$100m fine ......... and no constructors points ....+ next years car to be independently scrutinised.


That's the verdict in the McLaren spy case.

They are expected to appeal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6991147.stm

Firstly I do not think McLaren have done anything wrong.

So, having now seen the news, there is so much that does not add up.
The team have lost all points but not the drivers, who whether they knew or not have competed in a potentially "illegal" car (illegal as to stolen technology). Why have the drivers escaped. Any victory will be pointless and hollow if they win in a car that has been designed with Ferrari technology or to counter Ferrari technology. Simple answer to that. A new fresh face in F1 that has taken all by storm, who has attracted sponsors, fans and viewers. There is no point in the drivers retaining their points if the team and the drivers are part of the team are docked theirs, but then we would not have an drivers championship this year.

$100 million fine. In the history of F1 the largest fine was about $5 million. How do they work out a nice round figure of $100 million? Why three years ago when Ferrari employees where caught selling Ferrari technology to Toyota and the FIA did nothing? This is a political move by FAI and Mosley to destroy a large thorn in the FIA's side, namely Ron Dennis, the man that almost organized a break away from F1- After all it is well know what Max Mosely thinks of McLaren and Ron Dennis. A sad day for F1.

Still I imagine that all the washing is not yet on the line in this story.
Another question, is this the end of McLaren F1. $100 million fine, no constructors money this year or next year, potential loss of sponsors, or if not that, a lot less money to spend on development. 1000 + employees to pay. That sort of money would send most companies down the pan.

Matt

Craig. wrote on Sep 13^th, 2007 at 3:23pm:



I think you are right about most things, but if Mercedes stay with McLaren, I think Hamilton will stay too. He is not daft and regardless of the whole saga McLarens car is the better "tool" for him at this time and suits him. Kimi is an example of how hard it is to jump from one car to another today. Michael Schumacher after all never had that problem as he was part of the design of the car.

As for RD knowing, we have to agree to disagree. He may be a lot of things to a lot of people, but a cheat, no I don't think so, he has been at this too long. This comes down to two disgruntled employees who thought that they could make a little on the side because they where not happy with what they had. One was a McLaren employee, McLaren have to have some responsibility, but a $100 million responsibility very OTT. I think that this verdict was pay back time to some extent. At the end of the day, two greedy p#ssed of people have just crashed F1 2007. The constructor championship and the drivers championship are both now totally meaningless. It is a shame, because if Hamilton wins in his rookie year, it will be tainted regardless of what is said.
As for the Renault remarks, F1 is tighter than Portuguese police lips during an investigation. Did he really say that or did the press as usual hear what they wanted to hear whilst looking for a good angle to add.

Matt

Craig. wrote on Sep 13^th, 2007 at 4:51pm:



I stand corrected on the Renault part, I have since my last post read a bit more on the various websites. As for the drivers, I would love to have been a fly on Bernie's lapel. At the end of the day, he (I say loosely) owns F1 and has a vested interest that his product remains bright and shiny. I be there where some very interesting conversations taking place.
Also I know you said "lied" and I said "cheated", but with a sport like F1 and what it involves, the line becomes very blurred as we have seem many times over the last few years.
McLaren are fools to themselves. RD had been in this long enough to know the penalty, I think that they have been caught short by the punishment that they got. If RD had fired the guy who had the doc's right away and called JT and said come and pick your folder up, nothing would have happened. Much the same way that Toyota delt with the same thing.


As for this weekend. What do you think, will they be feeling the pressure or be pumped up?

Matt

Regardless of who wins the championship they will be associated with the car they won in.
I can remember EVERY car EVERY champion won in, purely by association. Senna/Prost McLaren, Mansell Williams, Schumi Bennetton/Ferrari etc.
The only penalty to McLaren is financial and over time they'll recoup that tenfold if FA or LH wins this year, which is likely.

What I'm saying is that history is history.. the whole car/driver package is what I remember not just the driver. When somebody mentions Damon Hill I don't visualise a greying George Harrison lookalike, I visualise his Rothmans Williams, likewise Senna and the Marlboro McLaren. Shallow maybe, but that's how I see it.
Of course McLaren will be tainted, even if they don't win the drivers championship.. but if they do whoever wins it will be remembered in that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes because that's what they won in. Simple.

Quote:


Very good point. Also next year, when the Constructors Championship is up and running and if McLaren are in what would be first position, they will be listed as such on every website and newspaper as probably two listings. What is the official word and a corrected listing for what would/should have been. TV of course is Bernie's department. We will have to see just how far the presenters are able to go.

Matt

Ferrari won't be happy until they are the world championship. They'd be happy racing against 20 Spykers...