Brawn calls for rule rethink

Mercedes boss labels team orders ban "not realistic"

Last updated: 29th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Brawn calls for rule rethink

Brawn: Wants team orders rule to be looked at

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Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn thinks that the rule banning team orders in Formula One is unrealistic.

His comments come in the wake of Fernando Alonso's controversial victory in the German Grand Prix, where Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa slowed to let him past.

Ferrari were fined $100,000 and referred to the World Motor Sport council after stewards ruled that they had breached a regulation that prohibits team orders.

The Italian team, who insisted that Massa made the final decision, have been widely criticised but also found support from others, including Bernie Ecclestone, who believes the rule "needs to be discussed".

Brawn understands the bitter taste Alonso's win left in the mouth of some fans of the sport and says a solution to the rule now needs to be agreed upon.

Disappointed

"I understand how F1 fans might be disappointed by what they saw on Sunday," said Brawn.

"The rule that bans team orders is not realistic anymore, so the teams and the FIA must together find a transparent solution that maintains the integrity of the competition and safeguards the sport."

Brawn was a prominent member of the Ferrari team that ordered Rubens Barrichello to move over for Michael Schumacher at the end of the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002, resulting in the current rule being implemented.

Although it was then team principal and current FIA president Jean Todt responsible for that decision, Brawn still believes team orders have a place in Formula One.

"Our drivers are asked to avoid clashing against each other," Brawn added of Schumacher and team-mate Nico Rosberg.

"If one has the chance to take the title while the other doesn't, we want both of them to act in the interests of the team without throwing away that opportunity."