But the race’s was shrouded in controversy as Massa was in front of Alonso until a call from Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali saw Massa hand the lead to Alonso. Ferrari chief engineer Rob Smedley said to Massa on the team radio, “Alonso is faster than you. Can you confirm you understand?” With 18 laps remaining, the Brazilian gave way to his teammate.
Asked to comment on the call afterwards, Massa, who was denied a potential win a year to the day after he fractured his skull in the Hungarian GP, said simply, “I don’t need to say anything about that. He passed me.”
Ferrari led from start to finish as both Massa and Alonso passed pole-sitter German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull in an exciting start at the Hockenheimring.
Vettel, 23, who has still to win a race after starting in pole position, finished in third place ahead of McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Australian Mark Webber was sixth in the second Red Bull ahead of Pole Robert Kubica of Renault.
Mercedes drivers and fellow Germans Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher were eighth and ninth respectively, followed by Russian Vitaly Petrov in the second Renault, who was tenth. Alonso’s win took him to within 34 points of drivers’ championship leader Hamilton, who has 157 points.
Defending champion Button is second with 143 points, while Webber and Vettel are equal third with 136 points.
Controversy
Ferrari were accused of illegally ordering Massa to slow down for Alonso. The FIA had banned team orders in 2002 when Ferrari infamously ordered Rubens Barrichello to pull over and let Michael Schumacher pass in the closing stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.
The team have been fined $100,000 for breaching sporting regulations where their victory was overshadowed by allegations of using team orders. FIA said the result would stand.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told the BBC, “I have to say that is the clearest team order I’ve ever seen. It will be interesting to see what the stewards make of it because for me it was as clear as 2002, which is why the rule was brought in.
“It’s wrong for the sport. The drivers should have been allowed to race. Massa did the better job. He was in the lead and the regulations are pretty clear - team orders are not allowed.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2010.
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