Rivals criticise Ferrari tactics

Barrichello allows Schumacher to move into second

McLaren-Mercedes bosses have launched a stinging attack on rivals Ferrari, accusing them of "castrating" Formula One with their strict team orders.

The attack follows Ferrari's decision to allow Michael Schumacher to finish second ahead of teammate Rubens Barrichello in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

Juergen Hubbert - head of DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes unit - heavily criticised Ferrari's orders, claiming the tactics would ultimately work against the sport.

"I think it's a shame that someone who has run a fantastic race then doesn't get what they deserve," said Hubbert.

Rubens is part of the team and he has to do what the team asks him

  Jean Todt
Ferrari sporting director

"We see things differently from Ferrari. If you castrate the sport, one day it's not going to be interesting anymore.

"We don't need that. We have men in our team who know what they need to do.

"You can never write off Hakkinen. He's too good a driver for that. No individual can have as much bad luck as he has had," Hubbert added.

Coulthard's win in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix cut Michael Schumacher's lead in the world championship to four points.

Hakkinen: Not giving up title

His McLaren team-mate Hakkinen has only four points from six races after his car stalled on the grid at Spielberg. Coulthard has 38 points with 11 races left.

But the Finn insists he will not give up his title dreams at such an early stage in the season.

"I'm not going to start giving up anything yet, or giving away anything yet," Hakkinen said.

"I'm going to charge flat out until mathematically there is no possibility to be in a winning position at the end of the season. I'm going to fight all the way."

Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt defended his team's tactics, insisting it is better to work as a team than as individual drivers.

"It's obvious that a driver is always hoping to be on the highest step of the podium. He (Barrichello) had driven a magnificent race. He'd led for a long time. He could have won, and nearly did so.

This seems ridiculous to me. It proves that Ferrari is a very bad team for any other driver to be in while Schumacher is there

  Juan Pablo Montoya

"It was in Ferrari's interests that we should decide to ask Rubens to let Michael past, so that Michael could gain another two points.

"Rubens is part of the team and he has to do what the team asks him. He's a professional driver because he's paid to do a job, to work for the team and the team's interest.

"Everyone knows that morally, second place was his. He was disappointed, but I can understand his disappointment. He did a great job."

Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who disputed the lead with Schumacher early in the race, also criticised Ferrari.

"This seems ridiculous to me," he said. "It proves that Ferrari is a very bad team for any other driver to be in while Schumacher is there."