Jordan: Ferrari's Actions Not Good for F1

Formula One team chief Eddie Jordan has declared his disappointment over Ferrari's decision to enforce team orders to allow World Champion Michael Schumacher to win the Austrian Grand Prix eight days ago.

The A1-Ring race saw controversy in the final lap when Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was ordered to slow down and let Ferrari number one Schumacher pass him to win the race - actions that are set to be examined by the FIA in June.

Jordan was one of many observers left baffled as to why the Italian World Champions decided to risk souring their name when they are so far ahead of the pack.

"In my opinion Rubens (Barrichello) had earned the right to win the race, and he should have been allowed to win - he was dominant all weekend," Jordan said. "I'm puzzled as to why so early in the season Ferrari decided to order Rubens to let Michael pass."

As well as questioning Ferrari's actions, Jordan also suggested the whole episode may have done lasting damage to the credibility of Formula One.

"When the cars passed us on the last lap the noise and booing was so intense you couldn't hear the engine noise," he said. "I've never, in all my 30 years in motor racing, heard anything like it.

"People were very upset and I'm not sure it does a lot of good for the sport. Did they really need to do it? I can only refer back to one situation when we were fortunate enough to finish one-two and that was in Spa 1998.

"Damon had led the race from start to finish and was entitled to win and Ralf Schumacher was told to make sure he didn't pass. We didn't feel we defrauded anyone because Ralf didn't pass Damon - the race win was given to Damon in the interests of the team."