The FIA have rejected the official complaint made by the Australian Grand Prix organisers. The organisers didn't believe it was fair game that Coulthard let Hakkinen take the win.

The FIA stated: "Team orders specifying the finishing order of drivers within a team have existed in motor sport since the beginning of the century. It would therefore not be right to criticise or sanction McLaren Mercedes for what it did at Sunday's Grand Prix. However, the World Motor Council will be invited to decide at its meeting on March 18 whether this practice should now cease."