Team Orders Confusion Reigns

The FIA press release issued on Wednesday has re-ignited the possibility that team orders may get teams into trouble, according to Ferrari boss Jean Todt.


Speaking at the today's Hockenheim press conference, Todt intimated that the ban on team orders was still open to interpretation, and subject to confusion. The FIA release stated that team orders were admissible provided that they could be justified by "the relevant team's interest in the championship", thereby allowing Ferrari's Austrian GP decision to let Michael Schumacher pass team-mate Eddie Irvine. A repeat of McLaren's contrived result at the Australian GP would still be illegal under FIA rules, however.


Nevertheless, Todt maintains that the rules are still open to subjective interpretation. (If you read the press release from the FIA, they have said that it will study any type of happening during the race and then make a decision,) he said, (It is up to the stewards of the race to make a decision on the team's strategy.)


(I agree [that we are taking a risk],) he added, (It is up to the stewards to make their decisions and then, if necessary, to convince the FIA [that any team orders issued complied with the rules].)