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Media, F1 Drivers Heavily Condemn Ferrari, Alonso

Needless to say, the team orders controversy in the German Grand Prix, courtesy of Ferrari, has brought the Scuderia on war terms with everyone inside the F1 paddock, as well as the international media. Following a race in which Ferrari practically ordered Massa to move aside and let Alonso pass for 1st place, the newspapers were merciless on Ferrari and its two drivers.

The publications in the UK started the ball rolling (what a shocker!), with the Sunday Express calling Alonso and his Ferrari team “dirty, thieving cheats.” Additionally, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail wrote that the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) could impose a suspension for a number of races for Ferrari, as well as a theoretical disqualification from F1.

There are different ways for Alonso to return to the throne. Lying and cheating should not be one of them,” wrote the correspondent for Swiss newspaper Blick, while Spanish newspaper AS admitted that “Alonso deserved to win the German grand prix, but not like this. Domenicali has confirmed his true ineptitude by giving Massa obvious team orders that are prohibited by the rules.

Nevertheless, the Italian media brought another side to the story, hinting that the problem with what happened in Germany lies in the regulations, rather than with the teams. Rome daily Il Tempo said Ferrari “did the right thing in the wrong way,” while the Corriere dello Sport agreed: “It is fair to recognize that the problem is in the regulations.”

Renown Italian motorsports publication Autosprint said that Ferrari were “fined for teamwork,” and Britain's The Telegraph brought some senses to the story, admitting that the regulations do in fact work in Ferrari's favor in this case: “Ferrari were caught and they must pay. But the rule is unenforceable. To pretend otherwise is deluded.”

The media are not the only ones to condemn Ferrari after the Germany race, Red Bull's advisor Helmut Marko being the first to speak out on the events.

It is unbelievable how awkwardly they demonstrated who is their number one. The FIA must react with a drastic punishment,” said Marko, echoed by Mercedes' motorsport director Norbert Haug: “We need to think of the spectators. They want to see fights on the track, not these actions. The different teams have different attitudes about team orders.

Also, Rubens Barrichello, who used to be the victim of the same Ferrari team orders about a decade ago admitted his disappointment over the Germany incident.

I will speak to Felipe myself. Nothing has changed at Ferrari. I think you can read my opinion better from my face,” the Williams driver was quoted as saying to Brazilian radio Jovem Pan.

It was an insult to the sport,” wrote Brazil's Folha de S.Paulo, while countrymen Lance (Rio de Janeiro publication) followed: “We regret writing it, but from Massa it was a lack of courage.”

Former Ferrari champion Niki Lauda hit Ferrari hard on Sunday, in particular Alonso, saying “I've never heard a driver talk such bullshit. He has no character.

The Austrian legendary driver was obviously referring to Alonso's denying of team orders on Sunday, as the Spaniard insisted he was the best Ferrari driver on the German Grand Prix.

That is what we have to do – what is best for the team. On Friday I was faster, I was second in qualifying and faster than Felipe in the race. I don't think the slower driver won this race,” said the Spaniard.

As far as the consequences of Ferrari's actions are concerned, the French journalists from La Libre rhetorically asked: “Would Jean Todt dare punish his old team for a practice he applied himself? We honestly doubt it.
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