There’s a Court, are Kangaroos in Paris?
We’re less than a day from the time when the WMSC of the FIA, motor sport’s governing body (don’t tell Brain France that!), reconvenes in Paris. McLaren’s bosses and its drivers are waiting nervously to hear the results of a hearing that will deliberate on new evidence and render a new verdict.
The new verdict could mean this FIAsco will result in McLaren being excluded from the current championship and possibly next years as well. Or it could mean the population of the world’s Tifosi is cut significantly as some members are found swinging from ropes, bed sheets and hastily tied together Prancing Horse Banners.
I have a solution to this mess, a compromise, as in all compromises it would result in pissing off both sides to some extent.
With the WMSC Kangaroo court reconvening there’s little doubt that have some kinda something on McLaren, something beyond manufactured emails at least.
With a verdict that’s sure to go in Ferrari’s favor, at least by my estimate, and with an eye at maintaining some semblance of a 2007 season McLaren should be excluded from the constructor’s championship.
That would sooth savage Prancing Horses as they would be left to compete uncontested. There would still be a few Tifosi swinging in the breeze but remember this is a compromise everyone has to share in the pain.
It would also leave one of the closest Drivers title fights in a decade or more as is, to be settled on the track as it should be.
I would be the first to agree this idea swings in favor of McLaren as they are 1-2 in the drivers championship with Ferrari’s Kimi in third 18 markers behind leader Hamilton. there are more than enough points on offer and with a little bad luck befalling the Woking crew Kimi could be in the thick of things come Sao Paulo.
What’s the alternative?
Rolling into Spa-Francorchamps first practice in less than twenty hours without McLaren leaving Ferrari with the real possibility of winning the final four events and romping away with a tainted championship?
No matter what the outcome in Paris this years championship is tainted, at this point it’s just a matter of scale how bad it will smell. It’s best for the sport to limit the smell to this year and not drag the stink into 2008 with a McLaren suspension.
Besides, even after a single episode I feel sure most people have already witnessed all the Ron Dennis Crying Game we can stand.
No Mas!
UPDATE: I’m a frickin’ genus! With the exception on the hundred mil fine I pretty much called it. I’m gettin’ me a job as a sideshow fortune teller!
Ferrari is happy, allegedly, although I don’t really believe it. “Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged,” the Italian team said in a statement. And the drivers from both Ferrari and McLaren go unscathed and can continue to compete.
Just think, that’s $50 mil each Bernie and Mad Max can split. Bernie’s share can serve as a down payment on the football club he wants to purchase.
FIA, F1, Foumula One, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
Let’s wait until Thursday, hopefully the whole story will come out
If there is no new evidence against MM I’m for closing the matter. However, if others at MM knew about Coughlan & failed to tell management - who should have told Ferrari & the FIA - then MM are in trouble. That whole thing about blocking the firewall to prevent Stepney sending communications was never resolved as true or false to my knowledge.
If it turns out MM have not been totally honest I say throw the book at them. Further if Ron starts pulling out dossiers of dirt on others then shoot him. If he has transgressions in his files, why bring them out now? Apart from two wrongs don’t make a right.
As for the PDLR/FA emails, won’t the FIA look stupid if they were all heresay.
F**K IT!!!! Line the whole F1 paddock up, throw in the stewards, The FIA, Max, Bernie, Charlie, etc & do a public denunciation Mao style, with a humiliating parade. A F1 Cultural Revolution, dunces hats all round…….maybe a public stoning or two.
The boys at the WMSC must have rolled and smoked their undies to come up with a 100 million dollar fine. That means McLaren will have no choice but to appeal, then the WMSC will exclude them for 2008 as well.
Max loves it when a plan comes together!
I’ve read a couple of stories saying the fine will actually amount to about $30-35 million.
The “new figure” is based on some kinda financial presto-chango that I fail to remember.
I’m thinkin’ they should display a new logo on the McLarens at Spa: “Will race for donations.”
The difference in the penalty is based on McLaren losing their earnings for this year from the FOM, based on their constructor’s points loss. Either way it’s still a 100 mill hit.
Guess what? They don’t have to appeal to be banned in ‘08. They only have to have forensic Ferrari specs on the ‘08 car …which would be fairly deep in the developement phase at this late date because the FIA wants to look at that too. The thing about the FIA is while in one decision, they can impose a penalty without tangible proof that another team’s technology has been used for advantage (and there is a debateable F1 term for you…advantage) they can also choose not to impose a penalty because there is no tangible proof that etc…
Capricious, non?
Word up is they aren’t appealing and considering how deep and ugly this could go and get and how desparate everyone is to move on, I’d say they’re wise.
Interesting how the Hungary points appeal was tied to a separate issue,(qualifying at Hungary) and not a whisper. Not even if McLaren dropped the appeal … or was it never actually filed?
verasaki the forensics have been on my mind from the first hearing in Paris.
Never have they hinted at a complete tear-down of a McLaren to see is any Ferrari tech was used.
I don’t think you’ll ever see it, all concerned want to put it as far behind them as possible.