Ferrari summoned for 'team orders' trial

Peter Rafferty
Wednesday 04 August 2010 00:00 BST
Comments
(GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ferrari are to go before the World Motor Sport Council just four days prior to their home grand prix next month as they look to avoid further punishment over the recent "team orders" furore.

Motorsport's world governing body, the FIA, has confirmed Ferrari will face a disciplinary hearing in Paris on 8 September, with the Italian Grand Prix the following Sunday. However, due to an obvious conflict of interest, FIA president and former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt will not stand as chair, the position falling to Nick Craw, the FIA deputy president for sport.

The team was fined $100,000 (£65,000) by the stewards at the German Grand Prix last month, who declared Ferrari in breach of article 39.1 of the FIA 2010 sporting regulations that states "team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited". They were also charged with a breach of article 151c, relating to "any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motorsport generally". The stewards were forced to investigate after Felipe Massa slowed on lap 49 at Hockenheim to allow team-mate Fernando Alonso to pass him.

Meanwhile, F1 steward and former driver Derek Warwick has claimed that Michael Schumacher could have been disqualified from Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix after almost pushing former team-mate Rubens Barrichello into the pit wall.

Schumacher was handed a 10-place grid penalty to be served at Spa later this month but Warwick said he wished he could have enforced a tougher sanction.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in