Fernando Alonso gets to keep his German GP victory but may have to take a pay cut after Ferrari were fined $100,000 for using team orders in Germany.
The Scuderia caused outrage in Germany on Sunday when they ordered Felipe Massa to move aside, allowing Fernando Alonso to take the victory and the much-needed 25 points.
Ferrari were immediately called into the stewards' office to answer charges of bringing the sport into disrepute with their use of team orders, which are banned.
The Scuderia, though, insisted that it was not a team order but rather a "driver decision".
"We didn't give any instruction at all. I don't think anything wrong has been done, or regulation breached," communications director Luca Colajanni told the BBC.
"Fernando was slightly quicker at that stage, and we informed the drivers."
However, the stewards did not agree, deeming Ferrari to have contravened Article 39.1 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which states that 'team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited.'
They were also charged with a breach of article 151c of the FIA International Sporting Code.
That relates to 'any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.'
The Italian marque have been handed a $100,000 fine, although the race results and Alonso's victory still stand.
Ferrari, though, could face further sanctions as the matter has also been referred to the FIA World Council 'for further consideration.'
However, the Scuderia have already confirmed they will not appeal the decision.
"As for the Stewards' decision, given after the race, in the interests of the sport, we have decided not to go through a procedure of appealing against it, confident that the World Council will know how to evaluate the overall facts correctly," said team boss Stefano Domenicali.
Related Links
Alonso: I don't know what happened
Massa: Nothing to say about it
Domenicali: We did nothing wrong
Horner: Blatant team orders
