Mixed reactions to Ferrari hearing verdict

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso on the podium at Hockenheim after the German GP

Sep.9 (GMM) Sections of the international media were angry after the FIA controversially decided not to further penalise Ferrari for imposing team orders at Hockenheim during the German Grand Prix.

Stefano Domenicali arrives at FIA in Paris for the tea, orders hearing

The full reasons for the decision have not yet been released, but the Daily Express in Britain said upholding the $100,000 stewards fine and ordering the paying of costs amounted to a “slap on the wrist”.

“It was like giving a 40 (pound) parking ticket to a supercar owner who finds it easier to break the law by parking outside Harrods than find a legal spot,” said the newspaper.

Moreover, the team orders ban has been referred back to the Sporting Working Group for review, moving the Daily Mail to muse that F1 has decided to “rip up its own rule book”.

One photograph, published at Brazil’s Globo website, depicted a Ferrari with a large FIA sponsor decal on its otherwise blank engine cover.

Felipe Massa and fernando Alonso during the German GP

The Maranello based team, whose drivers were available for testimony by video link but ultimately not called upon, reacted officially to Wednesday’s verdict by expressing its “appreciation” to the FIA.

“People used to think the FIA stood for Ferrari International Assistance,” remarked an angry Eddie Jordan. “Ferrari are important, but they must treat everybody with respect.”

Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport said the events in Paris, ahead of the grand prix at Monza, was Ferrari’s “first victory of the week”.

Indeed, ‘Ferrari International Assistance’ became a major trending topic on Twitter as the news broke, and BBC anchor Jake Humphrey said his feedback from fans was “not positive”.

Fans anger was evident in Belgium

Whilst many commentators and fans are angry at the outcome of Wednesday’s disciplinary hearing, others say the time is right to axe the ban on team orders.

The Telegraph observed that if the sport’s governing body is reluctant to harshly punish a “blatant” rules breach like Ferrari’s at Hockenheim, then “the rule really does need reviewing”.

“By removing it, at least the hypocrisy of teams who practise it yet preach something else entirely would be removed,” added the broadsheet.

The Guardian agrees that “most teams” pay only “lip service” to the ban that is “largely unworkable”.

ace winner Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in parc ferme

It is rumoured that the FIA considered imposing a 5 second time penalty to winner Fernando Alonso, which would have installed the subordinate Felipe Massa as the official winner.

But the Council decided against it, meaning this verdict “is a precedent that will likely allow team orders to be continued to be used in the sport”, a New York Times blogger wrote.

Brazilian columnist Livio Oricchio said the next step should be the axing of the ban, so “there is less theatre and more truth in formula one”.

Germany’s Bild agreed: “Either team orders are punished brutally, or they are officially allowed once again.”

F1 boss Bernie ecclestone arrives at the FIA for the Ferrari hearing

Said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone: “The rules need to be looked at again. If you swapped your drivers around with a few laps left, that is bringing the sport into disrepute. But if you do it earlier, I don’t have a problem with team orders.”

Enrico Gelpi, president of the Italian sanctioning body ACI and a FIA member, said: “The rule will be reviewed. For us it would be a good idea to remove it completely. The general attitude in the FIA towards this change is favourable.”

He said the topic would be discussed at the next World Motor Sport Council meeting in November.

It also emerged that Ferrari argued that Massa decided to let Alonso pass him for the race lead at Hockenheim because the Brazilian was angry.

As was rumoured before the World Motor Sport Council’s disciplinary sitting in Paris, the Maranello based team rejected the charge that it imposed an illegal team order that deprived Massa of the German GP victory.

Carlos Gracia, president of Spain’s motor racing federation, was present for the hearing, and later revealed the apparent thrust of Ferrari’s argument to Spanish radio Cadena SER.

“Massa was told that he was slower than Alonso to motivate him,” said Gracia. “Angered by the message, Massa decided to slow down, and this led to the suspicions (about team orders).”

Gracia also revealed that he has spoken to Alonso, who knows “nothing” about the imposition of a team order.

World Motor Sport Council statement released 8 September 2010:

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.