Whitmarsh plans private talk with Ferrari about team orders

McLaren Mercedes F1 Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh declared that he is planning a private talk with Ferrari to let them know his views on the team orders controversy during yesterday's German Grand Prix.

Ferrari was fined $100.000 and could face further sanctions from the FIA's World Motor Sport Council for illegally using team orders.

After the race, Whitmarsh said: "I don't want to get drawn into it. I have my own private views on it. They were quicker than us today; they got a 1-2, but perhaps in a different order from that which people may have thought was right.

"I will give my private views to Ferrari, but I don't want to go on record and express those views."

The team boss added: "You can go back to the late 90s and all sorts of times when things have happened - but we decide to race. I think having our drivers racing, in the longer term, is a healthy thing to do for this team.

"That is my decision and that is what we want to do. Others do what they want to do, and it is for the FIA and Ferrari to determine what they think is right. We were racing our two guys until the end of the race."

Whitmarsh probably forgot that in 2008, in about the same corner as Alonso passed Massa yesterday, Lewis Hamilton overtook Heikki Kovalainen quite easily as it was Hamilton who had more points in the championship than his team mate.