But clarity is evident in the rulebook of Formula One’s governing body the FIA. Rule 39.1 states team orders in the sport are strictly prohibited.

 

However at Hockenheim on lap 49, the Spanish Ferrari driver Alonso who had been behind his team-mate, the Brazilian Felipe Massa since the opening lap appeared to be allowed to pass Massa after the hairpin at turn five upon approaching turn six. For whatever reason Massa’s Ferrari visibly slowed and Alonso took the lead.

 

Just moments before Massa’s race engineer and long-time friend Rob Smedley had given a radio message to his driver which stated, “Fernando is quicker, can you confirm you understand this message.” A lap later Alonso then passed Massa.

 

The outcome of the race meant a victory for Alonso and second place for Massa. It was also Ferrari’s first one-two finish since Bahrain in the opening grand prix of 2010.

 

What followed was a sombre podium atmosphere with a visibly miserable and diplomatic display from both drivers highlighting numerous concerns of people who believe team orders were instructed by Ferrari so Alonso could benefit and improve his championship chances and gain more world championship points.

 

But what remains abundantly clear from the race outcome is the following. Why do Ferrari feel the need to risk their integrity and the sport’s by blatantly broadcasting to the on-looking and adoring public, the apparent use of team orders through spoken coded innuendo by Smedley and through live race footage?

 

Firstly, Ferrari will surely argue when summoned by the scrutineering bodies of the FIA and the World Motorsport Council (WMSC) that they were not involved in team orders. So far, Ferrari has received punishment of a $100,000 fine by the FIA and will be referred to them. The result of Sunday’s race remains unchanged.

 

But it appears unlikely at this stage the team will suffer further punishment as Ferrari stated it was ‘Massa’s decision’ to allow Alonso past.

 

Furthermore team principal Stefano Domenicali has already denied claims of cheating to the world’s press. He claims Alonso was quicker before the incident and Massa was aware of this and was therefore happy to allow the overtaking manoeuvre.

 

It would therefore be highly defamatory for Formula One’s governing bodies to suggest Ferrari were involved in race-fixing due to both their drivers admissions, as those are the opinions which count the most despite any allegations, innuendo or apparent displeasure in their reactions during their interviews.

 

However while both the FIA and the WMSC will find it nigh on impossible to punish Ferrari for the post-race interview reactions of Massa and Alonso without having concrete evidence of race-fixing and admission of team orders, they may view the footage of Massa’s communication with Smedley more intriguingly.

 

Smedley’s apparent apology to Massa after the overtake by Alonso is a factor and so far one which Ferrari have failed to provide with a clear answer except for the suggestion Smedley was merely sorry for Massa being passed.

 

But the blatantly sinister is not beyond or particularly unusual when associated with Ferrari.

 

In 2002, seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher was allowed to pass his then-Brazilian team-mate (notice the coincidental pattern here?) Rubens Barrichello – who had been leading the Austrian Grand Prix – on the pit straight during the final lap of the race to take the chequered flag which helped towards the German clinching his third consecutive world drivers title with Ferrari and his fifth overall.

 

Like this weekend in Hockenheim, it proved a public relations disaster and was woefully orchestrated by then Ferrari team principal Jean Todt – now president of the FIA – leaving the Maranello ‘prancing horse’ and its reputation in tatters.

 

In 2007, Massa again was involved in a supposed team order debacle when he appeared to allow world championship leader Kimi Raikkonen – his team-mate – through to help the Finn clinch the title at Brazil’s Interlagos circuit just one point ahead of his nearest challengers and McLaren rivals Lewis Hamilton and Alonso.

 

It appears Ferrari’s business interests in respect of their own brand and their leading driver have always been at stake. While other teams, most notably Mclaren, Red Bull and Williams have allowed their drivers to race fairly with often disastrous and sometimes title-winning sacrifices – Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in Japan in 1989 and most recently Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber’s accident in Turkey this season – Ferrari appear to value the team above their drivers.

 

Understandably, Ferrari needed to focus on their ‘team’ aspects as they have performed appallingly this season. Before Germany Ferrari were 113 points behind Mclaren in the constructors championship while leading driver Alonso was 47 points adrift of world championship leader Hamilton.

 

An improved aerodynamic package and their ability to manage Hockenheim’s varying track temperatures on their soft compound Bridgestone tyres helped them clinch a deserved one-two in terms of performance and this should have been satisfactory.

 

But what remains unsatisfactory is the apparent devious nature behind the team’s actions.

 

Paying motorsport fans and television viewers across the globe will have tuned in to see a competitive race. Sport in its very nature is one of competition and challenges.

 

To see therefore what many regard as blatant race-fixing is a dampener for a sport which many already label processional at the best of times and therefore cheats a fan of entertainment and intrigue in the closing stages of a Grand Prix.

 

It was clear Alonso was unsettled by Massa’s pace – or perhaps lack of it – earlier on in the race when he visibly gesticulated just after the turn five hairpin about Massa’s braking difficulty and oversteer which were holding the former double world champion up behind his team-mate.

 

However, despite team orders always playing a part in Formula One in what is essentially partly a team sport, why did Ferrari not just settle for their emphatic dominance of 43 points gained in their constructors championship bid? Essentially, if they had team interests, surely their most important factor would be the manufacturer’s title?

 

Indeed this appears not to be the case. They appear to have damaged their reputation yet again with a confused array of responses as to their conduct at Hockenheim while possibly giving light to the assumption by many that Alonso is the team leader with such a blatant move during the race.

 

Their handling of the overtake was so poorly managed and to broadcast it to nations of motorsport fans demanding competition and fairness ensures Formula One has witnessed increased mockery. Meanwhile, a year to the day since Massa’s almost life-threatening accident in Hungary last season, it has deprived him of a chance to achieve his first Grand Prix win since Brazil in 2008 where he lost out to Lewis Hamilton in the drivers championship in the final race of the season.

 

Sentimentally this would have been a fitting tribute for a man who drove a very strong race and despite what Ferrari may argue, was quicker than Alonso – almost half a second a lap quicker before encountering traffic and the team orders row – at Hockenheim – and would surely have revitalised his reputation among many who may have doubted his ability after what had been an unspectacular comeback in 2010 since his injury.

 

But sentimentality does not come in to the equation, particularly when Alonso is anywhere nearby.

 

Some have regarded his recent public outbursts after the European Grand Prix in Valencia and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone as ‘petulant’ and ‘aggressive’. The fiery Spaniard seems to respond angrily when things don’t go his way.

 

In the past he has been reprimanded for hindering the progress of his team-mates.

 

During the 2007 season Alonso was accused of deliberately denying his former Mclaren team-mate Hamilton a final flying lap in the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session by staying in his pit box as Hamilton approached behind him. He cost the 2008 champion a fair chance of a final qualifying run and many took his motives as calculated and unfair.

 

Furthermore in 2008, Alonso was involved in what proved to be a race-fixing row at the Singapore Grand Prix when his then

Renault team-mate Nelson Piquet junior deliberately crashed. This enabled a safety car to be deployed while the wreckage of

Piquet’s car was cleared and allowed Alonso to close on his rivals while in 14^th. Alonso then went on to win the race, while then

team principal Flavio Briatore was later struck off from motorsport by the FIA for cheating.

 

Albeit, Alonso is a fantastically quick driver and has proved throughout his career he is capable of astonishing performances in under-performing cars like at the now defunct Minardi team and with the lack of financial clout at Renault where he won two world championships in 2005 and 2006.

 

However, just because he is ahead or is the so called ‘number one’ driver in a team does not give Ferrari the right to bow to the claims that he should be given victories or favouritism. It is firstly a breach of the FIA rules and secondly devalues sport’s fairness and competitive nature.

 

Ferrari and Alonso’s excuse this Sunday of claiming a ‘team result is the most important’ ignores the idea that a constructors title should be the main aim for a team. A driver’s title is for the drivers to contest and should not allow team interference for the sake of business and prestige for a brand which is used to dominant success with the late Gilles Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher just some of their most competent brand names.

 

But while Ferrari’s actions in 2007 involving Raikkonen clinching a world title were arguably almost impossible to avoid with the Finn needing victory in the final race to secure the championship and Massa having no chance of a title win, Sunday’s result raises questions.

 

Why do Ferrari feel they are above the sport by making team orders decisions and where will the line be drawn on when a team should implement orders in a sport which should encourage challenging racing for drivers and not just so they can be handed victories on a plate?

 

It is up to the emotionally-attached FIA president and former Ferrari principal Todt to be held to account for the sport’s decline in integrity amidst Ferrari’s continual disregard of the rules and apparent gamesmanship and he needs to address this quickly.

 

Furthermore, the fact wherever Alonso goes seems to cause upset, also needs to be addressed for the sake of the sport.

 

It may give us something to write about, but it would have been far better for fairness and decency to prevail with Massa winning, don’t you think?