» F1 Rewind: A famous case of team orders…

Ten years ago today, Ferrari was hit with the largest fine in Formula 1 history (at the time) following one of the most controversial chapters in the sport at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, where the team flagrantly exercised team orders to give Michael Schumacher victory.

The fine itself wasn’t for the use of team orders – indeed, they were perfectly legal at the time (although far from popular) – but for Schumacher and team-mate Rubens Barrichello breaching the FIA’s strict podium guidelines.

After being handed victory by Barrichello in the final few hundred metres of the race, a contrite and shame-faced Schumacher pushed Barrichello onto the top step of the podium to claim the winner’s trophy, while thousands of fans in the grandstands booed and jeered the Ferrari pair.

The team was unrepentant in its behaviour, with Team Principal Jean Todt – the man who currently serves as the President of the FIA, the sport’s governing body – arguing that the team was ensuring Schumacher could score the maximum possible number of points to push him closer toward a championship title.

Ferrari has been no stranger to the use of team orders before, or since, although its use today is still frowned upon. It still begs the question of whether or not it has its place in the sport.

2002 Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix – Final Classification (71 laps):

	Driver	Team	Laps	Result	Grid
1.	Michael Schumacher	Scuderia Ferrari F2002	71	1:33:51.562	3
2.	Rubens Barrichello	Scuderia Ferrari F2001	71	+ 0.182	1
3.	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams – BMW FW24	71	+ 17.730	4
4.	Ralf Schumacher	Williams – BMW FW24	71	+ 18.448	2
5.	Giancarlo Fisichella	DHL Jordan – Honda EJ12	71	+ 49.965	15
6.	David Coulthard	McLaren – Mercedes MP4/17	71	+ 50.672	8
7.	Jenson Button	Renault F1 Team R202	71	+ 51.229	13
8.	Mika Salo	Panasonic Toyota Racing TF102	71	+ 1:09.425	10
9.	Allan McNish	Panasonic Toyota Racing TF102	71	+ 1:09.718	14
10.	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR – Honda 004	70	Engine	17
11.	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Arrows – Cosworth A23	69	2 laps behind	11
12.	Mark Webber	KL Minardi – Asiatech PS02	69	2 laps behind	21
	NOT CLASSIFIED
DNF.	Jarno Trulli	Renault F1 Team R202	44	Fuel Pressure	16
DNF.	Alex Yoong	KL Minardi – Asiatech PS02	42	Engine	22
DNF.	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar Racing – Cosworth R3	38	Hydraulics	20
DNF.	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber – Petronas C21	27	Collision	5
DNF.	Takuma Sato	DHL Jordan – Honda EJ12	26	Collision	18
DNF.	Olivier Panis	BAR – Honda 004	22	Engine	9
DNF.	Felipe Massa	Sauber – Petronas C21	7	Suspension	7
DNF.	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren – Mercedes MP4/17	5	Engine	6
DNF.	Enrique Bernoldi	Arrows – Cosworth A23	2	Collision	12
DNF.	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar Racing – Cosworth R3	0	Throttle	19
	FASTEST LAP
	Michael Schumacher	Scuderia Ferrari F2002	68	1:09.298