Ribery then smashed home a stunning free-kick goal in the 64th minute and went some way to dispelrumors of a falling-out with Van Gaal by racing to celebrate with the Dutchman.
Whitmarsh revealed that most of the teams had signed individual contracts, but he warned that a new Concorde deal was needed to tie in motorsport's ruling body the FIA and dispelrumors of a breakaway competition.