F1 2007 Season

[rafe005]

Well whatever happens in the courts I must say it has been a dismal week for british sports all round. But then I did enjoy the Weston Beach Race yesterday so the weekend wasnt a total loss

[dpat]

Congrats (at the moment ) to Kimi and Ferrari - he at least kept his head down, worked hard and got himself into a position to win the WC. After missing out on two with McLaren he does deserve this one.


Shame for LH, but surely his time will come, he can't be a one hit wonder ala JV

As for the fuel issue, the precedent is there that only the constructors points are deducted but after what has gone on this year it is no surprise that McLaren are appealing.

[Paul Dennis]

From the ITV F1 web site (http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41154)

"FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer said fuel samples taken from the two teams’ cars during their pit stops in Sunday’s race revealed temperatures outside the permitted range.

But in a statement issued more than six hours after the end of the race, the stewards said there was sufficient doubt about the fuel temperatures “as to render it inappropriate to impose a penalty”."

If this is the case then McLaren have little chance of an appeal succeeding. Excluding BMW and Williams on poor qulaity data wouldn't stand up in any court or arbitration panel.

McLaren may feel hard done by, but have also had instances this season (failure to crash test a gear box, use of two sets of wet weather tyres, alleged inconsistent and dangerous driving behind a safety car etc.) where either no punishment has ensued, or a fine imposed. I don't think they can complain, though I understand their reasons for doing so.

It's Kimi Raikkonen World Champion. The man stood aside from all the media hype, all the politics and just did his job of driving brilliantly throughout the latter half of the season. That he is not a media darling is to his credit as far as I'm concerned.

[Paul Dennis]

Just been reading into this further (http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41157)

1 "After Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix the stewards analysed fuel samples taken from the Williams and BMW cars during their pit stops, which appeared to show temperatures outside the permitted range."

How do you assess temperature during refuelling by testing temperature of samples after the race....complete nonsense!

2. "Article 6.5.5 of the Formula 1 technical regulations states: “No fuel on board the car may be more than 10 degrees centigrade below ambient temperature.”

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer reported that the fuel samples from all four cars showed temperatures 12-14C lower than the ambient at the time.

But the stewards said they could not be certain the temperatures were outside the 10C limit due to conflicting evidence.

They pointed to a discrepancy between the ambient temperature recorded on the Formula One Management timing monitors and that provided by the FIA and team-contracted meteorologists Meteo France – and said there was no “regulation stating in clear terms that for the purposes of Article 6.5.5 the definitive ambient temperature shall be indicated on the FOM timing monitors alone”.

They also said they lacked “a precise reading of the temperature of ‘fuel on board the car’ which shows fuel at more than 10 degrees centigrade below ambient temperature”."

There are so many inconsitencies here, not least the lack of a definition of what is considered to be ambient air temperature that any lawyer would have a field day in court. I don't think McLaren have any hope of winning this one. I suspect they are just feeling very agrieved and shell shocked at the moment.

McLaren have to look very closely at themselves. They have been a team riven by internal politics, machinations over the spying scandal which poses questions about the internal management in the team, and ultimately, they made very bad tactical decisions in China and Brazil. None of this is to denigrate Kimi Raikkonen's and Ferrari's achievement. They focussed on the job at hand and performed magnificently. One could say that it was their improvement throughout the season that placed the ultimate pressure on McLaren and Hamilton that caused them to crack. Isn't that what sport is about?

[Mel Bonkers]

Originally Posted by dpat

As for the fuel issue, the precedent is there that only the constructors points are deducted but after what has gone on this year it is no surprise that McLaren are appealing.

Looks like this precedent will bring McLaren to -8 points in the constructors championship then

If I was Ronny Dennis I'd call it a season, fire the Spanish spying (b)rat and allow myself a good 4 weeks holiday just to charge the batteries for 2008

[AlfaJack]

Well done to Kimi and Ferrari (closest thing to an Alfa after all), overdue and well deserved.

I was always gunning for Hamilton, but seeing Kimi get the title over Alonso was good consolation.

Hamilton has proved himself enough this year - bound to make some mistakes in the first year - but truely the bloke is a star! Need to get Button in that other car but I think he is committed to Honda already

[andyroo75]

If I was Hamiilton it isn't a way i would like to win the championship.
I.e. not on your own merit. If you have to win via the fate of other drivers then you shouldn't really deserve it. Kimi went out and did what he needed to do and deserved it. Hamilton and Mclaren weren't quite there yesterday. The result should stand. It will also drive Mclaren/Hamilton on for next season.
Also glad Kimi beat Alonso to it as well

[MarkgQ4]

I think it worked out for the best,
it wouldnt have seemed right for a mclaren driver to have won after the team itself were removed from the championship...






but at times, i do wonder if its really a competitive championship or just a massive marketing machine wondering across the globe 8 months of the year...

[Gary Slegg]

Well, I think McLaren are right to appeal - Ferrari were happy to win the constructors cup in the courts, it would be ironic if they were to lose the drivers championship in the same way

[BigFoot]

Gary, if you think LH will win the title because the stewards couldn't verify the petrol temperature for BMW and Williams, I have only got one thing to say to you:


FUGGEDDABOUDIT!

[Paul Dennis]

Originally Posted by Gary Slegg

Well, I think McLaren are right to appeal - Ferrari were happy to win the constructors cup in the courts, it would be ironic if they were to lose the drivers championship in the same way

Ferrari may have won the Constructors Cup in the courts but didn't need to. By my reckoning Ferrari scored 204 points in the constructors championship and McLaren 203 (218 minus the 15 docked for the shenanigans in Hungary). Ferrari win the cup by one point!

As I've said before an appeal doesn't have any hope of success and Mclaren are looking for a fig leaf to cover their tactical ineptness over the last two races of the season.

[Mel Bonkers]

Originally Posted by BigFoot

FUGGEDDABOUDIT!

I actually had to spell that with an Italian accent to understand that

[Kevin Slegg]

Originally Posted by Mel Bonkers

I actually had to spell that with an Italian accent to understand that

Errhhh an explanation might be handy

[73GTVJim]

Congratulations to Kimi. I hope there isn't an appeal against the fuel temps but I acknowledge the earlier comments that McLaren may just be reminding the FIA that they need to be more consistent.

No comments about Ferrari's illegal floor device helping them win the first race, being then removed but keeping both driver and constructor points I see.

A good season for Hamilton, lost it in China IMHO through not demanding they changed tyres earlier.

Magnificent strategy by Ferrari off the line in Brazil worked even better than they hoped and showing that LH is not quite the cool-headed mature driver previously thought.

Final point, had the gearbox problem been manifested in Alonso's car I'm sure he and his friend at the Spanish MSA would be screaming their little heads off.

Roll on 2008 and let's hope for clean racing and no mud-slinging.

[HSTDriver]

Originally Posted by Gary Slegg

Well no, if a car is found to be outside the regulations then the car and driver are disqualified - its only fair

Lets take Kimi's australia points off him then

[eltigro]

Originally Posted by 73GTVJim

Congratulations to Kimi. I hope there isn't an appeal against the fuel temps but I acknowledge the earlier comments that McLaren may just be reminding the FIA that they need to be more consistent.

No comments about Ferrari's illegal floor device helping them win the first race, being then removed but keeping both driver and constructor points I see.

A good season for Hamilton, lost it in China IMHO through not demanding they changed tyres earlier.

Magnificent strategy by Ferrari off the line in Brazil worked even better than they hoped and showing that LH is not quite the cool-headed mature driver previously thought.

Final point, had the gearbox problem been manifested in Alonso's car I'm sure he and his friend at the Spanish MSA would be screaming their little heads off.

Roll on 2008 and let's hope for clean racing and no mud-slinging.

The Ferrari floor wasnt illegal for the OZ race, it passed all FIA inspections. it was the fact that Mclaren has inside info that it flexed more whilst at speed. the FIA then increased the required load test and changed the ruling. Which resulted in ferrari having to revise the part for the subsequent races.

Ferrari were able to find a loophole in the original rules, like they always do, Ferrari done nothing illegal, which is why they kept the OZ points.

ET

[Gary Slegg]

Originally Posted by HSTDriver

Lets take Kimi's australia points off him then

That sounds like a good idea to me

[jamieboy]

Don't know if there's any truth in this, but it suggests Lewis was responsible for his Brazil problems:

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=33292

[Kevin Slegg]

Alonso queries McLarens Appeal

BBC

[Dirk]

Can't this season just end....would love no dramas in 2008

[dpat]

More on the appeal here:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63591

[73GTVJim]

Originally Posted by ElTigro_UK

The Ferrari floor wasnt illegal for the OZ race, it passed all FIA inspections. Which resulted in ferrari having to revise the part for the subsequent races.

ET

I don't know about that for sure. I was reminded of it by Damon Hill referring to it as being illegal on the radio today.

It may have passed inspections because it's true nature was well hidden. The later commotion obviously came about because they knew that the illegal item could only have been discovered if soemone "knew" about it? I also understand it wasn't revised but had to be completely removed causing a redesign of the floor.

Whatever....its history now and Ferrari have won both championships fair and square ( ). Let's forgoet about the what might have beens and what should have beens and look ahead to next year.

Still no confirmation of Alonso moving to Renault, or better still Spyker?

[Gary Slegg]

Originally Posted by Kevin Slegg

Alonso queries McLarens Appeal

BBC

That just proves (if proof were needed) that he's a tw@t

[AlfaLincs]

Oh Bigfoot, how deluded you are when you say

"Tiniest mistake? You mean stealing 780 pages worth of Ferrari designs?"

The bloke who stole it was a FERRARI employee..I'l repeat that for you.... a FERRARI employee.(Clue..his first name is Nigel) remember now? I know its a long time ago.

AlfaLincs

[selespeed]

Originally Posted by Gary Slegg

Well, I think McLaren are right to appeal - Ferrari were happy to win the constructors cup in the courts, it would be ironic if they were to lose the drivers championship in the same way

If and I say if BMW Sauber and Williams should be punished, it should been done the same way as McLaren was punished in Hungary for their illegal gearbox i.e. no points for the constructor championship and the drivers can keep their points.