By Jay
July 26 2010
Ferrari have found two unlikely people supporting their actions in the German GP, yesterday, which led them to be fined $ 100,000.
Ferrari was found guilty of resorting to team orders, which saw Felipe Massa giving up his lead position to Fernando Alonso.
Seven times World Champion, and former Ferrari driver, Michael Schumacher, however says, as reported by BBC, that Ferrari did the right thing from team's point of view.
"Watching the TV occasionally (on the big screens during the race), I've seen Felipe being in first position and I felt happy because he is a good friend of mine," he said. "Then hearing that Alonso won the race I was wondering what kind of strategy was that?
"I have been criticised in the past for exactly that and I have to say that I would do exactly the same if I was in their situation. At the end of the day, what are we here for? It's fighting for a championship and there is only one that can win it.
"By the end of the year, if you think you would have lost the championship for exactly that point you will ask yourself, all the fans, the television, the journalists, why didn't you do so?
"If you go back to other years, other teams and other situations, in the last race there were clear team orders and everybody accepts those. Whether it's the last race, second last race or even earlier, what's the point?
"I can see that in the years when we did it, because we were leading so much, that people thought it was unnecessary and I can agree on that one in a way."
"But in principle I cannot. I agree with what's going on. You have to do it in a way that is nice and maybe not too obvious - make it nice fight. But there's only one target, and that's winning the championship."
Former Mclaren driver, David Coulthard expressing his opinions said that team orders are a norm in F1 and it cannot be denied.
"Every team in this pit lane gives team orders and anyone who says they don't is lying."
There have been many incidents of teams supporting a driver, as witnessed in Turkey, when Button had to give back his place to Lewis Hamilton. At Turkey, Mark Webber was told to slow down to save fuel, while Sebastian later tried to overtake him, which ended in both crashing in to each other.
Last year, Lewis Hamilton's team-mate Kovalainen, clearly let him pass at the British GP, where the Mclarens were faster and Hamilton won.
Ferrari had done the same in 2007 during the final GP at Brazil, where Felipe Massa gave up his lead to Kimi Raikkonen, who went on to win the Championship.
Though both those incidents were handled pretty well by teams, this time Ferrari couldn't make a clear call and now are facing WMSC for further hearings.
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