India Grand Prix: Ferrari court controversy with Navy sticker as Indian government refuses to release marines However, it could be interpreted as political, especially given the comments of Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and Italy's foreign minister Giulio Terzi. Speaking to Italian network SKY Tg24, Di Montezemolo said: "It is the contribution that Ferrari can make to this story." Terzi added: "It shows the support of the whole country for our sailors." The gesture has resulted in condemnation from Indian officials, with Syed Akbaruddin, the official spokesperson in the ministry of external affairs, quoted as saying Ferrari is "using sporting events to promote a cause which is not of a sporting nature and is not in keeping with the spirit of sports." Article one of the FIA statutes states "the FIA shall refrain from manifesting racial, political or religious discrimination in the course of its activities and from taking any action in this respect." In this instance, the FIA refers not only to motorsport's governing body, but all participants and officials governed by them. When grilled on the matter during today's FIA press conference, team principal Stefano Domenicali refused to comment, referring his questioners to Ferrari's press office. A Ferrari spokesman said: "First of all, we just wanted to pay tribute to all the Italian navy which is one of the excellences of Italy, and it's just a sign of hope that a solution can be found about the case that involves two Italian sailors. Something which has to be clear is we don't want to say anything in one sense or another. We have utmost respect for the Indian authorities. We just hope a solution can be found as soon as possible. The FIA, meanwhile, are understood to be looking into the matter to see whether any action need be taken. The last instance of a political statement being made followed the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix when the winner's trophy was presented by Mehmet Ali Talat. Talat was described as the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state only recognised by Turkey. As Talat was a last-minute appointment and with the FIA unable to verify the meaning behind his status, it resulted in the Turkish GP organisers being fined $5 million (£3.1m), a figure later reduced by half on appeal.