Scuderia Ferrari won't
face any further sanctions for its use of banned team
orders during July's German Grand Prix: that was the
verdict handed down by the FIA World Motor Sport Council
during a special hearing held in Paris yesterday to
discuss the on-going controversy.
Instead, the $100,000
fine that was imposed at the end of the race by the
stewards will stand and the Italian team will keep the
drivers' and constructors' championship points it earned
from the 1-2 victory which saw Fernando Alonso head home
Felipe Massa after the latter moved over to let his team
mate pass into the lead.
"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," read the statement issued by
the FIA yesterday evening following the verdict. "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," the FIA statement concluded.
Following the verdict
a short statement was issued in Maranello which read:
"Ferrari has taken note of the decision of the FIA World
Council, relating to the outcome of this year’s German
Grand Prix and wishes to express its appreciation of the
Council’s proposal to review article 39.1 of the Formula
1 Sporting Regulations, in light of what emerged during
today’s discussions. Now, all the team’s efforts will be focussed on the next event on track, when the Italian
Grand Prix takes place at Monza this weekend."
