[TeLMgNva]

Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place.

If the WMSC does nothing the phrase Ferrari international assistance will return with even more venom than before, with claims (rightly or wrongly) that Todt favours his old team.

If Ferrari are punished further for an action we all accept is commonplace in F1 then it will appear that Todt has felt forced into the action to avoid the perception of favouring the prancing horse.

I do not envy him.

[Lebybynctisee]

The only thing he can do is recuse himself from the whole affair. There are plenty of reasons why he should - Austria 2002 and his public statements of the time, his relationship with Massa (who his son continues to manage), his long association with Ferrari, etc.

[hujdrftgkas]

There is no such thing as a "conflict of interest" - there is only honesty or dishonesty.

His position as FIA chief has nothing to with Ferrari - unless you consider him a "bad actor" and view him as someone bereft of integrity, honesty, independence and so on. And in that case he should not be FIA chief.

Emotionalism is not something Todt was known for not how Ferrari won championships. He will act properly - which is to recognize that Ferrari has the sole right to decide what it does and is innocent.

Naturally this flies in the face of the shrieking and screaming from those without any stake in this and probably in many cases in the English media, an underlying resentment of Ferrari dating back to the Schumacher days.

[Nmoitmzr]

Naturally this flies in the face of the shrieking and screaming from those without any stake in this and probably in many cases in the English media, an underlying resentment of Ferrari dating back to the Schumacher days.

And the German, French, and parts of the Italian media I have to add. How are you qualified to comment on the media and feeling of a country you don't even live in? Reading one or two stories on the internet does not give a fair representation of the overall feeling of a country. You often criticize the 'English' element in your ramblings and its pathetic. I wouldn't dream of claiming half of Israel are tifosi and biased in views towards Ferrari because, a) I don't know if thats the case, and b) its totally irrelevent.

Even a percentage of Ferrari fans have been appalled by the blatancy of the action's yesterday, yet you feel it appropiate to target the 'English Media' as a source who are leading the condemnation?? What is the point you are trying to make? And lets have a post without the words Scheckter, Lauda, Schumacher, or Tyrrell if you feel you have to respond.

[Arkadiyas]

...Ferrari has the sole right to decide what it does...

If their actions contravene the rules governing the sport then they, like all other participants, should pay the penalty.

That said, it's certainly an interesting one for this FIA President to judge

[OWV9LSxH]

I think the stewards made a mistake handing out the cash penalty. They should have kicked it upstairs for the FIA to sort out.

[Arkadiyas]

Naturally this flies in the face of the shrieking and screaming from those without any stake in this and probably in many cases in the English media, an underlying resentment of Ferrari dating back to the Schumacher days.

Here's a selection of views - http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...D=379436&FS=F1

Or from Twitter - http://twitter.com/#search?q=Ferrari

[VewCoorkPow]

The only thing he can do is recuse himself from the whole affair. There are plenty of reasons why he should - Austria 2002 and his public statements of the time, his relationship with Massa (who his son continues to manage), his long association with Ferrari, etc.

Todt has a job to do and he must do it according to rules.

It's a question of credibility.. and if he doesn't manage it, then he should leave his position to some other who can do it.. But, I think Todt is a man for his shoes..

[Nmoitmzr]

Here's a selection of views - http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...D=379436&FS=F1

Oh dear its not all condemnation from the 'English Media' then Arrows? Thats not the type of evidence we wished to see.

Is that Lauda in there too??? The shock.

[loginptsa]

If their actions contravene the rules governing the sport then they, like all other participants, should pay the penalty.

That said, it's certainly an interesting one for this FIA President to judge

That's the problem right there. What, exactly, is the penalty?

McLaren brought the sport into disrepute in 2007. Penalty: $100 million fine and DQ from the constructors championship.

Renault brought the sport into disrepute in 2007 and again in 2008. Penalty: not much at all.

There is no hard and fast rule to say what breaching the rules will be punishable by. It's not like a speeding fine where you go X over the limit you get fined $Y. The FIA can attribute pretty much any penalty they like from chucking the team out of the sport down to nothing.

Who's to say that $100,000 is or isn't a sufficient penalty?

[Arkadiyas]

That's the problem right there. What, exactly, is the penalty?

Who knows

This has come up numerous times before in connection with many different types of incident, and it's one of the areas Jean Todt has not yet addressed. Instead we have a hangover from the Mosley era where rules were vague and the penalties even more so.

The rule in question here says "Team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited." Define "interfere".

Why can the FIA not have a written penalty to go with every rule. That way everyone knows where they stand in advance. Want to try to break a rule? Well this is what happens if you're caught.

[retyopj]

Oh dear its not all condemnation from the 'English Media' then Arrows?

Spanish media too. Shock Horror.
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/depor...pepidep_10/Tes
rough translation:
"Fernando didn't need it. Ferrari are donkeys. Someone tell Ferrari to get their act together. Someone tell Fernando to stop the "ridiculous" whining"

[Narkeere]

Spanish media too. Shock Horror.
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/depor...pepidep_10/Tes
rough translation:
"Fernando didn't need it. Ferrari are donkeys. Someone tell Ferrari to get their act together. Someone tell Fernando to stop the "ridiculous" whining"

....and maybe shave the eyebrow a bit in the middle.....

[zoppiklonikaa]

....and maybe shave the eyebrow a bit in the middle.....

You are really funny

[Narkeere]

You are really funny

eye sure am.......

[MineOffedOvex]

There is no such thing as a "conflict of interest" - there is only honesty or dishonesty.

The Grate Man has spoken.

[Narkeere]

The Grate Man has spoken.

Ooooohhhhh, he does fireplaces as well.....

[MineOffedOvex]

That's why his dad calls him Alexander.

[Narkeere]

That's why his dad calls him Alexander.

Ba dum, tish.

Man who stick *ick up chimney think he *ucking grate......

[snova]

todt does have a problem.......some have suggested there is some unofficial rule that permits such passes under orders when the car in front is too slow.....

and then there have been many other instances i suspicion of team orders, but none so blantant as this....

reminds me of the army, don't ask and don't tell situation....team order are oknay as long as we do not have clear evidence of same.....then they are a no-no

I am split. On one hand, i think it is a dumb rule......and unless somebody gets real stupid, a difficult one to enforce

OTOH, I want racing, with real passes, and when it starts happenning, do not want mac telling the drivers, all in a panic, conserve fuel, anymore than I want Ferrari telling massa move over.........