Team orders ban: Enforceable or not?

With Formula 1 returning to Austria's A1-Ring, the scene of last year's contrived finish by Ferrari, it was perhaps inevitable that the subject of team orders would be raised once again.

May 15, 2003, 4:17 PM

Last year, of course, Rubens Barrichello took the pole for Ferrari and led most of the way before ceding to Michael Schumacher on the line. The unprecedented backlash from the media and fans shocked the Ferrari management and led to the FIA announcing a ban on team orders.

"I think it's down to the media that team orders have changed," Schumacher said at the A1-Ring, "but whether it is enforceable or not, I don't know..."

Brother Ralf chipped in: "I think it's impossible to get rid of team orders and it should be down to the team do decide what to do. I didn't have a problem with what happened last year. I thought it was the right thing to do."

Champ Car king Cristiano da Matta had his heart in the right place when he said: "The team and sponsors obviously have their interests but it should be sport first," while Nick Heidfeld was probably most realistic when he added: "The only thing that's probably changed is that team orders will not be as obvious for the spectators."