Ferrari deny team orders

(26-Jul-98) - Ferrari bosses were quick to dismiss reports after Sunday's
Austrian Grand Prix that team orders, which are banned in Formula One, were
brought in to help Michael Schumacher onto the podium.

Eddie Irvine was seen to slow down drastically in the closing stages and
allowed Schumacher through with just a handful of laps to go. But Irvine
and Ferrari claimed it was because the Ulsterman suffered from brake
problem.

"Brake wear has been critical through the race and I was told to ease
off, which is how Michael caught me," explained Irvine. "Once he
got past I pushed again for a couple of laps as Ralf was behind me, but the
team again told me to back off."

Ferrari's sporting director Jean Todt added: "Eddie drove an attacking
race. He had brake problems in the final stages and we warned him of this.
For that reason, he did not take any unecessary risks in keeping his
team-mate behind him.

"The championship is still very open and we have picked up seven
points. We know our main opposition is very strong, but we will not give up
the fight."

However, Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn refused to confirm that
Ferrari had not issued team orders.

When he was asked by autosportmag.com whether he was confident Ferrari
would prove blameless in the event of an investigation, he said: "That
is for other people to judge. Our drivers know that they must not have each
other off. We'll see what happens."

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