Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo has said that he backs the team’s decision to use team orders to allow Fernando Alonso to win the German GP.
He told fans that he has “no interest” in the controversy that has flared up since Sunday’s race and instead said he was delighted by Ferrari’s domination of the race and praised his drivers’ performances.
Read Autocar's full German GP race report
Speaking on Ferrari’s official website di Montezemelo said: “The polemics are of no interest to me.
"I simply reaffirm what I have always maintained, which is that our drivers are very well aware, and it is something they have to stick to, that if one races for Ferrari, then the interests of the team come before those of the individual.”
Ferrari was fined $100,000 (£65,000) and faces an FIA World Motor Sport Council investigation for imposing illegal team orders and for bringing the sport into disrepute.
Di Montezemelo said that Ferrari’s actions were justified and an intrinsic part of motor racing: “These things have happened since the days of Nuvolari and I experienced it myself when I was sporting director, in the days of Niki Lauda and not just then."
He added: "Therefore enough of this hypocrisy, even if I can well believe that some people might well have liked to see our two drivers eliminate one another, but that is definitely not the case for me or indeed for our fans."
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Re: Ferrari boss backs team orders
So it's win at any cost, eh Luca?, even if your tarnishing two drivers reputations just for the sake of what?, a car company, not even a big car company, a car company that produces playthings for the rich and idle, not even a car for family transport,i'll tell you this, nobody would miss the prancing horse on an F1 car!.
Re: Ferrari boss backs team orders
Like the conspiracy theory about Mafia betting rings. You've still got to take a chance on your team winning, but teams know after qualifying (or even before that) whose car is best suited to any particular track. If you also know from the inside that one driver is going to get the 'after you Claude' treatment, you're certainly tweaking the odds in your favour as you'll know not to put any money down on the other guy.
Re: Ferrari boss backs team orders
Which would of course have a ring of truth, except for the fact Santander continue to sponsor McLaren.