Formula One commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone admitted Ferrari’s team order display in Austria “wasn’t good” for Formula One, and that it “cheated” fans.

And the 71-year-old, silent on the issue until quizzed about it at the Monaco Grand Prix this week, said he did not want Ferrari to do it again unless the chips were down in the battle for the Championship.

‘Ferrari would be ill advised to do such a thing in the future,’ he told the UK tabloid, “The Sun”.

‘The only time I would condone it would be if the world championship hung on it. But Michael is 27 points clear. It was the way they did it that upset me.

‘They could have performed it more elegantly or disguised it, but the way they carried it out insulted people. I am not surprised by the reaction. What happened wasn't good for Formula One but I don't see why the sport should be punished by an incident from one team. If they were to repeat it, that would not go down well with the fans; nor me.

‘So many people want to see someone beat Schumacher but in Austria they were cheated out of that.’