World Motor Sport Council to decide on Ferrari's fate
Ferrari had been referred to the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) for a final decision after the team was convicted for following the team order during the last race held at the Hockenheim Circuit. They had already been fined $100,000 by the FIA stewards who had now forwarded the issue for further consideration.
The team had been accused of altering the race results by being biased for one of their team members during the 49th lap of the race. It was when Felipe Massa gave way to fellow team driver, Fernando Alonso who came right behind him. The move occurred after the former received a message from the race engineer Rob Smedley who had communicated that, "Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?"
Following the race, Ferrari insisted that the message had nothing to do with any sort of team order rather it was only a routine message as the drivers are continuously updated with what is happening behind them as well as the progress of the their teammate.
On the other hand, the stewards firmly believe that it was simply an instruction for him to get aside and let Alonso pass on, which is clearly a breach of FIA rules.
This had been clearly mentioned in Article 39.1 of the sporting rules that "team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited" as well as the Article 151 (C) of the International Sporting Code which forbids "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.” After imposing the penalty, the case has been referred to the WMSC, which means that further sanctions could be put on the team as well.
While defending the team, Ferrari’s team principal Stefano Domenicali proclaimed that the team had mutually decided that they will not appeal against it rather he said that the stewards made their decision keeping in mind the interest of the sport. He explained that the entire Ferrari crew has complete confidence in the World Council and that they were sure that the overall facts would be evaluated correctly.
While clearing the situation of the team driver, Massa told that the decision was solemnly made by him rather than the team. He explained that he chose to surrender for Alonso and that this had nothing to do with any sort of team order.
While explaining the recording of the race engineer, he said that it was only a routine update suggesting that Alonso was driving at high speeds. Massa concluded by saying that it was a team game and he decided what was best for the team.
The final judgment has now been given to the WMSC. However, for Ferrari, it is not the first time that they had been accused for team ordering. The rule was actually made by the FIA because of the same team. In 2002, Ferrari was accused of ordering Rubens Barrichello so as to bring better results for Michael Schumacher at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Ever since the rule had been made, none of the teams have been accused of breaching it. If history is repeating itself, Ferrari may get caught once again for doing the same thing.
The act of Ferrari had brought even more damage to the already declining repute of Formula One racing. Many of the fans already consider that the sport needs to be revised and its rules need to be re-defined to keep it at the top of other auto racing series of the world.
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