Published>Thu, Sep 09 10 01:17 AM
Formula One's governing body (FIA) upheld a $100,000 fine for Ferrari but will impose no further sanction following the team orders controversy, the FIA said on Wednesday.
Race stewards handed the $100,000 fine to Ferrari after the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in July when the team was found to have ordered Felipe Massa to allow Fernando Alonso to win.
"After an in-depth analysis of all reports, statements and documents submitted the judging body has decided to confirm the stewards' decision of the $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 FIA said in a statement.
"The judging body has also acknowledged that article 39.1 should be reviewed and has decided to refer this question to the Formula One sporting working group."
The verdict would have come as a huge relief for Alonso, whose title hopes could have been ended if FIA had opted to punish the Spaniard who lies fifth in the standings and 41 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
Ferrari, who would have had a one-two finish at Hockenheim even without the banned team orders being invoked, are third overall and 80 points adrift of leaders Red Bull.
They will be able to compete in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, their home race.
The hearing was as much about the very nature of the sport as one single offence and the outcome will be controversial.
There are those who argue that team orders should be legalised since they have been part of Formula One since the championship started in 1950 and have never really gone away.
Others say rules must be respected and to encourage overt manipulation of results would be a betrayal of the spirit of fair competition.
Source: Web Search
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