Schumacher ‘not pleased’ after big race farce

Michael Schumacher claimed he was ‘‘not very pleased’’ with Ferrari’s decision to order Rubens Barrichello to move over and allow the German to score a farcical victory in Austria today.

‘‘It was a team decision,’’ Schumacher said. ‘‘I was not very pleased - no-one is - but we have to look at the team ambitions.

‘‘We have to secure the championship. I want to thank Rubens. This gesture shows the sort of work we are doing together and the belief we have in each other.

‘‘It is not natural to do this. I am thankful for the points but I do not take a lot of joy from the decision.’’

The German’s lucky triumph ended his search for a victory on the A1-Ring at Zeltweg the only track on the current calendar where he had never won to extend his lead in the championship to 27 points.

But the victory by 0.1 second after Barrichello had been forced to submit to his team-mate in Austria for the second year in a row will again do nothing for the image of the sport.

Schumacher added: ‘‘At the end of the day the decision comes from Ferrari. Believe me the team is investing a lot of money for a target, Imagine if we failed by just these points. How stupid would we look.’’