Jean Todt, Ferrari Team Manager, has dismissed claims that fans loyal to the marque and Grand Prix enthusiasts in general will have turned away from the sport after his squad’s team order display in Austria.

Many followers have said they will not be watching the sport this weekend in Monaco while others have given up on Ferrari, having been put off by the staged finish.

But Todt, in an interview with the French sports paper L’Equipe, said he thought the viewer rates, particularly for the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix, would be especially strong because of people’s fascination of what the team’s next move would be.

‘Some people claim they won't watch it any more, but I think the Monaco Grand Prix will have an exceptional audience this year,’ said the 56-year-old.

‘The public will want to know what Ferrari are going to do now, to find out what happens next in the story.’

Todt said he had been surprised at the anger expressed by some of the public against Ferrari and its decisions.

‘I think it was disproportionate to the problem but in some ways I should be pleased,’ he stated.

‘At the end of the day, our current problem is to explain our team strategy when our drivers are in a position to finish first and second. We could be in a far more difficult position. A lot of teams would doubtless love to have such concerns at the moment.

‘I know that the public love us. They have been let down, they are angry. But anger is a part of life. Do sailors stop loving the sea because of the storms?’