F1: FIA Gives Go Ahead As Ferrari Breaks Curfew Twice

Formula 1

F1: FIA Gives Go Ahead As Ferrari Breaks Curfew Twice

Ferrari won't be penalized for breaking a team curfew two times in one weekend...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted November 03, 2012 Abu Dhabi (ARE)

Fernando Alonso comes to the attention of his Ferrari team in Abu Dhabi. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

The FIA stewards have decided that teams can use two of their four annual curfew ‘jokers’ in one weekend without penalty.

This weekend, Ferrari became the first team to break the curfew twice at one Grand Prix, and rivals are not happy with what the Italian team did.

In Sporting Working Group meetings, the teams have discussed such an eventuality, and while no clear cut rule is in the sporting regulations, a note sent to teams from the FIA at the Australian GP said: “It is our view that Article 30.19 prohibits a team from using two of their individual exceptions (“jokers”) in any one Event.”

However, the wording of the current rule led to some doubt on Saturday. It says simply, “each team will be permitted four individual exceptions to the above during a Championship season.”

After investigating the matter and considering elements such as the meaning of the word “individual,” the stewards decreed that it did not prevent teams from doing it twice, and their decision set a precedent by saying that “no further action is necessary.”

Intriguingly, the penalty agreed on by the SWG for a fifth curfew breakage in a season is to have both of a team’s cars start from the pit lane.

Although, if it happens the stewards have discretion: they have the power to impose that penalty.

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.