Newspaper Survey for F1 Team Orders Ban

[Mike D]

This is pretty funny. Of COURSE Domenicalli would vote this way! He'd save $$$ on fines!

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Domenicali Votes ‘Yes’ to Scrap Team Orders Ban
SPEED Staff / GMM
Posted July 30, 2010
GMM Newswire
www.speedtv.ceom

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has admitted he would like to see Formula One overturn its ban on team orders.

Germany's Bild newspaper said the Italian answered with a clear "yes," adding: "F1 is a team sport."

Currently, article 39.1 of the sporting regulations explicitly prohibits team orders, but the subject is now the topic of hot debate, given Felipe Massa's reluctant move to let Fernando Alonso win the recent German Grand Prix.

Peter Sauber agrees with Domenicali: "Team orders should be allowed, because in Formula One, ultimately the interests of the team are at the fore."

Mercedes' Ross Brawn added: "We understand that the fans are unhappy. But the teams need to work together with the FIA for a solution that takes into account the competition as well as the interests of the team."

Christian Horner's stance against team orders is well known, and Toro Rosso's Franz Tost agrees: "To have a fair sport, team orders must be prohibited."

HRT's Colin Kolles adds: "Team orders must stay banned. Otherwise the sport aspect is damaged."

Interestingly, McLaren declined to answer Bild's team orders survey.

The bosses and drivers of the British team have been fervently referring to the philosophy of fairness and ethics within McLaren, but others recalled Hockenheim 2008, when Heikki Kovalainen moved over for Lewis Hamilton in much the same way as Massa did for Alonso.

Kovalainen, now driving for Lotus, did not want to talk about that incident in Hungary.

"I don't remember that," said the Finn. "For me, there's no point in going into the past, actually. I'm just here to race with Lotus and that's all I can say."

Like McLaren, bosses for Lotus, Williams, Force India, Renault and Virgin also declined to answer Bild's survey.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone insisted he is happy with the publicity being generated by the saga.

"Everyone is talking about Formula One - what more could you want?" the 79-year-old told Bild newspaper.

[jnl.42]

He has a bit of a point by saying "F1 is a team sport", but what he's forgetting/ignoring is that F1 is also a spectator's sport. If they really wanna get rid of team orders they should penalise in the way of championship points, rather than fines.

[kennymiesta]

He has a bit of a point by saying "F1 is a team sport", but what he's forgetting/ignoring is that F1 is also a spectator's sport. If they really wanna get rid of team orders they should penalise in the way of championship points, rather than fines.

yeah, but it isnt really fair on the drivers to have points taken off them for obeying wat their 'bosses' are telling them to do. if you think about it, they are emplyed by Ferrari, so they listen to what Ferrari tell them to do, otherwise they get the sack. It isnt fair on the drivers to be told what to do, then lose points for it as well.
If any points go, it should be constructors, but not drivers.

[That Ford Dude]

One sure fire way of stopping it would be to penalise the car that made the advantage. Ferrari wouldnt have had Massa move out of the way for Alonso if there was a chance of a drive through or a points penalty for Alonso.

[kennymiesta]

One sure fire way of stopping it would be to penalise the car that made the advantage. Ferrari wouldnt have had Massa move out of the way for Alonso if there was a chance of a drive through or a points penalty for Alonso.

switch the positions back? lol

[amp88]

The only real solution is to remove the rule banning team orders.

[That Ford Dude]

One sure fire way of stopping it would be to penalise the car that made the advantage. Ferrari wouldnt have had Massa move out of the way for Alonso if there was a chance of a drive through or a points penalty for Alonso.

switch the positions back? lol

Yeah you could but then i reckon we would still see team orders. I mean, at best they get away with it and get what they want, at worse they're forced to correct it but there is still nothing lost. If you increase the penalty for the car they want to benefit to a point where they would have something to lose, you would go a long way to fixing the problem.

[kennymiesta]

switch the positions back? lol

Yeah you could but then i reckon we would still see team orders. I mean, at best they get away with it and get what they want, at worse they're forced to correct it but there is still nothing lost. If you increase the penalty for the car they want to benefit to a point where they would have something to lose, you would go a long way to fixing the problem.

yeah good point...i still dont think that the driver should get penalised for it. maybe, they should take their constructor's points away? but even still, after that they might just do it knowing they have nothing to lose i guess