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Formula One
F1: FIA Investigator Suggested Alonso Lose Win
Fernando Alonso should have been penalized five seconds in Germany, according to an FIA investigator's view...
Adam Cooper  | http://www.speedtv.com  |  Posted September 09, 2010   Monza (ITA)
Fernando Alonso kept his win in Germany despite the allegation of team orders. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
The World Motor Sport Council chose to ignore a recommendation from its own investigator to take the German GP win from Fernando Alonso and hand it back to Felipe Massa.

Swedish FIA veteran Lars Osterlind was appointed as the "Reporter" in the case and personally investigated all aspects of it. His conclusion was that the $100,000 fine should stand, five seconds be added to Alonso's time (which would have changed the result), and there should be a loss of both driver and constructor points - but suspended unless there was another offense.

Although Osterlind presented a compelling case - and clearly was not swayed by Ferrari's claims that team orders were not involved - the WMSC chose not to change the original penalty.

Its reasoning was in essence that the FIA's own rule, which has been in place for eight years, was difficult to police. Ferrari's evidence included other alleged cases of team orders, involving McLaren in Germany in 2008 and Turkey this year, and it also referred to RBR in Turkey this year.

It also insisted that Massa was not subject to team orders, but had made his own decision based on evidence that was presented to him: "Fernando is faster than you," etc...
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Osterlind determined that was not necessarily the case and found that both drivers had been asked to turn their engines down - before Alonso turned his revs up again "without Mr. Felipe Massa being informed."

Osterlind's report also covered the question of sports ethics, saying, "Motor racing ought to be unpredictable, as it has been to date. Part of that competitive element is to take equal interest in all competitors. Irrespective of their fitness, talent or position in the race, competitors should be able to rely on themselves for purposes of winning the race without any form of external aid influencing their sporting performance."

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 SPEED.com since 2005. Check out Adam's Blog or follow him on Twitter

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