On the other hand, it isn't proven that Ferrari passed team orders.
It is assumed that this is what was meant by the mechanic passing the order, but since none of us know exactly what went on, all it is is an assumption.
There is, possibly, a perfectly rational explanation if we knew Massa's Fuel state and consumption. Namely that having sat in Massa's slipstream for the entire race, Alonso had the fuel to spare to engage maximum fuel consumption, push Massa and if Massa responded, run Massa out of fuel.
So what we have is the absolute opposite of team orders, which might have said that having led all the way it was Massa's right to win, that Alonso should have sat behind him even though overtaking opportunities came and went.
Why the heavy handed 'hint'? Quite simply because Massa's engineer might have been negotiating with Alonso's engineer but management said 'If he can overtake, fine....but make sure that Massa knows teh penalty for either hitting him (which had already happened to another team's 1-2) or running out of fuel himself".
The whole exaggerated slowdown for the next few laps was entirely to save up enough fuel so that Massa could do a couple of fast laps in order to register his annoyance at Alonso taking advantage of the situation.
Both situations seem equally plausible and given the planning ability, timing ability and quality of both drivers' support groups, it is well within technical bounds.
As a piece of 'negative' PR it was brilliant, the entire world thinks that Ferrari gave team orders, and Eddie Jordan's outrageous frothing was just icing on the cake.
The alternative? Alonso dropping back a bit, then driving up to the back of Massa, pulling out to overtake, then pulling back to make it obvious he wasn't being allowed to overtake.
Let's remember that several other teams were even more blatant in their team orders in the same race, advising drivers to stay where they were, behind another team driver and , oh yes, "save fuel".
And the fine? Not for any particular offence, but for being such prats (drivers and team) as to wash their dirty linen quite so publicly. Only there isn't a specific offence for that.
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