Ferrari summoned by stewards amid team orders scandal

Ferrari team management have been summoned by the stewards at Hockenheim.

Long after the chequered flag at the German grand prix, won by Fernando Alonso ahead of Felipe Massa, the paddock was still abuzz with suggestions the Italian team breached the ban on team orders.

Via Massa’s race engineer, the Brazilian was told emphatically that Alonso “is faster than you”, after which the Spaniard moved ahead of the slowing sister F10.

But the stewards’ investigation only followed a pitlane and paddock furore, and an FIA press conference described as downright “hostile” by one observer.

Alonso was asked by one reporter if his 2010 success would now be a “dirty championship”.

But BBC pundits David Coulthard and Martin Brundle said it was Ferrari’s handling of the team order that was the problem, with Lotus’ Mike Gascoyne admitting the team handled it “stupidly”.

Mercifully for Red Bull, the scandal has for now overtaken an emerging controversy about the flexibility of the team’s new front wing.

Photographs have emerged that allegedly prove the element bends at speed, but Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said: “It has passed all the stress tests and scrutineering.

“If other people are not happy, they should protest,” he added.

Horner refused to confirm whether Red Bull specifically asked the stewards to look into Ferrari’s team orders breach.

© RIF | GMM