Formula 1: Ferrari's Fernando Alonso looking to put controversy behind him
Ferrari’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso is doing his best to put the team orders controversy behind him and concentrate on the challenges ahead in the F1 season. FIA’s world motor sport council ruled on Wednesday that no further punishments would be handed out to Ferrari for the incident at the German Grand Prix.
When queried about the FIA’s ruling, Alonso said, "I think we were very concentrated on Monza already and we are set. We are aware of the decision of the FIA and just have to respect it. That is the past for us and we concentrate on this weekend.”
He said that the team was confident that the hearing in Paris would not go against them, and the ruling has come as expected but now the team has to move on and focus on what lies ahead in the season.
Ferrari were handed a fine of $100,000 at the Hockenheimring in Germany, after a coded message was sent to Felipe Massa on the team radio to slow down and give Alonso room to move ahead.
Fernando Alonso is now fifth in the driver standings and 32 points ahead of his Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa. Alonso was hounded by the press immediately after the ruling in Paris came out following the hearing of Ferrari.
Alonso stated, "I think we talked already too much in the August break about the Germany incident - as my colleagues said, I am happy that the FIA will try to go into the rules and try to clarify if there is any sort of something that is not completely clear in the rules. We can then be all more clear - there is no special feeling."
The decision by FIA may turn out to be one of the most crucial ones in the title race this season. Earlier there was a fear that Ferrari may be docked points or may even be suspended from the championship. However it is all set for Alonso to make a surge for the title in the final six races of the season.
Meanwhile, Mark Webber, who is on 2nd place in the driver standings, 3 points behind Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, said that it would be difficult for FIA to really make the distinction in team orders, as to what is legitimate and what is not.
Webber said that when one looks at it closely, there really is not much to choose. He said that when Ferrari made that call in Germany it would not have been easy for them and for sure they must have thought about the repercussions of the decision. He said that he did not have too many complaints about the incident but said that maybe it was a bit too early for Ferrari to make the call.
Webber added that in the future if a similar situation arises for any team, they would take lessons from Ferrari’s incident and know what not to do.
Webber said that McLaren would do the same if similar situation arises. He said that clearly Hamilton is the title favourite in that team and if Button has an opportunity to help him the team would make sure he does that.
Webber went on to say that this is just a part of the games, and FIA would have its hands full when they try and clarify the team orders rule.
The Australian, while commenting on his own team and relationship with Sebastian Vettel, said that there are no problems between him and Vettel. As far as the favourite for the title is concerned, he said that in just one race things can change dramatically and the next two races would decided for all top three teams as to who they would be backing for the world title.
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