FIA versus McLaren Fiasco Thread

[Centurion]

So it's getting even worse. I guess Pedro will have to jump into the driver's seat before any more spanish sponsors drop out.

[450SEL6.9]

Well, well, well, look who's come clean! The anti-Mosley and anti-FIA and anti-Ferrari crowd, which included several respected retired British drivers, have been crying about a witch hunt or months! Maybe they should come clean too! It's their turn to admit there was no witch hunt! It's time to pucker up and admit that the inquiries were necessitated by the repeated dishonest behavior of one team.

Max and the FIA was pretty generous to Mclaren and they still took all sorts of sh*t for being anti-Mclaren. I'm glad they're suing so-called journalists for accusing them of witch hunts. Max had said that he doesn't think Mclaren told the truth during the first hearing and he doubted whether they were honest at the second hearing. He got slammed in the press for it. Looks like some GCZ members also owe him an apology.

[Imhotep Evil]

FIA report shows Ferrari data on McLaren's 08 car

Friday 14th December 2007


The FIA report into McLaren's 2008 car reveals why the team to chose to come clean over the spy scandal.

Although McLaren's apology is likely to see them granted entry into the 2008 season, the FIA report is damning.

The Report by the FIA Technical Department to the World Motor Sport Council claims negligence on the part of the British team. It reads "The prior investigations by McLarne into the use of the confidential Ferrari information do not appear to have been very thorough."

It was found that the team were not honest over Mike Coughlan's role within the team and also discovered that senior figures at Woking were willing to use Ferrari's technical information on their 2008 challenger.

"The [senior McLaren engineers] on the 2007 and 2008 McLaren cars appear to have known that confidential Ferrari information was available from a "mole" and had prepared to use it to McLaren's advantage in the development of the 2007 and 2008 cars," reads the report.

Furthermore, the report uncovered that contrary to McLaren's evidence at the WMSC hearings, Coughlan did play an active role in the design of spurious systems, especially the brake balance system.

"McLaren's insistence before the WMSC that Coughlan had only a functional design role at McLaren is not backed up by the documents and interviews. He played a leadership role in the development of brake strategy for McLaren on their 2007 and 2008 cars...McLaren were previously keen to downplay his contribution."

The governing body's investigation found that McLaren had intended to run certain Ferrari systems on their 2008 car. "McLaren's installation of a [confidential] in the braking system of its 2008 car had been influenced by the receipt of Ferrari information."

McLaren were also looking into the possibility of using CO2 gas to inflate their tyres - a concept that was passed from Nigel Stepney onto Coughlan.

[Imhotep Evil]

McLaren are out of contention for 2008. If Renault and/or BMW don't step up their games it will be a red wash.

[450SEL6.9]

Originally Posted by Gene

You have to wonder, how will McLaren fare for next year? Will their 2008 car be as good as it was this year?

- They self-imposed a development ban on three (presumably) key parts of the car.

Originally Posted by Imhotep Evil

McLaren are out of contention for 2008. If Renault and/or BMW don't step up their games it will be a red wash.

For the sake of F1, I hope the Mac car is not good for 2008. If they are fast again in '08, how long will it take before other teams start questioning their legitimacy (again)? Oh yeah, everyone will be running Mclaren ECUs in 2008. If Mclaren are very fast again, you'd better cover your ears before a new round of accusations! You've got to admit that would be one juicy target! After all the dishonest actions this year and the admission, I can't see anyone giving them the benefit of any doubt.

The development ban is a little too generous for me. If those key parts were built using ripped off ideas, what would the development ban do? You wouldn't be allowed to keep improving those dodgy parts, but they are still dodgy parts!

[Centurion]

I guess it's time to change the name of this scandal to Dennisgate. It has been a deception and Dennis, the team principal who should have best integrity, he has deceived us all. Although I'm a Mclaren fan I am very disappointed and feel a bit betrayed. This whole coming clean thing is an apology rather than an admittance of guilt, but this is how all cooperations do it.

Either way I have to take back all the hatred I have expressed against Ferrari and FIA, because FIA has been nice to Hamilton on the track.

[Imhotep Evil]

Originally Posted by 450SEL6.9

For the sake of F1, I hope the Mac car is not good for 2008. If they are fast again in '08, how long will it take before other teams start questioning their legitimacy (again)? Oh yeah, everyone will be running Mclaren ECUs in 2008. If Mclaren are very fast again, you'd better cover your ears before a new round of accusations! You've got to admit that would be one juicy target! After all the dishonest actions this year and the admission, I can't see anyone giving them the benefit of any doubt.

The development ban is a little too generous for me. If those key parts were built using ripped off ideas, what would the development ban do? You wouldn't be allowed to keep improving those dodgy parts, but they are still dodgy parts!

The ECU was criticised by more than one team. I think someone from Renault said it seems particularly optimised for a certain car.
Now I just want an investigation to see where Alonso's 0.6 second went. With some Bridgestone technicians present checking telemetry data, and truth serum and polygraph "interviews".