Ferrari has escaped further punishment over the “team orders” incident at the German GP, where race leader Massa was ordered to let Alonso pass him to win the race. The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council met in Paris yesterday and announced that the $100,000 fine dished out to the Italian team would be upheld. No further sanctions would be imposed, although Ferrari will need to bear legal costs.
An FIA statement read: “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 September 8, 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.”
It also looks like the FIA wants to allow some degree of team orders in the future after the governing body announced that a review of the ban is on the way. “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 statement said.
F1 fans, is this the way to go?
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
This is bad for F1…… sigh
Ferrari w/o schumi is no longer a champion team….although Alonso is great double champion driver….but he is no match to schumi….Poor mercedes not a winning car…anyway the Germans team really nationalism team…only for their country man allow to drive for their mercedes team….same to Mclaren also hv bcm nationalism team for British ppl on British car…very Patriotic….
FIA will never change…im sure it will be totally different if McLaren have done this team order.
FIA always bias to help Ferrari…
If it is any other team, not Ferrari, the outcome would be different…
team order??? No good…
there’s nothing wrong with team orders
team orders must be allow
F1 stand for FERRARI
Without Ferrari; F1 is just another middle class race series.
Forza Ferrari
wow… from your first till the last line of your comment… they are very intelligent.
this is just my personal opinion, each team has 2 cars running and after spending millions of dollars, I think surely every team must be allowed to decide the outcome of their race. Sure, it can be unfair at times but that is racing and it will never be fair and square otherwise all cars will cross the finish line at about the same time.
I am not advocating for Ferrari but if Mclaren were to do it, I think I can live with that too..otherwise, ban the two way radio! and that should make it harder for teams to convey team orders…as drivers might take a few laps to read pit boards for the message…
cheers!
that’s what i’m trying to say
what’s wrong with team orders when the party involved is the same driver and the same team.
like bernei said on the grid during GP Silverstone if i’m not wrong, “if the team orders involve 2 team working together to decide the outcome of the race.. than.. that’s criminal and we should allow team orders within the same team”
the capitalist world is really ruining the world of sports… no more outright competition where skills, mental strengths and desire to win only come into play.. now there must be “politics” for one person to with better chance to win the championship… no right or wrong here.. the team has their financials to worry about, but at the expense of the fans.. but if there is no team order, the fans favourite team will be push into also-ran… i rather watch rally.. all pitting for the best time.. haven’t heard any controversy from that championship… just my 2 cents…
Result ni da bole agak dah.. DOUBLE STANDARD!!!!!
I’m no fan of Ferrari but this could be a blessing in disguise. At least other teams can have their fair share of team orders moving forward.
Even a single point matters in the closing stages. So let’s hope it will be used wisely.
Team order is unfair, unfair to the sport and drivers. This made this sport ‘unreal’
team order is ok as long dont abuse it everytime. Maybe FIA should come out rules only to allow maximun 3 times Team Order per season. If exceed, then penalty 10 grid everytime team want to use it.
then only it can be interesting.
just my opinion
theres noting wrong with team orders , teams come first then drivers….simple…if all had the chance to do team orders everybody will…..
That make alot of sense why FIA stands for Ferrari’s International Associates.
Sad to say, it always feels as if other teams get it harder than Ferrari.
Why?
which team?
if u has a situation when ur 1st driver currently 2nd in championship standing…opponent lead the championship…ur driver need to win to become champion n the opponent need just 3rd place to win n need ur 1st driver fail to win…in the race ur 2nd driver lead the race who is 5th in the championship no chances to win championship n the team has no chances for team championship…wat ur choice?
my choice is obvious.team order…..eg pit the 2nd car, let the 2nd car know the current situation, pre-order before race
remember who is the current FIA president…mr Jean Todt…that says it all…and as usual Ferrari will get away with FIA anytime…
who elected him in the first place
jean todt has decided not to attend ferrari team orders hearing although he did came for WMC meeting.
FIA Ferrari Internationle Autmobile.
it’s not a team order. the engineer is just telling massa his current pace compared to alonso, because they didn’t want massa helding up alonso which cause the 3rd-positioned driver to catch up. as simple as that.
$100k is a low price to pay for a world championship, and well worth paying for!
The rules shd be changed so that the drivers involved in team orders be deducted championship points, bumped back in the ranking, or even banned for 1 race to make it unworthy of committing.