Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa both claimed to be team players after the furore of their contrived one-two finish in Sunday's German GP.
The two drivers had already departed Hockenheim when the race stewards hit Ferrari with a 100,000 US dollar (£64,800) fine for implementing team orders, which are outlawed under F1 rules.
The matter has also been referred to the World Motor Sport Council and may yet result in further sanctions being imposed.
'We don't have team orders, so you just need to do the race that you can and if you cannot do that you need to think about the team'...
Felipe Massa
Prior to the stewards' decision, the duo had faced a grilling from the media in the post-race press conference.
Massa claimed the decision to allow Alonso by was made of his own volition, and nothing to do with a seemingly coded radio message from his race engineer Rob Smedley.
"Okay, so, Fernando is faster than you," Smedley said, which led to Massa opening the door for Alonso to pass two laps later when he slowed out of the hairpin.
Smedley then told Massa: "Good lad. Just stick with it now. Sorry."
It all smacked of the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix when Ferrari ordered Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher pass for him to claim the win.
It is a decision Barrichello regrets to this day as it tarnished his reputation among the Brazilian public, but Massa refuted suggestions the same could happen to him.
"Absolutely not. I'm very professional and I've showed throughout my career how professional I am," said Massa.
"You are professional as well, you work for a company. I believe you are doing what you have to do, so I'm professional and I showed how professional I am. That's it."
Massa added: "For sure, you always want to win. That's always what we're working for.
"We don't have team orders, so you just need to do the race that you can and if you cannot do that you need to think about the team.
"I think that's the most important thing."
The problem was Massa's tone of voice and body language spoke differently, never more so than when he spurned Alonso's offer of a congratulatory hug after they stepped out of their cars in parc ferme.
As for Alonso, he was asked whether he felt embarrassed to claim such a win, whether it was a "dirty" victory, and if it was "up there" with his triumph in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix that was later overshadowed by the 'crash-gate' scandal.
The double World Champion refused to bite on any of the questions, instead at one point responding: "We tried to do our race, as good as we can.
"We are professional drivers, we try to work in a team and to do the best we can every day, not only on the track but also between the races, at the factory.
"I think we've been doing a good job over the last couple of races and finally we had a strong Sunday with a strong result. I think we are happy with this."
Alonso's 23rd win of his career has moved him to within 34 points of Championship leader Lewis Hamilton who finished fourth behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and ahead of team-mate Jenson Button in fifth.
Related Links
Ferrari fined 0,000 for using team orders
Ferrari duo grilled in post-race press conf
