SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

Ferrari escapes further punishment (updated)

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), Formula One's governing body, upheld a $100,000 fine against the Ferrari team and will not impose any further penalties against the team following the team orders controversy at the German Grand Prix in July.

Alonso, Massa, German GP 2010
© The Cahier Archive

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), Formula One's governing body, upheld a $100,000 fine against the Ferrari team and will not impose any further penalties against the team following the team orders controversy at the German Grand Prix in July.

Angelo Sticchi Damiani, president of Italy's Motorsport Federation (CSAI) said after the meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council today that the council agreed unanimously not to impose any further sanctions.

The race stewards fined Ferrari $100,000 after the German GP at Hockenheim after the team was found to have ordered Felipe Massa to let Fernando Alonso pass him to take the race win.

The FIA issued the following release:

"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 8 September 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 One Sporting Working Group."