[Bart.Vandecavey]

bron: planet-f1.com

The FIA Want Your Views

They've set up a site to find out what fans feel about team orders


FIA, the governing body of motorsport, has invited F1 supporters to submit their views on 'team orders', either by visiting their official website, www.fia.com , or by directly emailing teamorders@fia.com .

And they have given those who feel they have something important to say on the subject a deadline of September 1.

The decision to involve the public in a review of the controversial team orders tradition, something that has existed almost since the start of the F1 championship in the 1950s, followed the Austrian Grand Prix furore.

The racing world was generally incensed at the blatant manner in which Rubens Barrichello pulled over with the chequered flag in sight and let Michael Schumacher through for victory.

It also took a dim view of the way an obviously embarrassed Schumacher urged Barrichello onto the winners spot on the podium after being heavily booed and then presented him with the winner's trophy.

FIA jointly punished the Ferrari team and the two drivers for their indiscretions on the podium by imposing a $1m fine at a meeting of the World Motorsport Council in Paris last week.

But FIA president Max Mosley admitted after the meeting that apart from condemning the manner in which Ferrari gifted Schumacher his win, his organisation could do nothing about the team order incident, claiming it was within the laws of the sport as they are currently framed.

He said FIA had agreed at the meeting to establish a working group charged with coming up with suitable and acceptable guidelines in so far as team orders were concerned and also to seek the views of the racing public on the subject.

Yesterday's announcement that FIA are ready to hear what you have to say is an important step in this direction.