The FIA, Ferrari, And Formula One.
Written by George Katinger · May 28, 2007
The FIA, international sanctioning body for all organized motorsport, made this announcement:
“The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code.
“The relevant evidence is under review and a further announcement will be made in due course.”
Let this years F1 inquisition begin!
Speedtv.com: F1: McLaren Under Investigation for Alleged Team Orders
Speedtv.com: F1: Hamilton: “I Expect to Be The No.2 Driver”
F1.gpupdate.net: Dennis: We decided Alonso would win
Crash.net: Hamilton curious about pit-stop timing.
Let’s see, last year it was Renault leading the dual championships when all of a sudden, their unique mass damping system comes under scrutiny and is declared illegal. That action allows Ferrari to close within striking distance of both titles. Not to mention the god-awful qualifying protest by Ferrari resulting in the demotion of Fernando Alonso, also last year. All of these actions, and a long history of prior FIA actions leaning towards Ferrari, leaves me suspicious of what’s about to come.
And what’s coming down the road is the FIA’s investigation into alleged “team orders” due to the results of the Monaco GP, not to mention some of the brilliant comments issued by my favorite team owner, Ron Dennis. From planet-f1.com:
Nevertheless, a suitably-euphoric Dennis was adamant that his team still had plenty of pace in reserve and claimed that he had ordered both of his drivers to slow
“We were cruising from lap ten. It was an effortless race,” the Woking boss boasted. “Tremendous discipline from both drivers. I don’t know what our true pace was but it was a lot quicker than we went.
“From the first round of stops it was very apparent that either driver could have pushed harder. It was frustrating for the drivers but we have to function as a team. Slowing down was difficult…but that’s my job.”
And the comments and hints dropped by rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton won’t do much to dampen smoldering suspicious minds.
“There weren’t necessarily any team orders, they don’t say that I had to stay behind Fernando…,” he said, “The goal of the team is to score as many points as possible and we want to pull away from the Ferraris, and the only way we can do that is to finish in first and second - or ahead of them.
“I’ve got number two on my car, I am the number two driver, it is something I have to live with. .” he noted, “At the end of the day, I am a rookie. I am in my first season in Formula One and I have finished second in only my first Monaco Grand Prix, so I really can’t complain, but to see that I am of a similar pace to Fernando is a positive for me.”
This entire “investigation” will hinge on the difference between team strategy and team orders, and how they are interpreted. When a team mandates a driver to pull over to allow a pass by a teammate, that is a team order detrimental to the sport. When a team’s cars are demonstrably quicker than the opposition and drivers are directed to slow down, that is team strategy. Especially when engines have to last two races, saving the engine becomes important. The decisions on fuel loads and pit stops are strategy. Changing those decisions during the race is strategy.
Some stories I’ve read indicate the British press are fuming over McLaren’s perceived favoritism of Fernando Alonso over rookie Lewis Hamilton; the implications are young Lewis would have won a race this year otherwise. Regardless of the yellow trades perceptions F1 teams are still allowed to make strategic decisions based on their driver’s chances of winning races and gaining points. If Hamilton gained pole, had he not been held up in Q3, the strategy may have been totally different.
In my humble opinion this is much ado about nothing, but it will give the FIA an opportunity to gift Ferrari 18 points by disqualifying or demoting the two McLaren cars. And thus tighten up the sagging Ferrari bid for the constructor’s title, not to mention Massa’s driver’s title bid.
Chances of that happening are ridiculous you think? It’s happened before, let’s wait and see how this one is resolved.
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14 Responses to “The FIA, Ferrari, And Formula One.”
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What a laugh, good to see the FIA is as inconsistent as ever. Firstly, there reaches a point in any race where a team
I don’t think your tinfoil hat covers enough of your head, Peter. Let’s not forget the several seasons that the FIA kept changing the rules to try and slow the Ferrari to the detriment to the rest of the grid. It’s not Ferrari’s fault that they rolled with the punches better than everyone else.
I personally believe in team orders, so I don’t have a problem with McLaren telling their boys to slow down and conserve their engines. What I want to see is an investigation of their trick front wing. Ronnie-boy sure did cry foul last year when Ferrari’s top element flexed, but when it’s on his car he says it’s perfectly legal. Where’s the consistency of the FIA in that regard?
Face it, guys. The teams are going to jockey for position off the track as much as on the track. Protests will be made. Egos will be bruised. Someone will cry. All that will come of this is a declaration of the current rules from the FIA along with a stern warning about team orders.
Nice post tim, good points, however, you neglected to mention that the FIA & Ferrari are the root of all that is evil in F1….& the world. :-)
I think that I would as a competitor, be more concerned with the amount of wing deflection that is evident on the McLaren front end.
At high speed the upper element can be seen to dip a good 2 to 3 cm. That could be taking a lot of drag off the front end when the car needs the least amount of downforce and drag.
I am wondering if this is what the protest is all about.
As for the Woking boys not racing each other and Ron’s comments after the race.
I don’t think that they were on ‘cruise control’ after lap 10. Just looking at Lewis’s tires and the amount of paint that he managed to pick up ON THE SIDEWALLS!, I would have to say that he was pushing very hard right up to the last 15 laps or so. I think that Ron was more worried about Lewis doing a banzai move on Freddy and taking them both out. He is definitely a Racer, that Lewis.
The young Hamilton will win a race this year, and he may just take the championship, Monte Carlo just wasn’t going to be his. One thing about Lewis, you could tell that his eyes were full of the red mist during the race. Do we have another Senna / Prost battle heating up here?
No I don’t think so. Both drivers are thinking and acting better then Senna had been know to do in the same situation.
Like I said before though, It is shaping up to be a great year in F1!
Yes Vincent I too thought at one stage Lewis was getting quite lairy, Martin Brundle referred to it as a “win it or bin it mentality”, then he was told to settle down.
Regarding the front wing - & I’m only quoting what I have read - many teams have these upper elements running across & above the front wing, e.g. BMW & Renault. The difference is that the McLaren has a particularly droopy nose, so where the other teams wings come in from the endplates & meet at the nose, the McLaren runs over the top of that empty space. Veteran designer Gary Anderson (ex Jordan) writes in this weeks Autosport that he feels it is perfectly legal & just happens to look visually dramatic.
Unlike last year when Ferrari’s nose moved down under load & they were told to stop it after the first race, as it constituted moveable aero. Sorry tim, could not resist another broadside at Todt & the forces of evil. Thankfully that pleasant Scandinavian chap is now at Marenello at will set Ferrari on the straight & narrow. Cant have that Schui wandering around the pits, not good for those of us who wear tin foil hats.
If I’m not mistaken the “trick” front wing of McLaren has been examined and judged acceptable by the FIA tech weenies. Not taking a side, just presenting info.
What is coming at Canada is tougher inspection/testing of the rear wings. Who’s wing is in question (Red bull?) I’m not totally sure but there will be a dust up about it.
Remember, the tech weenies at the FIA deemed the Ferrari upper element acceptable last season until Ron Dennis made a protest.
No one has officially protested the McLaren upper element, yet. I predict that will happen if Ferrari doesn’t win in Canada and Indy.
My gut tells me the perfomance swing will be in Ferrari favour at Canada.I’m expecting a red podium.
Yes George, I believe Red Bull is the target of increased rear wing scrutiny.
It’s official, McLaren have been cleared! This was always a storm in a tea cup.
OK. You know I have to be the fly in the ointment. First off, I agree that McLaren did nothing wrong during the Monaco GP. However, does anyone else see the reasons the FIA gave as being overboard. Going so far as to take into account what fuel strategies were being employed by each driver?
Is this the FIA just trying to smooth the feelings of the angry Brits over this? Does it bother anyone that the same SPANISH steward that wanted Schumacher so heavily penalized last year claimed there was no wrong-doing on Mclaren’s part this year? Should I ask Peter how much tinfoil I should put on my head for proper mind control blocking? And finally, should I just shut up and look forward to the Canadian GP?
Well seeming as you asked, I recommend full coverage , just like a full face helmet. IMHO you don’t have enough foil on your head. Otherwise you would see the clear connection between the presence of Schumi/Todt on the pit wall & the FIA shenanigans. Jebus, Tim, it’s as obvious as when Bernie faked the moon landings for NASA, open your freaking eyes!
My God I know you live in Texas, how much evidence do you need? Walk you down to the book depository, it’s all there if you look, your problem is that you look at the forest instead of the black choppers hovering above it.
I wonder if boy Jacques will show his face at the Canadian GP…….NAH!!
All said, let them race and we shall see who is the better driver and which car performs. It is still a long way, one way or another Hamilton has the element of a great driver.
Thank you, Peter. I needed that.
Now… where’s that tinfoil wholesale outlet, I have the feeling I don’t have enough.