good day for Lotus Racing as both cars retired. Heikki Kovalainen retired due to an accident damage involving Sauber’s Pedro de la Rosa after completing 56 laps. Teammate Jarno Trulli packed his bags earlier thanks to a gearbox-related issue. The Italian only completed three laps. Hamilton is still leading the Driver’s Championship with 157 points followed by teammate Button with 143. Vettel and Webber are in third and fourth places, both with 136 points each.
In the constructor’s standings McLaren is ahead with 300 points. Red Bull is second with 272 points ahead of Ferrari with 208 points. The next race will take place in Budapest for the Hungarian GP, which saw Felipe Massa suffer from a freak accident last year. You can view the full results here. You can also have your say on the team orders fiasco after the jump.
Harvinder Singh Sidhu thinks there's nothing better than Formula 1, not even sliced bread. Having written about cars since 2006, he plunged head first into the industry out of a passion for all things four-wheeled and everything in between. The F1 enthusiast has been following the sport since 1999 and has been keeping up with it since. In between races he keeps himself busy as the host of the Driven motoring TV programme and as our version of the Joker.
shame on you Ferrari.
Should ban the team to suspense for next race, for sure Massa is not happy for the order, USD100,000.00 fine should increase to USD350,000.00 for each officer who involve the “race order” and at the same time change the race result.
its pocket change for ferrari
You know why Lotus have a lousy weekend? Because there’s a Top Gear Magazine guy in the pitlane tinkering with the car!
does anyone care?!
Even without team orders, Ferrari were clearly the faster cars at Germany. And yes, it was also obvious that Alonso were the faster of the two. The fine would be sufficient, as any position changes would dismiss much of the suspense for a fight of the top drivers – currently Hamilton, Button, Vettel, Webber and Alonso.
The only fair and appropriate decision would be to strip whiner Alonso of his 1st place. Then we can watch his bitching about how he was treated ‘unfairly’
Actually, if you watched Alonso’s body language after the race, he wasn’t too happy with that strategy. I’m not his fanboy but he’s a racer and I think he prefers a good race than to be allowed to pass.
Shame on Prancing Horses!! Pity Massa. he done very well in the race after a year anniversary of the helmet crash.
Alonso should be relegated to second place and Massa should be the winner .
The Mafia Scuderia managers should be given the red card and banned from the pits at the next race.
Typical Ferrari..
1st! and Massa didnt let me thru to be 1st! Shame on Ferrari for dragging F1 into disrepute!
i hate Alonso!!
To be fair to Alonso, it wasn’t he who demanded the team order right? or was it…
So its the Ferrari team manager who should be blamed right?
In any case, team orders are so not cool. Let them race la…
Can’t the Ferrari team abie by the rules…. Cant they do things properly. Sienzzz
Team order is the result of having 2 drivers for one team. If F1 is run like most other motor sport, that is one team running just one car, then there will be no team order. In this case it gives better chance for Ferrari to win the driver’s championship via Alonso, while maintaining the same points for constructor’s championship. Looking from Ferrari’s POV, this order is a better solution.
The whole Formula One setup need to be changed radically.
What a bore as usual
it is clear that tat would not consider be a team order. they did what they suppose to do. the amount of tyre wears from massa’s front is clear that his lap times r dropping.
a pot calling the kettle black. mclaren did it so many times with the most obvious stopping before the line to allow the other driver to pass. tat is team order. with or without schumacher, ferrari protects their driver to win the overall championship.
who cares? everyone is watching nascar and indy car already, F1 is just an overhyped, overrated sports, with all pathetic rotten rules and regulations…
lol! nascar! r u a redneck? indycar? u mean the racers with the 1 big wheel and 1 small wheels? lol! ovals are not race tracks, just oversized cereal bowls.
nascar?i’d rather watch bumper cars at funfair.wayy more action