Home » Sports » Motor Racing
Ferrari hails end to 'hypocrisy' of team orders
Source: Agencies |
December 14, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FERRARI team boss Stefano Domenicali has welcomed the lifting of the ban on Formula One team orders, calling the old regulations "pointless hypocrisy."
The Italians were fined after Felipe Massa was effectively told to move aside and let teammate Fernando Alonso win at this year's German Grand Prix but on Friday the International Automobile Federation deleted the rule forbidding team orders.
The governing body has recognized that team orders have always been part of the sport but implied that blatant action early in the season could still be punished.
"Finally, we have said goodbye to this pointless hypocrisy," Domenicali told reporters.
"For us, Formula One is a team sport and we have always maintained that viewpoint and it should be treated as such. The regulations already include provisions that prevent certain situations being managed in an extreme manner."
Ferrari and Alonso lost out in the driver's title race to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel after a strategic pit-stop error in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month.
Domenicali vowed to come back stronger next year.
"We know that in 2011 we will have to start off immediately with a car capable of winning, so that we are not always having to catch up, as was the case this year," he said, adding that organizational changes were afoot.
Also, Team Lotus said it will use drivers racing for its AirAsia GP2 team for F1 test and reserve roles next year.
"The GP2 drivers will be test and reserve drivers," a spokesman for the Malaysian-owned team said.
"There will be two guys who will be given that opportunity to bridge the gap (between GP2 and Formula One)."
The Italians were fined after Felipe Massa was effectively told to move aside and let teammate Fernando Alonso win at this year's German Grand Prix but on Friday the International Automobile Federation deleted the rule forbidding team orders.
The governing body has recognized that team orders have always been part of the sport but implied that blatant action early in the season could still be punished.
"Finally, we have said goodbye to this pointless hypocrisy," Domenicali told reporters.
"For us, Formula One is a team sport and we have always maintained that viewpoint and it should be treated as such. The regulations already include provisions that prevent certain situations being managed in an extreme manner."
Ferrari and Alonso lost out in the driver's title race to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel after a strategic pit-stop error in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month.
Domenicali vowed to come back stronger next year.
"We know that in 2011 we will have to start off immediately with a car capable of winning, so that we are not always having to catch up, as was the case this year," he said, adding that organizational changes were afoot.
Also, Team Lotus said it will use drivers racing for its AirAsia GP2 team for F1 test and reserve roles next year.
"The GP2 drivers will be test and reserve drivers," a spokesman for the Malaysian-owned team said.
"There will be two guys who will be given that opportunity to bridge the gap (between GP2 and Formula One)."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
