Schumacher Accuses McLaren of Using Team Orders

Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher has accused rivals McLaren of using team orders to aid Kimi Raikkonen at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Schumacher and Ferrari were heavily criticised after manipulating the result of the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002, prompting the sport's governing body the FIA to ban team orders for the 2003 season.

But Schumacher, who leads the Championship by just seven points from Raikkonen, has criticised McLaren after the Finn was allowed to pass teammate Coulthard during the Silverstone race with the pair on different strategies.

"I am totally surprised there has been no speculation how easy Kimi was able to overtake David as the situation for me was very clear and very normal," Schumacher said. "David was on a different strategy but he let Kimi by very easily, but then could go at the speed he was able and make things more difficult for all the other drivers than he did for Kimi.

"If the same would have happened with Ferrari there would have been a big casino, a big story about it, yet it has happened with McLaren but nobody has talked about it. It's a funny business.

"I am not concerned about team orders, it is totally right in this circumstance what they are doing but what I am complaining about is this completely different attitude if we do it than if somebody else does it."

Raikkonen closed the gap on Schumacher by one point after the Silverstone race, which was turned on its head as the Championship leaders ran down the field after a protester ran on to the track.