Ferrari vs FIA! The Farce in Detail!!

The FIA need to pay Ferraris lawyers to act for them in the future as they played the World Motor Sport Council to perfection!!

The FIA's explanation has so many contradictions, and Ferraris arguments have the FIA running for cover!!

The FIA's "Factual Charges" (A.i) and "Legal Charges" (B.i) state Ferrari gave a team order. In legal terms there is no evidence of such an order, just an exchange of information, so the FIA are off to a bad start already.

"Legal Charges" (B.ii) states that Ferrari breached the "fraudulent conduct or act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or motor sport generally". 

Ferraris response included the following...

"In the view of Ferrari, there is a clear distinction between 'team orders' on the one hand, and 'team strategy and tactics' on the other hand. The disputed communication should be considered as 'team strategy and tactics."

I live on earth, what planet does this come from??

The killer blow from Ferrari comes in the form of...

"In the view of Ferrari, if the true nature of the breach alleged is that of "team orders", Ferrari submits that either that offence is established or it is not. If it is not, it would be improper to try to make good some deficiency in the Regulations (if such there be) by relying on some generally worded provisions which are clearly intended to apply to different situations." 

So if you can't prove the "team order" allegation, and as your regulation is badly written, you can't,  it would not be a good idea to try to hang us using your "catch all" regulation.

Ferrari then lists previous instances of "team orders", and the action taken by the FIA in each circumstance, or not taken in-fact! Question, why is it relevant what has happened in the past? If the FIA want to promote "racing" then start from now, stop looking backwards, draw the line here and now! Just because the FIA have had no back bone over the last few years doesn't mean they can't grow one now!!

The FIA ruled that Ferrari did breach the "team order" regulation. The FIA also ruled that Ferrari breached the "fraudulent conduct or act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or motor sport generally" regulation. The FIA also state...

"It is the role and responsibility of the FIA as the world governing body for motor sport to promote sports ethics and fair play... Sports ethics involves the elimination of cheating and bending the rules. In addition to the existing written rules, there can therefore be said to be a moral obligation on drivers to abide by the rules, in accordance with the principles of fair play."

Sounds good so far...

The decision... Team orders were issued! The drivers swapping places was "prejudicial to the interest of motor sport and contrary to article" blah blah blah...

They then state...

"It is important for the FIA to act to protect the sporting integrity of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and to ensure the podium finish has been achieved by genuine on track racing."

The penalty... NOTHING more than the already imposed fine!

They also state that the drivers should not be penalised!

The get out of jail free card used was the "ambiguities" of the regulation, and "it would not be appropriate to increase the overall penalty" due to this... but the rule is not ambiguous enough to prevent the FIA  from finding them guilty of breaching it!!

So in short, the "Team Order" rule is badly written and we will review it, but you have breached it, we uphold fair play but write us a small cheque and you'll be ok, drivers are responsible for their actions but shouldn't be penalised, we want the podium to reflect real on-track racing but do nothing to ensure this, oh and the best bit...

Ferrari, Williams, and Sauber "pointed out the risk of collision of team mates". If, F1 teams, you are worried about your drivers taking each other out... GET BETTER DRIVERS!!

Cricket match anyone?? Oh can't, you need balls for that!!