Haug no fan of team orders ban axe

Norbert Haug has admitted he is no fan of the return of legalised team orders in 2011.

Following last year’s controversy surrounding Ferrari’s actions at Hockenheim, the Jean Todt-led FIA decided to re-allow team orders from this season on the basis they are too hard to police.

"My personal opinion is that it is not correct," said Mercedes’ Haug when asked about the legalisation.

"I can well imagine how it can be controlled effectively without requiring that we resort to this," he told German media.

Haug said there are examples of acceptable deployments of team orders in recent history, such as Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen at Hockenheim in 2008.

"This is a difficult subject, as you have to act as a team, but within the context of sport and in respect to the audience, team orders should be avoided," he said.

"In the long period that I have been involved now in formula one, in our team it was rarely the case that a change of positions had to be made.

"We saw some spectacular battles last year between Nico and Michael, and that’s what makes sport and in my view it should be the case whenever possible," added Haug.