Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, and technical director, Ross Brawn, have refused to apologise for manipulating the result of the Austrian Grand Prix. In reaction, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said Ferrari should be penalised for “unacceptable” tactics.
Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, and technical director, Ross Brawn, have refused to apologise for manipulating the result of the Austrian Grand Prix. In reaction, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said Ferrari should be penalised for “unacceptable” tactics.
Spectators at the A1-Ring jeered Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher and the rest of the Ferrari team during the post-race presentation, but this was of little concern to Brawn.
He said: "Rubens had won the race today but in the interests of Ferrari and the drivers’ championship we have made the decision."
Asked whether the call was against the spirit of competition, Brawn replied: "You say that but we had told the drivers not to race each other. We told Michael not to push and Rubens not to push so we were not racing."
Meanwhile, Todt said that Ferrari was obligated to “make the most of every situation”.
"Sometimes one has to take difficult decisions and today was one of those times," the Frenchman said. "In the past we have lost the drivers’ championship at the last race three times in a row and we know we are up against strong opposition.
"The extra points Michael picked up today could come in useful later in the season."
Todt added that Barrichello was the "moral victor" at the A1-Ring, which is why his race engineer Gabriele Delli Colli went up on to the podium to receive the winning constructors’ cup.
In contrast, Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore was clearly angered by Ferrari’s tactics and called for the Scuderia “to be punished”.
"The sport of motor-racing is more important than Ferrari," furious Briatore said. "We can live without them. What happened here today is totally unacceptable.
“Ferrari took the spectators for imbeciles and manipulated the result. I hope the international governing body won’t let this pass without doing anything. If that happened it would mean Ferrari are running Formula One," he added.
McLaren boss Ron Dennis also joined in the chorus of disapproval. "I think that is not the way to win a championship," said Dennis despite ordering David Coulthard to move over to allow Mika Hakkinen to win the Australian Grand Prix in the 1998 season opener.
"That race (Australia 1998) was a different situation. Here Barrichello was on the pole and led all the way," Dennis said.
Ironically, Williams BMW driver Juan-Pablo Montoya, who finished third in the race, played down the somewhat contrived race result. By winning the race, Schumacher extended his lead in the championship over Montoya by four more points than he would have if he had finished second.
However, Montoya said he understood the Italian team’s decision to allow Schumacher to take the win from his team-mate.
"I understand the decision," Montoya said. "I also would have followed the orders as well.”