The farce witnessed in Austria yesterday where Michael Schumacher was gifted the win at the A1-Ring when team orders came into play on the final lap looks as if it will go unpunished.

Michael Schumacher was gifted a controversial last-lap victory at the Austrian Grand Prix by Rubens Barrichello after trailing the Brazilian throughout the entire race. The reigning world champion was handed the win when Rubens was ordered to pull aside to let him through just before the chequered flag, an incident that has sent fans into an uproar worldwide.

According to the FIA, there is no penalty for instructing team orders during the course of the championship, even though many believed such a rule came into play after Australia 1998 when David Coulthard deliberately pulled over on the final lap to allow Mika Hakkinen the win. The incident came after a gentleman's agreement between the duo prior to the race that whoever was into the first corner would have the win.

The FIA doesn't condone a move such as the one witnessed in Austria on Sunday if one driver is fighting for the championship and the move is in the best interest of the team because two competitions take place in the sport, one reserved to constructors, the other for drivers. Therefore it is perfectly legitimate for a team to decide that one of its drivers will fight for the title and that the other will offer assistance. And it's this aspect of the code that Ferrari's 'Sporting Director' Jean Todt is relying on, confident that there won't be any reprisal from the governing body for Sunday's actions.

"We made this decision quite simply because Michael is on 44 points, whereas Rubens had only 6 and Michael is more likely to claim the title. We may be being pretentious, but we are not certain with eleven races to the end of the season that the situation will remain as it is,? Todt explained. ?Therefore we prefer to ensure it. This decision is of an extreme prudence, but the past taught how us to be careful. Didn't we lose the titles in the last race on several occasions (1997, 1998 and 1999)? That taught us to make decisions that are perhaps unpopular but rational. We took it in our heart and conscience."

However article 48 of the sporting regulations states:

If in the opinion of the Formula One Commission a competitor fails to operate his team in a manner compatible with the standards of the Championship or in any way brings the Championship into disrepute, the FIA may exclude such competitor from the Championship forthwith.

And judging by the reaction of fans as the cars came around on the parade lap after the event, the sport has definitely been brought into disrepute. Even the most ardent of tifosi jeered the world champion from the grandstands, booing the team as they took to the podium. Michael was noticeably ashamed after seeing the crowd's reaction and pushed Rubens onto the top step of the podium while Jean Todt and Ross Brawn were noticeably absent from the proceedings

In the press conference afterward, journalists joined in the display of disgust, booing the Italian team throughout the question and answer session. Michael was obviously uncomfortable, while Rubens acted like a well-oiled machine, sitting there between Schumacher and Montoya, smiling and continually claiming that he was 'happy' with the situation. Journalists posed some tough questions, questions that didn't receive an answer as both Ferrari men asked to leave on several occasions as the going got too tough.

Formula One died in the heart of many a passionate fan yesterday, despite the pleas of 'It was in the best interest of the team' from all concerned and Michael's statements of 'I was hoping team orders wouldn't be issued'. All the man had to do was disobey such a call, take the moral high road and stick up for his teammate and let the Brazilian claim what was so rightfully his. Fans accept there is a time and place for team orders and most of the time accept the decision in the best interests of the team and the sport, however this cannot be described in any way as an instance where such a call was warranted.

The team still would have had their 16 points for the constructors' title, the 'best thing possible for the team' and Michael would have had 50 world championship points instead of 54, a drop in the bucket when you look at his commanding lead in the series. Sorry Ferrari, this time your pleas of 'It was the best thing for the team' don't wash and the fans won't accept it. Not even your most loyal of supporters can condone your actions this time.

This writer felt the blow as Michael Schumacher crossed the line, heard the death tolls sounding for what used to be the pinnacle of motorsport. Something died in Austria on the 12th of May 2002, thankfully it wasn't a driver or a spectator or a marshall. Instead it was the death of Formula One, the death of a passion that used to burn so brightly in the heart of many, mine included. It's the driving force behind the fans that come to watch their heroes compete, the motive behind the amounts of cash parted with throughout the years, the ultimate thing that breathes life into the sport week after week, a force that will need a harsh reprisal for this action to make ammends.

To the powers that be, if you're listening and in case you've forgotten, it's the little people who come to watch, buy the merchandise and tune in their televisions sets faithfully every two weeks that keep this sport alive just as much as the sponsors that part with cash to keep the teams running to their enormous budgets. Without them, the sport is dead and you lost millions of them in the blink of an eye at the A1-Ring yesterday. Am I going to far to state F1 died on Sunday? Maybe, maybe not. May you rest in peace Formula One, I for one will miss you immensely.

On a final note, congratulations Rubens, for winning the second Formula One race of your career. You earned the win fair and square, and Formula One fans worldwide know it, however it was a victory that only secured you six points. And to Michael and Ferrari and the FIA, for condoning this action... shame on you!

The opinion expressed in the above article is not necessarily the opinion of the Racing-Live network.