Domenicali in favor of team orders

The newspaper Bild carried out a survey among the team managers of the various teams to find out their position regarding the abolition of the ban on issuing team orders.

Currently article 39.1 of the sporting regulations explicitly prohibits team orders but after the recent Ferrari case at Hockenheim a debate has opened on the rule.

Stefano Domenicali would be in favor of abolition because: "..Formula One is a team sport", Peter Sauber is also of the same opinion: "Team orders should be allowed, since in Formula One, ultimately, the interests of team are on the front line."

Intermediate position for Mercedes who through Ross Brawn says: “We know that the fans are not happy with this situation. The teams must work together with the FIA ​​to reach a fair solution that takes into account the competition and the interests of the team."

Absolutely against it are Red Bull, Toro Rosso: "...to have a fair sport, team orders should be prohibited" and HRT: "Steam orders must continue to be prohibited. Otherwise the sporting aspect of the Circus would be irremediably damaged."

Lotus, Williams, Force India, Renault and Virgin declined to respond to the survey as did McLaren and Kovalainen. Team and driver were protagonists of the same episode at Hockenheim 2008, managed in a much less dramatic manner but, as now, it sparked a debate on the regulations.

The only one who gains from the situation is, not even on purpose, Mister Ecclestone: “I'm happy because this situation is giving the Circus a lot of publicity. Everyone talks about Formula One, what more could you want!”.

Robert Ferrari