F1: Ferrari Faces Hearing, Takes $100,000 Hit

Formula 1

F1: Ferrari Faces Hearing, Takes $100,000 Hit

Ferrari's 1-2 finish in Sunday's German Grand Prix is being probed by the World Motor Sport Council...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted July 25, 2010 Hockenheim (GER)

Ferrari is one of the most accomplished teams in Formula One history. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

After speaking to Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, the FIA race stewards in Hockenheim have found Ferrari guilty of breaching Article 151C, which refers to bringing the sport into disrepute, in addition to breaking Article 39.1, the team orders rule.

LINK > UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING
LINK > UPDATED DRIVER STANDINGS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING

The rule says, "Team orders which interfere with a race are prohibited."

The finishing results from Sunday's German Grand Prix stand as of today, but the matter will be referred to the World Motor Sport Council, and the Ferrari team has been fined $100,000.

Ferrari team management was summoned by the stewards at Hockenheim after second-place finisher Massa allegedly allowed Alonso to pass and take the lead with 18 laps left in Sunday's race at Hockenheim.

The current scenario is fascinating because FIA President Jean Todt will inevitably be at the heart of whatever happens next.

On the one hand, he is well-versed in the intricacies of team orders, and on the other, he is of course like a second father to Massa. As FIA president, Todt takes a step back from the actual process, but he will clearly be a major player in the coming days.

LINK > UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING
LINK > UPDATED DRIVER STANDINGS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING

Adam Cooper notched up his 25th season as a racing journalist in 2009. Born in London, England, he saw his first F1 race at age 10 in 1976. He began freelancing for Autosport magazine in 1985 and was on the fulltime staff from 1987-92. He then went freelance again, initially spending two years in Japan before following the 1994 Champcar series from a base in Indianapolis. He has not missed a Grand Prix since Suzuka ‘94, a run that has extended to Abu Dhabi ’09. Adam has written books about Eddie Irvine, Piers Courage and Michael Schumacher and hosts a race preview show on Sirius XM. He has written about F1 for SPEEDtv.com since 2005. Check out Adam's Blog or follow him on Twitter