From GMM
Martin Whitmarsh has backed the FIA's decision to take no action against Fernando Alonso .
In the immediate aftermath of last Sunday's European grand prix, the enraged Ferrari driver accused the governing body of "manipulation" in issuing a drive-through penalty that still allowed McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to finish second.
In the past, during Max Mosley's long reign, the comments would have almost certainly attracted a disrepute charge, but new president Jean Todt let the incident pass with nothing more than a partial retraction by the Spaniard.
And while, in the past, the comments would also have triggered hostilities between long-time rivals McLaren and Ferrari, the British team's boss Martin Whitmarsh said Alonso's outburst "doesn't worry me".
"Alonso was fairly outspoken but actually people want a bit of that," the teams association FOTA's chairman said at a fans' forum in London on Thursday.
"In the past you have not been able to question," Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by the news agency AFP.
"There has to be a limit, some fine lines, but not being able to question a referee's decisions, or umpire's decisions or stewards' decision? Frankly, you have not been able to do that."
Martin Whitmarsh has backed the FIA's decision to take no action against Fernando Alonso .
In the immediate aftermath of last Sunday's European grand prix, the enraged Ferrari driver accused the governing body of "manipulation" in issuing a drive-through penalty that still allowed McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to finish second.
In the past, during Max Mosley's long reign, the comments would have almost certainly attracted a disrepute charge, but new president Jean Todt let the incident pass with nothing more than a partial retraction by the Spaniard.
And while, in the past, the comments would also have triggered hostilities between long-time rivals McLaren and Ferrari, the British team's boss Martin Whitmarsh said Alonso's outburst "doesn't worry me".
"Alonso was fairly outspoken but actually people want a bit of that," the teams association FOTA's chairman said at a fans' forum in London on Thursday.
"In the past you have not been able to question," Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by the news agency AFP.
"There has to be a limit, some fine lines, but not being able to question a referee's decisions, or umpire's decisions or stewards' decision? Frankly, you have not been able to do that."