Poor podium protocol costs Ferrrari

Ferrari and their drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were today fined $1 million for making a mockery of the podium…

Ferrari and their drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were today fined $1 million for making a mockery of the podium ceremony after the Austrian Grand Prix last month.

The fine was imposed by the World Council of FIA at a hearing in Paris. $500,000 has to be paid now with the remaining amount suspended for 12 months.

But Schumacher and Barrichello have escaped a race ban after the World Council decided 'with some reluctance' that they could take no action on team orders.

Barrichello was ordered to move over for Schumacher to give the German an extra four points in the championship battle.

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The World Council said it could not take any actions against the drivers because they were contractually bound to accept any orders by the team in the race on May 12th.

But they have been punished for the podium ceremony when an embarrassed Schumacher pushed Barrichello onto the top step and he was handed the winner's trophy amid boos from the crowd.

The decision not to take any points or ban Schumacher from any future races leaves him 46 points clear in the battle for the drivers' crown heading into the British Grand Prix on Sunday week.