Jul.2 (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 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," 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."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version