Ferrari will get away with "Slap on hands"


By Andrew Hooper
June 8 2002

 

 

  
Slap on the Hands
 
The Ferrari team and its drivers are yet to appear in front of the FIA to discuss the events that took place at the Austrian Grand Prix. On the very last lap of the Austrian Grand Prix, Ferrari management ordered Rubens Barrichello aside for championship-leader Michael Schumacher to take the race win.

Michael SchumacherAs both Ferrari drivers took to the podium they were greeted by boos and thumbs down gestures. But according to BMW WilliamsF1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, Ferrari will leave the FIA HQ on the 26th June with a just a 'slap on the hands'.

Montoya does not feel that any punishment should be handed down upon a team 'doing perfectly legal team orders'.

Montoya said: "I think I am not a very good person to answer this question. If I was in Ferrari's position I would probably just say slap the hands, but it is very difficult'.

Montoya thinks that the only matter that is a punishable offence is the behaviour of the two Ferrari drivers on the podium. Michael embarrassed with the crowd's displeasure at the result, ordered Rubens onto the top step of the podium, handing his winner's trophy to the sanguine Brazilian.

Montoya added: "In a way they are in the right to do what they did, and I think what the FIA is going to question is what happened in the podium. If you win the race, why are you not on the top of the podium?"
 
 
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