Formula 1 & Other Motor Racing

[Octopus of Odstock 2,105]

This being the same body that had Tyrrell thrown out of the 1984 Championship for having lead shot ballast in their cars and a dubious 'level of aromatic hydrocarbons' test in their water tanks. They were certainly not removed because they were the only team holding out against a rule change (remind me OOO, something to do with fuel tanks running Cosworth DFVs while everyone had gone Turbo I think) that required a unanimous vote. Uncle Ken Tyrrell never forgave them, and neither did Martin Brundle, who was deprived of a best-ever 2nd place finish (see if he doesn't at least mention that at the next race).

 

Yep, that's the gist of it. A little background to add to what Lawro said about Tyrrell.

 

Brundle won't say anything - he'll just continue the Lewis Hamilton love-fest ITV have all the time. He would've said something if Ferrari had won their argument & Felipe Massa now led the World Championship.

[Anubis the Jackal 77]

A little explanation may be needed here. Did they sniff the petrol themselves or outsource the work to a bunch of bored teenagers?

and a dubious 'level of aromatic hydrocarbons' test in their water tanks.

[M.Lawrenson 11]

A little explanation may be needed here. Did they sniff the petrol themselves or outsource the work to a bunch of bored teenagers?

and a dubious 'level of aromatic hydrocarbons' test in their water tanks.

 

Aromatic hydrocarbons are carbon/hydrogen compounds that contain a benzene ring. When they tested the contents of the Tyrrells' water tanks, they found the water had a less than 1% content of the stuff. This fell foul of the rules about having 'auxilary fuel tanks', despite the fact that something that's over 99% water could not be used as fuel by a combustion engine. The reason why the hydrocarbons were there is because there were virtually no facilities at that particular GP, so Tyrrell got their water from the Detroit river...

[welshman 31]

This is quite good for the ghoulish amongst us

Formula 1 crashes

[Gunjaman5000 30]

McLaren fined. Bloody hell that's a lot of money. Will this be the death of 'em?

[Cowboy Ronnie 77]

McLaren fined. Bloody hell that's a lot of money. Will this be the death of 'em?

 

One hundred....million.....dollars.

 

Hilarious, they might as well have made it a kajillion.

[maryportfuncity 10,446]

Not the death at all, about 20% of their turnover but given the tonnage of cash turned over by their current backers it's a figure they can stand, if they choose to. More interesting to see what happens next. If - as seems likely - one of their two wins the title will Ferrari lodge a complaint on behalf of their highest placed driver? Will Mclaren face the banning penalty that could be imposed if there's evidence of Ferrari's 'intellectual property' in their next car? And - because of that possibility - will anyone make a big cash offer to Hamilton or Alonso for next year?

[Cowboy Ronnie 77]

It's a classic F1 cop-out/compromise. Even Ferrari realises that taking the points off Hamilton and Alonso would do the sport significant long-term harm, this way they get to win the constructors' title, and come across as the good guys for not winning the driver's title through the back door, which they'll be in the mix for next year anyway. The fine will be reduced to a more sensible amount on appeal, and everyone goes home happy enough.

[maryportfuncity 10,446]

The fine will be reduced to a more sensible amount on appeal, and everyone goes home happy enough.

 

Hmmm, debateable I'd say.

[To die for 3]

Although the fine is a scary amount of money, I think the points will be what McLaren will want to get back on appeal. If they don't try to get the points reinstated surely when one of their drivers wins the title it will still be considered to be unfair and not a "real" win. Which will be a shame if Hamilton gets it.

[M.Lawrenson 11]

$100 million fine and loss of constructors points, but no penalty for Hamilton and Alonso, despite them gaining all their wins and points in an 'illegal' car. Realpolitik at its finest. Don't want to damage 'Lewis', F1's latest cash cow. Nothing like the horrible premonitions of doom and gloom the massively pro-McLaren F1 media were predicting, though.

 

Grandprix.com has been unreachable since yesterday evening. Are you in contact with Joe Saward, OoO? Since he's one of Ron's biggest fans, has he shut down his website in disgust? Atlas F1 was down for a few hours yesterday - presumably to prevent their message boards from being overloaded.

[Octopus of Odstock 2,105]

Right, in order.

 

More interesting to see what happens next. If - as seems likely - one of their two wins the title will Ferrari lodge a complaint on behalf of their highest placed driver? Will Mclaren face the banning penalty that could be imposed if there's evidence of Ferrari's 'intellectual property' in their next car? And - because of that possibility - will anyone make a big cash offer to Hamilton or Alonso for next year?

 

No. Ferrari have felt justice was done already, as per their quotes to the media. Secondly, yes, but it would take gross stupidity for that to actually be the case. Thirdly, Hamilton will stay where he is. Alonso? May well go to Renault. I do think that de la Rosa, who, in the official report was castigated heavily for his role, will be pushed off to Prodrive and will no longer have any direct ties with McLaren.

 

 

It's a classic F1 cop-out/compromise. Even Ferrari realises that taking the points off Hamilton and Alonso would do the sport significant long-term harm, this way they get to win the constructors' title, and come across as the good guys for not winning the driver's title through the back door, which they'll be in the mix for next year anyway. The fine will be reduced to a more sensible amount on appeal, and everyone goes home happy enough.

 

Cowboy Ronnie is spot on. Got it in one, young man.

 

Grandprix.com has been unreachable since yesterday evening. Are you in contact with Joe Saward, OoO? Since he's one of Ron's biggest fans, has he shut down his website in disgust? Atlas F1 was down for a few hours yesterday - presumably to prevent their message boards from being overloaded.

 

Atlas F1 was down because they foolishly listened to a blog rumour & went with the story that McLaren had been excluded in 2007 & 2008. Web traffic shut down their site, especially as they didn't separate the forum & the main site's traffic. They have printed a grovelling apology this morning. Grand Prix.com is now back & running.

 

 

Might be worth putting Coughlan on the DL or DDP list. He's fat, stupid, prone to illness & now not only out of a job, but will never be employed in the industry again & may get jailed.

 

de la Rosa may also not get employment if teams decide he can't be trusted with data.

[M.Lawrenson 11]

Grandprix.com still doesn't work for me. Firefox has been churning for over a minute now...

[maryportfuncity 10,446]

Gripping three way fight for the title now, I'd say. Assuming Ferrari will let Massa ride shotgun for Kimi. Question is, will McLaren punish Alonso with inferior support and focus everything on the new wonder boy? Lewis wasn't really in the running for a podium after the first lap attempts today but he clearly has the ability to win the championship.

[To die for 3]

Gripping three way fight for the title now, I'd say. Assuming Ferrari will let Massa ride shotgun for Kimi. Question is, will McLaren punish Alonso with inferior support and focus everything on the new wonder boy? Lewis wasn't really in the running for a podium after the first lap attempts today but he clearly has the ability to win the championship.

Sorry, gripping? I don't think a McLaren 1-2 today would have done anything for 'spygate'. I'd guess they had decided in advance that it was better just to let Ferrari have the constructors with an emphatic win.

Ferrari would surely have to tell Massa to support Kimi!

[maryportfuncity 10,446]

Wouldn't have to tell him at all, just make his tyre choices for him, take their time in the pits during qualifying etc etc.

[To die for 3]

Wouldn't have to tell him at all, just make his tyre choices for him, take their time in the pits during qualifying etc etc.

Thanks Eddie

[Cowboy Ronnie 77]

The laws of sports karma suggest a Ferrari driver will win the title. But McLaren are surely candidates for BBC's Sports Team of the Year. Can we nominate Lewis Hamilton for a late season CPDP or DDP pick, killed by Fernando Alonso, or vice versa?

[Octopus of Odstock 2,105]

Now here's one to geniually keep an eye on;-

 

Sergey Zlobin, former F1 test-driver for Minardi, who survived an assassination attempt yesterday.

 

Zlobin was born 29 May 1970, so could be in for a bucketload of DDP points, as these Russian assassians can be quite persistent in their quest for death.

[maryportfuncity 10,446]

Good spot OoO; obviously he's no great racing talent. Was it money and connections that got him the F1 seat?

[Octopus of Odstock 2,105]

Good spot OoO; obviously he's no great racing talent. Was it money and connections that got him the F1 seat?

 

Certainment.

[themaninblack 2,112]

Now here's one to geniually keep an eye on;-

 

Sergey Zlobin, former F1 test-driver for Minardi, who survived an assassination attempt yesterday.

 

Zlobin was born 29 May 1970, so could be in for a bucketload of DDP points, as these Russian assassians can be quite persistent in their quest for death.

 

Has he been naughty?

[Octopus of Odstock 2,105]

Has he been naughty?

 

Certainment.

[Tuber Mirum 123]

Now here's one to geniually keep an eye on;-

 

Sergey Zlobin, former F1 test-driver for Minardi, who survived an assassination attempt yesterday.

 

Zlobin was born 29 May 1970, so could be in for a bucketload of DDP points, as these Russian assassians can be quite persistent in their quest for death.

Well at least that's one less SUV in the world.

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,662]

Looks like the title's as good as Hamilton's. It was all a bit reminiscent of Hunt v Lauda in Japan in 1976 - plucky Brit avoids the puddles to finish while main rival does not.

 

It's not every day you see a driver puke inside his helmet, either.