F1 gets rid of team orders ban
 

The FIA have stripped the regulation banning team orders from their rulebook following this year's controversy in Germany.

Ferrari were fined £65,000 by race stewards at the German Grand Prix after being accused of implementing a team order.

Following coded messages over the team radio, Felipe Massa eventually ceded a potential victory to team-mate Fernando Alonso, a move that sparked outrage at the time.

After meeting with the stewards, Ferrari were deemed in breach of article 39.1 of the FIA 2010 sporting regulations that states 'team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited'.

But following today's meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Monaco, the body has confirmed the rule has now been "deleted".

In a WMSC statement, it added: "Teams will be reminded any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions."

Article 151c is effectively the FIA's catch-all regulation that relates to 'any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally'.

It was a rule that resulted in McLaren being fined almost £50million in 2007 over the 'spy-gate' saga.

The omission of the team orders regulation headlines a raft of other changes that have been made to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for 2011.

The WMSC has rubber-stamped amendments to the list of penalties stewards are permitted to apply, made revisions to driving and driver conduct, reintroduced intermediate tyres for 2011 and stipulated that gearboxes must be used for five consecutive races rather than the current four.

They have also introduced a regulation that allows race director Charlie Whiting to close the pit lane during a race for safety reasons, as well as providing a clarification on when cars can overtake the safety car.

http://www.planetf1.com/news/18227/6565947/FIA-lift-ban-on-team-orders

Just as well. Everyone winked and nodded with a smile when it came to the "no team orders" rule. I was surprised that Massa didn't lose is job at the end of the year due to the way he blatantly moved over. He showed blatant disrespect to his leadership in the way he handled it and I figured they'd not tolerate it but couldn't do anything until the year ended.

Team order: Nelson Piguet, hit the wall on lap 13 (Singapore, 2008). They won't ever ban team orders completely, so they might as well tolerate them.

I predict Ferrari will pull even more brazen moves in the future. (Or whatever team Alonso terrorizes.)

At what point do team orders become a problem? When they tell Massa to take Hamilton out so that Alonso can win?

Legion, come on now. McLaren pretty much invented team rules. Renault perfected them. Take the rose glasses off.

In the old days it wasn't uncommon for one car to be given to the top driver if the top driver's car broke or wrecked, ala Fangio, Nuvolari, etc.

True, huh?

"Teams will be reminded any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions."

Article 151c is effectively the FIA's catch-all regulation that relates to 'any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally'.

Just as well.... it IS a team sport, after all. Now, Ferrari can stop being the ugly red-headed stepchild of this rule.

No kidding. I always shake my head at the people who think Ferrari is the only team that does this. News flash guys - they ALL do it (even if they say they don't).

I find it very interesting that when the term "team orders" comes up, some folks automatically think of ferrari as if they are the only team that ever did anything like that.
I concede that this year ferrari told their slower car to let their faster car past, and evidently that was a deadly sin to some folks.

but I remember another incident, than in my mind was a big deal (not like Massa letting alonso past). One that will always stick in my mind when I think of team orders:

Really incredible that he didn't consider the morality of the situation at the time. I think the blame needs to be spread around a bit on that one.

Here's a somewhat foggy remembrance. Please correct all the incorrect details as they appear.

Was it at a Daytona endurance race in the 70's when Gurney and co-drivers won in a GT-40. Team owner/sponsor (Ford?) wanted AJ Foyt to be in the winning car so he could have winning records in NASCAR. CART, Sprints as well as world sports car endurance racing. Foyt's own car had broken earlier but was summoned to drive a stint to qualify (replacing the regular cycled driver (?). I recall Gurney was pissed at the strategy to give Foyt more credit than he deserved - or something like that.

I apologize. I'm too lazy this morning to research and confirm all the "facts" of the incident, but it does sound good, doesn't it? :)

Sherwood

And how many times have we seen a car slow down to a crawl on the last lap to let their other car catch up for a group photo finish? obviously that doesn't change the outcome at all but it does go against the concept of a race AFAIK.

I watched Schumacher slow down right at the end of the race at Indy awhile back. He misjudged and Barichello passed him to take the win by a few feet. I felt ripped off.

Here you go, I fixed it:

Originally Posted by 911pcars:
It was at a Daytona 24 hour race in the 1983 when Foyt, Wollek and co-drivers won in a 962. Team owner Preston Henn wanted AJ Foyt to be in the winning car so he could have more publicity. Foyt was recruited to drive, which royally pissed off Wollek, as he figured Foyt would **ck 'ol Bob's chances at winning, since AJ hadn't driven a race like that since the '67 Le Mans. Bob used the f-word on live TV when asked about Foyt, Foyt ran just fine, they won. They teamed up again in 1985.

Ha. Thanks for the corrections. I shouldn't have made the attempt. At least I got Daytona and Foyt correct. Yes, Wollek was a fiery competitor as I recall, but you know my recollection skills. Wollek died in 2001 in Florida when hit by a car while on a bicycle training ride to prep for the Sebring 12 hr. race.

Sherwood

Are there any other sports where "Teamwork" is not allowed on a team?

Imagine teamwork prohibited in basketball, football, hockey, etc...

Are you counting certain teammates in the NBA? :)

Sherwood

Actually - it has changed the outcome. At Le Mans Ford gave their drivers' instructions to group up for the finish. They group up but do not pass each other.

Trouble was - Le Mans was based on total distance driven, as the lead car had qualified quite some distance ahead of the car behind him, it had driven less distance. The car that crossed the stripe 2nd won the race because it had started farther back, resulting in more distance traveled when it crossed the line. Because of a group photo, the final race results where switched for first an second, even though they crossed the line in the order they had been prior to the final laps.

Horse racing. Other sports (such as baseball) there is no advantage for one team to throw the game. There have been players that have thrown a game for money and the league frowned heavily on it.
Indy cars have very limited team cooperation. Target or Penske have had a back marker try to be sure that a faster car from another team doesn't pass them and challenge their team mate who is leading but they are regulated. Can't block and at some point they will be given a blue flag telling them to let the blatantly faster car pass or risk being black flagged.

You're right. Other drivers should not only move over for Alonso but make it appear that he passed them all on his own with his superior skill.