Horner - Precedent has been set

Red Bull team boss thinks more team orders may be seen this season

Last updated: 9th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Horner - Precedent has been set

Hormer: precedent has been set

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner thinks the FIA has set a precedent in not punishing Ferrari further for the team orders controversy at the German Grand Prix.

A meeting of the governing body's World Motor Sport Council decided on Wednesday that the US$100,000 fine handed down by stewards in the aftermath of July's race, which saw Ferrari driver Felipe Massa let team-mate Fernando Alonso through to win after receiving coded messages from the team, was punishment enough.

The WMSC have instead asked the Formula One Sporting Working Group to clarify the relevant rule at the end of the season.

The rule, which was introduced after the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix when Ferrari ordered Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher through to win, could conceivably be abolished.

However, with six races to go this season, Horner thinks the FIA's decision means teams may be prepared to further use team orders in exchange for a nominal financial penalty.

"If any team was in that situation... then a precedent has been set," said Horner.

"Based on what happened with Ferrari in Hockenheim, other than the financial penalty at the event, it didn't affect points.

"They (the WMSC) obviously didn't think there was enough clear evidence.

"The regulation is not particularly well-worded. It needs to be better worded or abolished."

Details

On Thursday, the FIA also released more detailed findings, including the revelation that Massa was told four times by engineer Rob Smedley that Alonso was faster.

According to the FIA "it is self evident to the judging body of the WMSC that this was an implied team order using a message, and as such was contrary to article 39.1 of the Sporting Regulations."

However, the FIA further noted there have been "many examples of what could have been said to be team orders in Formula One in recent years, and therefore there has been inconsistency in its application.

"Also its application to indirect team orders via messages where drivers raise no complaint is uncertain and difficult to detect and police.

"The judging body of the WMSC accepted that this may well have influenced Ferrari's approach, and Ferrari also had a legitimate concern to avoid collisions between team mates in close on-track racing."

Ferrari produced letters from team principals Frank Williams and Peter Sauber that were taken into consideration in support of the latter point.

The Council considered relegating Alonso to second and also imposing a suspended points penalty for both team and drivers.

In the end though, they decided that given "the ambiguities in the rule...it would not be appropriate to increase the overall penalty".

Comments (14)

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Jimmy Lynch says...

FIA ferrari international assistance enough said

Posted 23:26 10th September 2010

Giovanni Fanzo says...

" Err...back off Jenson.." " switch to the other setting..." " ..you''ll have to come in for that damage to be looked at Jenson.." Translation ? Don''t try and pass Hamilton Dennis..... Whitmarsh the Hypocrite...

Posted 18:06 10th September 2010

Ken Buckingham says...

Cricket match fixing - F1 race fixing what the difference! Cricket investigate F1 brushes it under the carpet! Doesn''t help having an ex Ferrari man at the top at FIA! SHAM

Posted 16:47 10th September 2010

Jan Visser says...

In my opinion F1 is a team sport and as such it is important for the team to maximise its position. It therfore entails that the drivers need to work together to maximise the points! After all is it not the intention for each team to have the world champion driver and win the manufacturers challenge ? If not, why have the two cars and drivers, in the same livery and colours as well as the entire pit crew?

Posted 16:18 10th September 2010

Darren Howman says...

Once again the usual Ferrari criticism based on such a one sided view! Let''s get one thing clear, every single team could have used team orders this year using secred codes it is impossible to prove. Also if any team are in a position at the last race of the season where if the drivers swapped positions they would win the title can you honestly say that the team would finish the race as the cars were placed? As for a ''little'' penalty and calls for Ferrari to be thrown out of the drivers championship; McLaren stole Ferrari information to create their car in which they nearly won a championship because they were not thrown out of the drivers championship. Can we keep things in perspective! I like Massa and would prefer him to win the title but due to a poor start it is only Alonso who can realistically take the title, albeit a very small chance. I will end with another motorsport called touring cars where cars frequently change positions and it is not frowned upon, not ruining viewers ''enjoyment'' at alleged ''fixing''.

Posted 13:37 10th September 2010

Liam Murray says...

I had a bet on Massa, good result !!!!

Posted 13:20 10th September 2010

Jamie Binks says...

Is anyone really that surprised by what has happened here? I''m absolutely sure Jean Todt had nothing to do with this, nobody was paid off by Ferrari, McLaren would have been treated exactly the same in a thoroughly democratic and impartial way, and Bernie Ecclestone really cares what the fans think. We are all mugs for watching this farce, perhaps we should turn off our TV''s for a race or 2.

Posted 12:53 10th September 2010

Martin Jenkins says...

interresting that letter from peter suaber [ferrari engine user] and frank williams were take into consideration, wonder if williams will be wantinfg ferrari engines in the future!!

Posted 12:39 10th September 2010

Leigh Boulter says...

unfortunately there is so much money involved with sponsors more points more money for both team an driver,so in future if mclaren or red bull do it with hamilton/webber all they will have is a slap on the wrist and wininng constructor an drivers champ will be worth it ...

Posted 12:09 10th September 2010

Paul Carter says...

ferrari got away with it what is the point off racing for 75% of the race when your team tells you to let your team mate through motor racing more like motor fixing Hope ferrari cars crash into each other on sunday

Posted 08:23 10th September 2010

Steve Smith says...

If it had been Mclaren driver and team would have had points deducted. Ferrari always get special treatment. Mclaren always get hammered.

Posted 08:17 10th September 2010

Roberto Riccioni says...

It would be interesting to see what happens if another team tries team orders in the last 6 races. Especially when you look at McLaren & Red Bull as both drivers from each team could win the title.

Posted 23:40 9th September 2010

David Stevenson says...

F.I.A to the rescue!!

Posted 21:49 9th September 2010

Darren Harvey says...

Very sad. Yet again Ferrari get away with something other teams wouldn''t. Bet the outcome would have been different if it had been any another team - PLEASE let your drivers race and may the best man win!

Posted 21:46 9th September 2010
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