Ferrari still unclear on FIA rule on team orders

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Reuters

HOCKENHEIM, Germany (Jul 30, 1998 - 16:46 EDT) - Ferrari's sporting
director Jean Todt claimed on Thursday that the team orders situation in
Formula One was still no clearer, despite attempts by the governing
International Automobile Federation (FIA) to clarify the matter.

Ferrari was at the center of controversy in the Austrian Grand Prix last
Sunday when Eddie Irvine was believed to have slowed to let teammate
Michael Schumacher catch and pass him.

Such interference was understood to have been outlawed by the FIA in March
after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix when David Coulthard handed
victory to McLaren teammate Mika Hakkinen.

But the FIA said this week that team orders were only banned if they could
not be justified by the relevant team's interest in the championship or by
arrangements between teams.

Todt said that the phrasing still leaves the rule open to interpretation
and means teams may issue orders to their drivers and then be forced to
justify them to the FIA.

"If you read the press release from the FIA, they have said it will
study any type of happening during a race and then make a decision,"
said Todt. "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. It is up to the stewards to make
their decisions and then, if necessary, to be able to convince the FIA
Stewards.

"I did not participate in making the rules and I am not able to change
the FIA rules, I can only interpret them.

"This article has existed for a long time. We did not need to be
reminded about why it came out again, because it is something that is
already in the rules. It was just a reminder, nothing has changed."

Todt admitted that Ferrari had issued some orders to Irvine in Austria
despite claims at the time that he was told to slow down because of brake
problems.

"What I think happened in Austria is quite clear," added Todt.
"Michael is in a better position than Eddie in the world championship
by quite a significant amount of points.

"Michael had a problem while he was fighting at the beginning of the
race with Mika and dropped from second to last.

Then he came back up to fourth place, with Eddie being in front of him and
having some brake problems.

"He Irvine was not in a position to compete in second place with
Coulthard and it seemed obvious that he should not make the fight difficult
for Michael. So it was a team decision which was helped by the
circumstances. That is all."

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