Aug.23 (GMM) Ferrari is reportedly prepared to launch civil action against the FIA if further sanctions are imposed by the World Motor Sport Council next month.

The governing body's long-time former president Max Mosley said on Sunday that "both cars and both drivers" should lose their points after swapping places at the hand of alleged illegal team orders during July's German grand prix.

Italy's authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that if this happens, Ferrari is prepared to tackle the FIA in a civil court, in much the same way that Flavio Briatore successfully railed against his lifetime motor racing ban.

But for now, the Maranello based team is not commenting on the possible outcome of the September 8 hearing.

"In this sort of situation, the best policy is to respect and to trust in the highest level of the sport's governing body," said Ferrari.

La Gazzetta dello Sport said Ferrari's likely defence will be based on the fact that the alleged "team order" was in fact just an explanation of the situation to Massa by his race engineer Rob Smedley.

Ferrari will reportedly also argue that team orders should be permitted, so long as they do not impact the races of rival teams.

"Most teams are calling for the withdrawal of team orders, which I can understand, because it's in their interests," said Mosley on Sunday.

"But if we are to meet the needs of the public, who are in their millions, watching races all around the world and ultimately funding the sport, then we need to keep the ban," he told Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

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