F1 chief Ecclestone warns Ferrari

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has warned Ferrari not to repeat the contrived race finish involving Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello at the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

"Ferrari would be ill advised to do such a thing in the future," Ecclestone told British newspapers on Friday, referring to the way the Italian team forced Brazilian Barrichello to hand victory to his German colleague just yards from the line.

"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.

"The only time I would condone it would be if the world championship hung on it. But Michael is 27 points clear," said Ecclestone.

"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.

"I am sure that had they (Ferrari) known what the reaction from the fans was going to be, they wouldn't have let it happen."

Barrichello was seventh fastest and Schumacher 11th in Thursday's free practice session ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

Italian Jarno Trulli led the way in his Renault closely pursued by British pair Allan McNish (Toyota) and David Coulthard (McLaren).