De la Rosa urges F1 to turn page on team orders scandal

Pedro de la Rosa on Thursday urged formula one to "turn the page" after the team orders scandal.

Cameramen and media hounded both Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso in the Hungaroring paddock, mere days after they swapped positions for victory in Germany.

With a World Motor Sport Council inquiry now pending, the saga is still F1’s hottest topic, but de la Rosa - who drives for Ferrari-powered Sauber and is a Spaniard like Alonso - described it as "nonsense".

"We must turn the page and not discuss this nonsense anymore," he is quoted by EFE news agency.

De la Rosa, however, did not shy away from declaring that he thinks team orders have a place in formula one.

"We need to legalise it, because you cannot lie to the spectators; team orders have always existed and will always exist because this is a team sport," he said.

He said he would agree to move over for his teammate, Kamui Kobayashi, if the order "makes sense for the good of the team".

"I understand very well and I think the whole world does as well that this is a team sport. In the first race it would be absurd, but after the halfway point of the championship, team orders seem logical to me," insisted de la Rosa, 39.

But, after speaking with Rubens Barrichello this week, it is not clear if Massa is prepared to move over for a second time.

Asked on Thursday what he would do if he is leading and Alonso is second on Sunday, the Brazilian said: "I will win."