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[Fred_C_Dobbs]

The rule itself is absurd because there can never not be team orders so long as the teams have only one pit box.

[myownalias]

I knew that Alonso would have had a preferential contract when he joined Ferrari, two reasons really; Ferrari has a history of clear #1 and #2 drivers; and Alonso probably wouldn't go to a team where he was not the clear #1 driver after his experience with McLaren. I wish that Massa wouldn't be so nice and held his ground, make Alonso drive around him, not concede the place. Whether or not you agree with the 'no team orders' rule, rules are rules... I'm annoyed that Ferrari have gotten away with this; blatant breach of the rules, manipulating a race result!

[billindenver]

I can see both sides of the argument. I can see why Ferrari wanted to avoid a scrap, and I can see why Massa should grow a pair of balls and fight for position. He very likely would have lost that battle though, which is perhaps why he decided not to bother. He couldn't stay ahead of Alonso and pretty quickly fell into the clutches of Vettel after Alonso left him. Still, it would have been nice to see Alonso and Massa go at it for a few laps. Just as it would have been nice to see Lewis and Button do the same a few races back and countless other team order situations over the years. As a fan, it would always be nice to see a scrap....but I can see where team owner and sponsors set to lose millions from that scrap might make a business decision to not allow it. As hard as it is to accept, F1 is a business....not a few friends gathering at a track to see who is fastest. We've seen plenty of teams fall by the wayside of late due to bad business decisions and poor money management. I don't want to see more go away just so that we can see a scrap once in a while between teammates.

[Juliet P]

I can see both sides of the argument. I can see why Ferrari wanted to avoid a scrap, and I can see why Massa should grow a pair of balls and fight for position. He very likely would have lost that battle though, which is perhaps why he decided not to bother. He couldn't stay ahead of Alonso and pretty quickly fell into the clutches of Vettel after Alonso left him. Still, it would have been nice to see Alonso and Massa go at it for a few laps.

This is simply not true.

[billindenver]

I can see both sides of the argument. I can see why Ferrari wanted to avoid a scrap, and I can see why Massa should grow a pair of balls and fight for position. He very likely would have lost that battle though, which is perhaps why he decided not to bother. He couldn't stay ahead of Alonso and pretty quickly fell into the clutches of Vettel after Alonso left him. Still, it would have been nice to see Alonso and Massa go at it for a few laps.

This is simply not true.

Is it not? Alonso quite quickly pulled out better than 3 seconds gap as the team requested and then dialed back to hold that gap. Massa finished 4.1 seconds back...with Vettel one second behind him and Vettel turning faster laps. One second, in F1 with modern aero is well within striking distance.

[Spiralmagic]

massa was matching alonso for pace, alonso only caught him up due to traffic massa got caught up in, and if massa thought he would give the position up and not a least try to defend it....why the hell is he in motor racing.......i agree with a post earlier from someone saying that it wouldnt be fair to promote vettel to 1st, hamilton in 2nd and button in 3rd as ferrari did actually deserve there 1-2 finish but at the end of the day broke the rules even if other teams are doing it, ferrari were found guilty, the others havent, in all honesty the 2 ferraris deserve a 1 race suspension which i think they will get when they go before the comitee. I just hope some sort of justice is done as i dont feel 100k fine is justice for breaking a clear rule, it will only encourage more team orders like this in the future if an example is not made now.
Anyone else who does team orders should get the exact same punishment then everyone knows where they stand

[Juliet P]

I can see both sides of the argument. I can see why Ferrari wanted to avoid a scrap, and I can see why Massa should grow a pair of balls and fight for position. He very likely would have lost that battle though, which is perhaps why he decided not to bother. He couldn't stay ahead of Alonso and pretty quickly fell into the clutches of Vettel after Alonso left him. Still, it would have been nice to see Alonso and Massa go at it for a few laps.

This is simply not true.

Is it not? Alonso quite quickly pulled out better than 3 seconds gap as the team requested and then dialed back to hold that gap. Massa finished 4.1 seconds back...with Vettel one second behind him and Vettel turning faster laps. One second, in F1 with modern aero is well within striking distance.

Alonso had the incentive to push to 'prove' that he had been faster behind Massa. Why would Massa have continued to push once he had let Alonso by? - he had nothing to gain by it. Vettel didn't challenge Massa. You're twisting the facts to back up your version of events and ignoring the fact that Massa and Alonso were swapping fastest laps during the entire race - including the stint on the prime tyre.

[vaptin]

Alonso was still significantly ahead in the championship,

[bud]

Alonso was still significantly ahead in the championship,

Not really by much! Especially when there's hundreds of points still up for grabs! Like I said earlier I'll love to see Alonslow have a few DNFs while Massa has some strong points hauls and the team having to divert favouritism towards Massa!

[vaptin]

Alonso was still significantly ahead in the championship,

Not really by much! Especially when there's hundreds of points still up for grabs! Like I said earlier I'll love to see Alonslow have a few DNFs while Massa has some strong points hauls and the team having to divert favouritism towards Massa!

if they do that, it'd dispell a lot of myths about Alonso automatically being favourite.

Maybe Massa will be inspired.

[bud]

It won't dispell much, as it would be forcing their hand so to speak! Much like Schumi/Irvine in 99. Not sure Alonso would like it much tbh.

[Peng]

:deadhorse:

The rule itself is absurd because there can never not be team orders so long as the teams have only one pit box.

The rule actually doesn't prohibit all team orders it only prohibits team orders that effect the outcome of a race.

the stewards decided they contravened Article 39.1 of the sporting regulations, which states that "team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited"

Everyone knows team orders to some extent exist but the rule is there to prevent team orders from doing anything that can change a race result unfairly.

[myownalias]

Ultimately we know that it was Ferrari ordered; that is not in doubt but what I don't like is the fact we don't get to see battles between team mates anymore because the teams are constantly sticking their noses in, spoiling the racing; there is very little overtaking as it is; and with teams stopping their drivers going wheel to wheel makes the races into even more of a snore-fest. Look back to the days or Senna, Piquet, Mansell, constant wheel to wheel action, I was loving the racing at that point, I was devastated if I missed a race, now if I miss a race, it really doesn't bother me, infact some times I simply do something else other than watch the race. Rules are rules and if they are not going to be enforced, stop with all the bullpoo and drop the rule, a token fine does nothing other than to fill the FIA coffers.

[QuoththeRaven]

I think what has most people annoyed is the arrogance with which Ferrari went about this team order. Everybody knows that team orders happen, but most teams are smart enough to do the switches through properly timed pit stops and things like this, actions that look like normal racing, but can be used to show favouritism towards one driver or the other.

What Ferrari did was to openly flout the rules of the sport in which they compete. They stuck the middle finger right at the public and the FIA and pretty much said "So, suckers, what are you going to do about it?" and this is what is going to be the biggest problem for the FIA. If they let Ferrari get away with such a blatant rules violation, then people are going to start to question their impartiality, especially since the last time a team was caught cheating, they decided to fine it 100 million or they threw the people out of the sport for life. Of course, the circumstances were a bit different, but here the evidence has been recorded and, at worst, Massa will get slapped with a penalty as he was the one who let Alonso pass instead of fighting it out, which could be interpreted as a breach of the rules.

We shall have to see how it turns out.

[Troyron]

BUD / HEXAGRAM

You are both defending what has happened to your teams? Surprising no.

McLaren are no angels & neither are Ferrari, this is sport, its harsh and you will either be 1st or 2nd, Lewis will always be numero 1 and so will Alonso. Simple as that, Heikki out of Hammy? Hammy is the obvious choice.

Sponsors? WDC? WCC? This is a business, not a game, mathematically Alonso needed the win. Feelings do not matter? So why winge?

Lewis needed to pass Heikki, simple. All the finns would of been pissed. But they did not get bad press, Ferrari were stupid to make it so bloody obvious for one but they have done it and have got off lightly. So next GP lets see if Alonso has what it takes to make the win, He could be in a shot to win the WDC, a very long shot? But the Sponsors like Santander who have a major sponsorship deal will prefer the Spaniard up there. End off, the FIA nor Ferrari care. They have made $100,000 profit and Ferrari have got there number 1 man up there, Santander are very happy and have a new scheme. What is more shocking from you bunch is you are surprised? Or even the slightest shocked. Why? I knew and so did 75% of you watching knew what would happen? he is preferred over Massa? Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that one out.

End off, Ferrari will be like this when my Son is in his 20's and supporting the next great 6 times champion while letting the best looking and more dominant driver win.

Massa is a walk over, Alonso is a strong character who does not let anyone put him 2nd , that's why he is there, plus why complain?

We have 5 drivers and we have a better race for next round.

Massa needs the contract and did what he had to do.

So true so true.