Ferrari escaped further sanction for their antics during the German Grand Prix yesterday, with the sport’s governing body hinting they may scrap the rule against team orders.
Ferrari were widely thought to have issued coded team orders during that race and were duly fined $100 000 by the Hockenheim race stewards.
But the World Motor Sport Council’s extraordinary meeting yesterday in Paris concluded that Ferrari were not to be punished further, with a distinct hint that the whole ambiguous rule might be scrapped altogether.
A statement issued by the FIA said: “On 25 July 2010, at the Grand Prix of Germany, the stewards of the meeting found an infringement by the Scuderia Ferrari to the prohibition of team orders interfering with a race result and then decided to impose a fine of $100,000 and to forward the dossier to the World Motor Sport Council for further consideration.
“The Judging Body of the World Motor Sport Council held an extraordinary hearing in Paris on September 8, 2010 to examine this matter.
“After an in depth analysis of all reports, statements and documents submitted, the judging body has decided to confirm the stewards’ decision of a $100,000 fine for infringing article 39.1 of the sporting regulations and to impose the payment of the costs incurred by the FIA.”
“The judging body has also acknowledged that article 39.1 of the sporting regulations should be reviewed and has decided to refer this question to the Formula 1 Sporting Working Group.”
