Revisited: F1 world disgusted after shocking Ferrari team orders

Michael Schumacher cruised to the 2002 F1 drivers' title, finishing a considerable 67 points ahead of Rubens Barrichello. However, in the opening rounds that year, Ferrari was not prepared to take any chances. In particular, in the Austrian Grand Prix. 

The Red Bull Ring – known as the A1 Ring at the time – hosted the sixth round of the season, with Schumacher having won four of the opening five races. 

It saw him enter Spielberg on 44 points, ahead of Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher who had scored 23 and 20 points, respectively. With 10 points having been awarded to the race winner, it was a semi-comfortable advantage for the Ferrari star. 

Schumacher had built his lead alone, due to team-mate Barrichello having only finished one of the first five grands prix.

Despite this, it was the Brazilian who claimed pole position in Austria, by three-tenths of a second ahead of Ralf – Michael was six-tenths slower than Barrichello in third.

Barrichello had great pace in Austria, proving that the Maranello-based outfit was right to offer him a two-year contract extension.

How the race unfolded

Whilst the race had a dramatic and controversial conclusion, the bulk of the grand prix was settled at the start. Barrichello retained the lead, whilst Michael overtook Ralf. 

Over the next 60 laps, the Ferrari duo escaped from the Williams pair, with Montoya having overtaken his team-mate for third in the closing stages. 

However, despite the Ferraris having cruised into the distance, its pit wall remained busy. Second place would only score Schumacher six points, meaning his advantage over Montoya would only increase by two – third place was awarded four points.

As a result, a bill was pushed by team principal Jean Todt to technical director Ross Brawn on the final lap. The drivers' radio was not broadcast, but a clear message to swap positions was delivered.

Entering the final straight before crossing the finish line, Barrichello suddenly slowed. It allowed Schumacher to claim the victory and score the full 10 points. It resulted in outrage.

FIA slam Ferrari

It was a huge embarrassment for Ferrari, with deafening boos having been heard as both Scuderia drivers jumped out of their cars. The disgust at the Italian outfit's decision quickly started to circulate. 

"This was a very wrong choice," former driver Gerhard Berger said after the race. "Poor Rubens has very few chances to really fight with Michael and today he was simply better. I don't understand this choice at all." 

Renault team principal Flavio Briatore called it "a huge shame," whilst two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi argued that Barrichello should never have given up the win. Barrichello himself made it clear after the race that he had no choice but to relinquish the win. 

"What should I have done?" questioned Barrichello. "I have in my contract that I have to follow team orders. If I don't listen now... I am just starting a new contract period. 

"People ask me why I don't go to a team that does respect me, and it's simple: such a team can give me a winning car." Years later, Barrichello hinted that the team threatened something "that made me rethink my whole life."

Remarkably, Schumacher was one of the most upset individuals by the situation, and refused to stand on top of the podium. He pushed his team-mate to the top spot and handed him the winner's trophy.

In the post-race press conference, the German stressed that Barrichello was the real winner and revealed he was trying to still finish behind him. Given Schumacher won the title by 67 points, the Ferrari team orders were never needed to secure the title.

The FIA also spoke out against Ferrari's actions after the race, and stated: "It is not acceptable that there is an agreement that gets in the way of a race and cannot be accounted for by a team."

For the following season until 2010, team orders were banned by the FIA until another rule change was required, once again due to a Ferrari incident. Later in the 2002 season, Schumacher slowed in the United States to hand Barrichello victory.