Nikki Lauda slates Ferrari's team orders

He told Slovak daily Sme: "I think old Enzo Ferrari must have turned in his grave on Sunday afternoon. He would never have agreed to such a decision. It was scandalous and shameful."He added: "It's a complete joke. I have always regarded Formula One as a sport where the best is going to win and politics don't get involved. Decisions to allow a team mate to win should only be used when there is a championship at risk. At the moment there is absolutely no risk whatsoever because Michael is leading comfortably and has dominated the first five races."

Lauda underlined that although such tactics are perfectly common and acceptable it was important when and where they are applied.

He said: "Sometimes it is necessary because Ferrari has a set-up where Schumacher is the number one driver and Barrichello the number two, so in theory they can do it. But the timing they used for this sort of strategy was completely wrong. They did it because Michael has more points than Barrichello and they wanted to secure the world championship for him early in the year. But this tactic should really be used at the end of the season if another team is proving to be a dangerous title contender. But as Ferrari are the best anyway there is no need."

Lauda believes there will be no major consequences for Ferrari, who have been called in front of the World Motorsports Council by the FIA - except bad feeling among their fans. He said: "They will not be penalised because there is no rule in the sporting regulations which forbids such manoeuvres. It is only morally despicable because Formula One is a sport and in sport only the best should win." Lauda, though, says Schumacher was not to blame for the incident.