The FIA have decided to skirt around the fact that are blatantly wrong by stating that McLaren Mercedes' appeal was "inadmissible" and should never have been appealed.
So why not tell Mclaren Mercedes this, with a simple e-mail? This would have cost nothing, but no. The FIA set an appeal date, spent 22 hours deciding whether to allow McLaren to appeal and, in the end, just said "no."
I am outraged at the FIA. First there were lies about Scott Andrews. If you hadn't heard, the FIA sent a letter to all concerned with the appeal that Andrews admitted to making a mistake in Fuji last year, and that he should never have penalized Tonio Liuzzi for overtaking under yellow flags, and therefore justifying Toro Rosso's right to appeal.
- B/R Ticket Guide
However, Andrews has reportedly said "I have seen the e-mail and I'm extremely surprised by its content. In short, its grossly inaccurate and misleading."
So Andrews never said anything about making a mistake, and that the situation in Fuji should have warranted the penalty imposed. This just highlights the FIA's credibility, which is incredibly low.
Then we have the fact McLaren has had to pay well over £100,000 to sit in a court room for five hours, whilst being questioned and treated like imbeciles. This has also hurt Hamilton's Singapore preparations, which should have begun yesterday. This is in no way McLaren's fault, either—it had every right to appeal what was an incredibly silly penalty.
If Lewis Hamilton loses this year's WDC by anything under seven points, I shall crown him 2008 World Drivers Champion myself, as that is what he shall be! If he loses by more, then fair play to the man who beats him.
I would like to end on a published quote by Damon Hill, "It would be a travesty if Lewis Hamilton were to be denied the World Championship because of the lost points in Belgium."
And that is what this is, a TRAVESTY.
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2 months ago
I agree!
from 2 months ago
Good man!
2 months ago
Well said. This is the truth. The FiA are a bunch of racist, incomprehensible jokers.
from 2 months ago
I'm not sure it has anything to do with racism, (although this hasn't been proved) but the FIA certainly are a bunch of jokers.
2 months ago
Sorry Ryan but it does not work that way. McLaren knew that it could not be appealed, yet it is still their right to take the issue to court. They are not stupid, they just tried to apply pressure to the FIA, through the media and hope that it got overturned. The FIA had no choice but to follow the rule book or end up in court against the rest of the teams. It has nothing to do with the FIA, McLaren went to court knowing the outcome and that the FIA were not able to reverse the ruling.
from 2 months ago
totally agree with you paul.
i'd like to offer my opinion on the whole situation again; now that it has ended.
after looking at the video again, i think that lewis could have stayed on the road. he would have caught kimi, we all know that. instead he cut the chicane and gained an advantage and although hamilton gave the advantage back, he had gained to much to ensure that the overtake at la source would be the same had hamilton stayed on the road. therefore, in hindsight, i say that hamilton did gain an unfair advantage by cutting the chicane. i also believe the british media kept the on board footage from us, it would have been interesting to see the steering wheel action.
as for the court case, i never had any dount that mclaren would lose. the FIA never lose big cases and never will.
from 2 months ago
So how come Tonio Liuzzi's penalty was appealed successfully last year. This was also a 25-second drive through penalty?
The answer: because nobody appealed the decision, unlike today where Ferrari,who should really be ashamed of themselves for trying to win a title through deception, did appeal Mclarens appeal, hence why they were present at the hearing.
from about 1 month ago
Billy:
Hamilton was forced off the track by Kimi. Watch the video again.
Hamilton overtook Kimi going into the Chicane and Kimi should have backed off, instead he kept going and forced Hamilton of the track on the second apex of the chicane. The only alternative Hamilton had was to hit Kimi !!!
from about 1 month ago
I have to agree with Neil, I have studied the video, and raikkonen shuts the door on Hamilton.
But I have to move past this, so this is it from me on the 'Spa-Gate' Fiasco.
from about 1 month ago
Neil, Billy has made the same call I made whilst watching the race. I've watched it frame by frame and have not changed my mind. The FIA saw the same thing. You, sir, are blind and your statement, "Hamilton overtook Kimi going into the Chicane and Kimi should have backed off, instead he kept going and forced Hamilton of the track on the second apex of the chicane." is bias garbage.
Apex 1.
Hamilton out-braked Kimi INITIALLY, however, he braked too hard! Kimi had more speed going into the FIRST apex! As the cars approached THE FIRST APEX, Kimi had the lead, track position and racing line over Hamilton! Frame by frame analysis, if you couldn't see this with your own eyes, clearly shoes Kimi ahead.
Apex 2.
Either due to his apex 1 performance or whether he simply got the power down better, Kimi was able to pull further ahead going into the second apex. Frame by frame will show you that, at the precise moment that Hamilton veered to the right of track, Kimi's rear left tyre was level, maybe even slightly ahead, with Hamilton's front right. Hamilton had the room, and the time, to punch the brakes and slot back in behind. They were not side-by-side, Kimi did not have his nose ahead, he had just about his whole car ahead! And he certainly didn't act in the manner Hamilton has done when defending position at Monza or elsewhere. Even the horribly bias English commentary declared Kimi's defense, "all fair enough". To state that Kimi, on racing line and in the lead, ran Hamilton's car off the circuit when at the time, Hamilton was only level with Kimi's rear wheel is a bit poor as is that Hamilton was the one that 'saved the pair crashing'. He shouldn't have been there (on the outside of a tight chicane against a talented opponent in a near equally matched car).
To quote a 3 x World Champion who displayed some of the greatest overtaking the sport has seen...
"There are two situations in which it is impossible to overtake on the outside: a very tight bend, like a hairpin, and a chicane. In the first case we don't have the time to overtake the other driver whilst on the outside of the bend: at the end of the corner he will accelerate and, as he will still be in front, he will have no difficulty reaching the outside kerb first, forcing us to slow down. In a chicane it is impossible to pass on the outside because there is only one possible line and no escape route..."
- Ayrton Senna.
Hamilton tried a move up the outside entering a tight corner. Add to this, the tight corner in question was the first apex in a chicane! For Hamilton or yourself to expect a racer of Raikkonen's talent, regardless of the machinery at his disposal, to bend over and not take the racing line is an insult!
The FIA, myself and a number of others believe that choosing the wrong corner, and line, left Hamilton running out of road and facing the decision of either punching the brakes and slotting back in behind his Ferrari opponent or cutting a corner. The difference being that the first choice would not have left his McLaren hugging the rear wing of a Ferrari which was going flat out down the straight and into the following corner having executed a good corner on racing line!
It actually pains me that you, clearly bias viewers, go on to insult Ferrari fans throwing around terms like "Spa-gate fiasco" (Ryan), stating that, "Ferrari and their fans are like dog crap", (Gecko) and proclaim that Hamilton will win every race apart from Brazil (Billy). How can you make any assumptions given that...
In China last year, Hamilton ran his tyres down so badly that he couldn't even execute the pit entry corner. The race was won by Raikkonen and fastest lap set by Massa. Then, in Japan, Hamilton won after both Ferraris were sent to the back of the grid due to running the wrong tyre. Despite this, Raikkonen finished 9.5secs behind Hamilton and Massa finished fifth. Brazil was won by Raikkonen who also set fastest lap. Massa started from Pole.
I'm looking forward to the next four races and I have no idea who will win. Both Hamilton and Massa are capable of taking victory this year. Raikkonen is still an outside chance and it would surprise, but not disappoint, me if Michael's Kubica bet came good. Anyone that boldly proclaims anything else as fact and not uneducated guess should STFU.
from about 1 month ago
Fantastic comment Sim,
Great analysis of the 'Spa-Gate Fiasco' which I have every right to call it, as in my view it was a fiasco and spa-gate is a light hearted play on the spy-gate saga from 2007. Please don't call me a bias fan, when all I am doing is putting my point across.
Aside from this, I enjoyed reading your comment, and your view is valid, however we will agree to disagree on this one, as this is my view.
from about 1 month ago
Ok,
I only got revved up because Billy stated that Hamilton had overtaken Kimi and that it was Kimi that should have backed off. This is absurd given the corner they were approaching and the track position the Finn had correctly placed his car in. Billy then used three exclamation marks to emphasize a point that is easily debatable as I went on to prove. Following this, you stated that, after analyzation, you agreed with him. I felt that Billy was seeing only what he wanted to and that one could only agree with what he said if one was bias towards the Brit.
Upon re-reading, it would seem that you, perhaps, are only agreeing with the "closing the door" part of what he said. Closing the door is usually a term used for taking racing line through a corner when an opponent is trying to cut up the inside. But, on approaching apex 1, Hamilton was behind - on the outside. Kimi, perhaps, can be seen as closing the door into the second corner because, on approach to the second apex, the outside had become the inside - as is the nature of chicanes. However, he was behind by almost a car length by this point and had less speed. It was my argument that he should have known, given his experience in racing, that he had no room and, of course, Kimi was going to take the racing line through the next apex. (Especially given his position - front wheels to back). He put himself in the position and chose to not brake and cut off at the last second. As Senna stated... silly spot really.
This is where we will, I guess, have to agree to disagree. I appreciate the positive comments regarding my post - cheers. My apologies, it's just that with all the other outright, and often misplaced, negativity towards Ferrari when something doesn't go the way of Lewis... it was easy to lump your spa-gate comment with the rest.
Both Ferrari and McLaren have got away with things in the past. But, over the last few weeks, I've seen more than once the 1994 Schumacher incident at Adelaide been given as an example of Ferrari "getting away with everything". You and I, and any other F1 fan, should know that the German wasn't even driving for prancing horse back then. But, still, 'fans' of the sport are writing stuff like that... anyway : ) I come out in defense of reason and I get labelled a Ferrari fan, etc. Enjoy the next few races mate.
from about 1 month ago
I shall enjoy them, there certainly going to be exciting!
Hope you enjoy them as well Sim!
2 months ago
it probably would have helped Hamilton if had tried to control his ego in the courtroom. At his tender age he has already seen everything ? He knows every trick in the book? Then to ask rhetorical questions in answer to Ferrari's attorney examination. He deserved what he got today.
from 2 months ago
I'd like to quote a comment from Terrence a fellow Bleacher Creature:
"What did Muhammed Ali used to say?
And in fact, many top people are cocky especially when they are young... no need for surprise here. And half of it is to pump themselves up... and push their own performance. Inelegant? Of course! But Hamilton wasn't the first and he won't be the last".
Like Terrence said, Lewis is young, he is doing well, and he has to scare his opponents by beeming confidence. It's horrible to be talked down too. This is exactly what Tozzi was doing (yes, he's a lwayer and thats what they do) but still he has no idea what its like to drive an F1 car and make split second decisions, and Lewis was simply setting the record straight.
2 months ago
I read Lewis's Comments and I'd agree they showed a lack of maturity in places, he played into the hands of the Ferrari's lawyer but then the guy is so young you can't expect him to stand up to the grilling given out by a seasoned professional on his home turf. I think given the situation he did remarkably well. Far better than many racing drivers would've done - can you imagine Senna's reaction ?
2 months ago
Ryan, Liuzzi's penalty was appealed because it was a 25 second time penalty, and they can be appealed.
Hamiltons was actually a drive through, which are not allowed to be appealed.
2 months ago
Time to let it go, Ryan. You can't win them all.
from 2 months ago
I know peter, this was my final piece.
Its just hard to let go (sobs)!
The end.
2 months ago
Exactly Peter ,
F**K Ferrari and its fans ,
F**K the FIA ,
F**K the stupid decisions
Lewis will win the Title now on grit , determination and Skill .
My debating with the blind Ferrari fans ends Here >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
from 2 months ago
Mine ends here >>>>>>>>>>.
from 2 months ago
Me thinks that there are a lot of McLaren fans that are also in need of a guide dog and a white stick!
from 2 months ago
it's a head to head now between massa and hamilton and i have no doubt in my mind what so ever that hamilton will win. he'll win in singapore,japan and china, massa will win in his home country but it won't be enough.
let the RACING begin!
about 1 month ago
I think Lewis is going to pay for this freak show in Paris. It doesn't put him in a good frame of mind going in and you put that with the pressure of a 1 point spread nothing good will come of it. I ran the Singapore track in a game called RFactor and I predict after running the AI at 120% ,I let the race run itself, that this track is going to be 1 boring race. 7th gear was used only twice and only for a max of 2 seconds if that. Tight corners that are narrow followed by short straights into more corners. The chicane is taken flat out ,why they bothered with it is beyond me, turn 7 is going to be a wreck fest as well as turn 14. If it rains God help the drivers! Lighting seems to be a big issue because from what I have seen it is nothing like the indirect lighting that they use in NASCRAP. So tons of shadows.
from about 1 month ago
I watched the Rfactor video on Youtube, And it does look like the rain and the different lighting they'll experience could be the thing that makes it exciting. The circuit is quite narrow, but then most street circuits are. We shall see very soon....
about 1 month ago
At the end of the day there is no point in becoming bitter and twisted, Ive said before that the FIA could be bias and or could be racist, but my view had changed on this and i believe an organisation of that size and importance simply could not be. Basically what has happened is that Mclaren have defended their driver and the FIA have defended their steward. Its just unfortunate that things didnt go Mclarens way. Its just like football, the referees decision is final.
It seems that everyone is ready to move on within the sport, but us on the outside are still little raw around the knuckles. I want to move on and I Look forward to the inaugural Singapore GP.
from about 1 month ago
Indeed!
Read this, might cheer some Mclaren fans up!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/61066-mclarens-new-frontal-lighting-system-must-read
from about 1 month ago
Yes, it's good that Mclaren top brass still have a sense of humor. If anyone hasn't seen the video it is a must view. I still think they need one just above the air intake as well.
about 1 month ago
Aren't we all just ready for the next race, the first F1 night event and allow the point standing to reset for the drivers. F1 does a great job of keeping attention focused on the flavor of the month, weather on track or court. I view this event as marketing, nothing more than a political circus. Hence, I'm still an F1 fan.
Cheers
about 1 month ago
If it was in "admissable" why did the process be allowed to go as far as it did?
from about 1 month ago
Because the teams still have the right to present their case. They knew that the rules did not allow for the penalty to be challenged, they still went forward. The real question is "WHY" did Ron push for this. The answer to that is the answer to many things. My guess is that he wants something to blame if his boy does not win the title. He has gambled a great deal on Hamilton winning the title, instead of the car. He needs excuses to justify why his decision has failed if it does. On the other hand, if his boy won the title, then he looks like the smart guy, at a time when the pressure for him to leave increases
about 1 month ago
Ferrari had a legal team in Paris for the Mclaren appeal. Of course they were there to protect their interest. Did Ferrari have to pay a fee to appear at the hearings as Mclaren did?
from about 1 month ago
No, attorneys work for free.
from about 1 month ago
No, they would not have had to pay a fee. They were the damaged party.
from about 1 month ago
They (Ferrari) were the damaged party. Huh?
Ferrari gained 2 points, how does this make them the damaged party?
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