Todt Defends Team Orders Decision

Ferrari boss Jean Todt defended his team's controversial decision to invoke team orders at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.

"Some people are not happy but we have the result and we feel it is the right thing for the team," the Frenchman told reporters after Brazilian Rubens Barrichello gave up a certain victory to Michael Schumacher.

The decision deprived Barrichello of what would have been his second career win in 153 starts and gave Schumacher his 58th and fourth in a row. The German has now won five out of six races this year and is 27 points clear of nearest rival Juan Pablo Montoya in the World Championship.

"Some people will be against it, I have heard different reactions," said Todt on a day when the team won a race but was booed by the crowd. "Some people feel in favour.

"But at the end of the day it's more damaging if you lose a Championship rather than if you decide who is going to win a specific race after such domination by Ferrari."

Intriguingly, Todt said the team orders instruction had been given to both drivers with eight laps remaining - a version at odds with Schumacher's in a post race news conference. The four times World Champion suggested he had reluctantly taken the victory when told on the final lap and had even considered disobeying the instructions.

Rightly or Wrongly

"We are only a third of the way through the Championship and there are 11 races to go and lots can happen," said Todt. "I cannot ask everyone to accept our decision but it is our decision and that is it."

"We think rightly or wrongly that Michael has more chances in the Drivers' Championship so if we have to decide in favour of one we decide in favour of Michael."

Barrichello signed on for another two years at Ferrari last week and Todt said the Brazilian knew exactly what he was letting himself in for.

"We have just renewed our contract with Rubens with a clear understanding and Rubens understands that. It would be unfair to ask Rubens to simulate that he is overtaken.

"The important thing is to have a competitive car, a competitive package and to be able to be successful," he added. "If there is damage I think time will allow the damage to be minimised."

It was the second year in a row that Barrichello had ceded position to Schumacher in Austria. Last season he gave up second place and finished third.