• European Grand Prix

Italian motorsport body backs Ferrari's Valencia outrage

Lewis Hamiltonhas caused outrage in Italy after he overtook the safety car © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso
• |
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Italy's motor racing sanctioning body has backed Ferrari's complaints about the outcome of the European Grand Prix.

Ferrari questioned the credibility of the sport after Lewis Hamilton overtook the safety car in Valencia but still managed to finish the race on the podium. The Italian team was also riled that penalties against nine drivers for speeding during the safety car period did not promote Fernando Alonso higher than just eighth place.

"The success of a sport is measured by its ability to be credible and above all understandable to the general public," said CSAI (Commissione Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana) president Angelo Sticchi Damiani. "What happened on Sunday ... damages the credibility of the category; I don't think anyone, whether in the grandstands or in front of televisions around the world understands what has happened.

"A driver who passed the safety car got on the podium, while others, taking advantage of the same situation, also had an advantage over their rivals. But others - those who respected the rules - were the victims. Perhaps some of the regulations about behaviour in Formula One must be investigated and evolved so that they do not create more uncertainty and confusion."

Italian reports also quoted Sticchi Damiani as saying CSAI's support of Ferrari is not "to be controversial, but to be constructive".

"We would like clarification about the penalties ... and on what criteria they were given," he added, suspecting that a "degree of subjectivity" was applied.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.