While not a pleasant rule, one could argue that a ban on team orders if unenforceable and that team orders occur throughout the field during the running of every race, and qualifying too. Would a situation whereby a driver is nominated as a team leader prior to a race weekend go some way to solve the issue, or is this potentially one of those situations in motorsport that may never be satisfactorily solved?
It means Ferrari go into their home race in something of a lighter mood after a mixed race in Belgium last time out. Although Felipe Massa scored a credible 4th place, Fernando Alonso was taken out by Rubens Barrichello at the end of the opening lap, leaving the Spaniard 41 points behind Championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
The McLaren driver has never won at Monza, but neither has close title rival Mark Webber, although his Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel took the Italian Grand Prix in 2008 in what were torrential conditions ahead of Heikki Kovalainen.
Vettel had an abysmal race in Spa-Francorchamps last time out – eventually finishing in 15th position after ramming Jenson Button out of the race, having contact with the Force India of Vitantonio Liuzzi and picking up a drive through penalty for good measure.
As the European leg of the season draws to a close, Alonso, Vettel and Button need strong finishes if they want to stay in the title hunt.
