Boss tempers Ferrari outbursts after Valencia scandal

Stefano Domenicali has moved to temper Ferrari’s Latin outbursts in the wake of the European grand prix.

After the Valencia race, Fernando Alonso accused FIA stewards of "manipulating" the outcome, while Ferrari’s official website called Lewis Hamilton’s mild penalty for overtaking the safety car "a scandal".

Regarding the "scandal" report, team boss Domenicali said the writer was only expressing the views of the fans.

For instance, Ferrari linked the Hamilton incident with a marshal having to run onto the circuit to recover a glass bottle.

"The attitude of the public is understandable. They were disgusted by the injustices that were happening," said Alonso.

But Domenicali also excused Alonso’s outspoken attitude as the result of being "in a hot moment".

"For sure Fernando was the man that was ruined by the situation," the Italian is quoted by AFP news agency.

Ferrari’s website writer continued his tirade on Monday morning, repeating the La Gazzetta dello Sport headline "Scandal Hamilton, Ferrari deceived", and revealing that Spanish sports daily Marca believes F1 must "oppose Hamilton’s favourable treatment".

But some sections of the international press are unimpressed with Ferrari’s attitude; Daily Mail writer Jonathan McEvoy said it "smacks of arrogance and desperation".

"They are the grandest team in the sport, but they are just one of the players. Not the referee. Perhaps if the season had gone their way, they might be more sanguine."