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Ferrari escapes further punishment
Formula One's governing body upheld a US$100,000 fine for Ferrari on Wednesday but kept alive Fernando Alonso's hopes of a third title after deciding to impose no further sanction for the use by his team of banned team orders.
Race stewards had handed the fine to the Italian team after the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in July when Ferrari was found to have ordered Felipe Massa to allow Fernando Alonso to pass him and take victory in a one-two finish. That decision was referred to the International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s World Motor Sport Council for consideration, with the threat of sanctions that could hit the team and drivers hard.
In the end, after a hearing in Paris that lasted some three hours, the governing body decided to allow Ferrari to compete in its home Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend.
The decision was announced by the governing body in a brief statement nearly three hours after the meeting had ended and with reporters pacing the pavement outside with increasing frustration after a wet afternoon.
While sure to dismay those who had hoped for a firm response to the manipulation of races, it would have delighted those who feel such orders have always been a part of the sport.
"After an in-depth analysis of all reports, statements and documents submitted, the judging body has decided to confirm the stewards' decision of the US$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 its statement.
Double champion Alonso, who was not present at the hearing at the FIA's Place de la Concorde headquarters, could have seen his title hopes disappear had the FIA decided to strip him and the team of the points won in Germany.
The Spaniard is fifth in the standings and 41 points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren with six races remaining.
Ferrari is third overall behind McLaren in the constructors' championship and 80 points adrift of leader Red Bull.
The team noted the decision taken by the FIA, whose president is former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, and expressed its appreciation of the proposal to review the rules.
"Now, all the team's efforts will be focused on the next event on track," Ferrari added in a statement.
The hearing, attended by Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali and F1's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, was as much about the very nature of the sport as one single offence.
It was also the first big test since Todt took over at the helm of the FIA from Max Mosley. Todt was boss at Ferrari in 2002 when that team triggered worldwide outrage and the ban on team orders by ordering Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher win that year's Austrian Grand Prix.
Mosley had said last month that Ferrari should receive a stiff punishment with points deducted from both the team and the drivers.
