Podium breach to cost Turkey F1 place?

Just as the FIA was unveiling a trimmed 17-race schedule for the 2007 Formula One world championship, one if its constituent races was being cast into doubt by a piece of political manoeuvring.

Although Istanbul Park rates highly among the drivers, and provided incident aplenty in both the F1 and GP2 races at the weekend, it could be struck from the calendar - incidentally giving Imola, amongst others, a reprieve - should the governing body take its typically dim view of the podium ceremony being breached.

"The FIA has launched a full investigation into the podium presentation at the Turkish Grand Prix and is concerned that its political neutrality may have been compromised," an FIA statement confirmed.

Sunday's ceremony saw first-time race winner Felipe Massa handed his trophy by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who was represented as the 'president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' by the accompanying television caption. Cyprus is currently divided into Greek and Turkish sectors, with the northern half having been invaded by the Turkish army in 1974. Turkey, however, has no claim to control over the country, as the Greek-Cypriot south forms the government recognised by the rest of the world.

"The government will protest these theatrics organised by Ankara, casting Talat as the leading actor," Cypriot government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis insisted to Reuters, "They deceived the FIA and tried to exploit for political purposes a purely sporting event, through provocative manoeuvres and absurd propaganda methods."

The FIA revealed that the identities of the podium party had been delayed, leaving it with little time to clarify captions, but insisted political neutrality remained intrinsic to the ceremony.

"Political neutrality is fundamental to the FIA's role as the governing body of international motorsport," its statement continued, "No compromise or violation of this neutrality is acceptable."

Should the governing body follow the policy it took after similar breaches in seasons past, Turkey could find itself banished to the F1 wilderness for the incident, robbing the sport of one of its more charismatic venues, and opening the calendar up to hopefuls past and future.