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May 23rd
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Team order debate postponed until Korea

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A report in the German media has confirmed that a planned discussion with F1 team bosses over the future of team orders in the sport was postponed at last weekend's Singapore GP, and is now set to take place at the Korean race next month.

The story in the Auto Moto und Sport publication confirms that FIA official Charlie Whiting had planned to have the discussion during the Singapore weekend, but the discussion will now happen during the inaugural Korean race in late October.

"We have postponed until Korea," Whiting was quoted as confirming in the article.

The need to debate the future of team orders in the sport flared up after the Ordergate incident at the German Grand Prix.

Ferrari were seen to use ostensibly banned team orders to get Fernando Alonso ahead of Felipe Massa in the race, with Alonso going on to win the event.

Team orders have been banned in Formula One sice the start of 2003, in the wake of the furious reaction to Ferrari's decision to switch their drivers in sight of the chequered flag at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.

A World Motor Sport Council hearing into the race ended with no punishment being issued to Ferrari, beyond the $100,000 fine issued at the time, due to the inconsistent way the rule had been applied in the past.

The hearing also saw the team order 'ban' referred to the Sporting Working Group for evaluation, with the likelihood being that the unenforceable ban will be dropped for the future.

FIA president Jean Todt has recently been quoted as calling for a "healthy and transparent" look at the place of team orders in the sport.

The report also suggested that the Korea meeting will also debate changes to the safety car rules, after a caution period at the Singapore race saw lapped backmarkers ending up stuck in the middle of the queue of cars.