Comments on: The consequences of Thursday’s Renault-McLaren spy hearing (updated)

By: George

George — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:03:19 +0000

“… although this is turning out much the same as the McLaren case isn’t it – first found guilty but no penalty.”

And do any of us recall the howls of outrage from Ferrari AND that pompous ass Flava-Flav when no punishment were meted out to McLaren? No justice no peace!

By: ade

ade — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:23:08 +0000

What a joke!

By: Loki

Loki — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:19:58 +0000

I guess we’ll find out what the justification is from the FIA tomorrow . . . although this is turning out much the same as the McLaren case isn’t it – first found guilty but no penalty.

So how much longer is this one going to ensue.

By: alan

alan — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:14:23 +0000

Well they got away with it – anybody can have their competitors info on their computers get found guilty but will not be punished – on this basis – McClaren can take the fia to the european court of justice – basis – inequal punishment for a industrial crime – any court/governing body must on each case show a even handed approach to any perceived demeanor by its members – you couldnt have one member being blackballed by his club for pinching the secretary’s bum and the person who did the same later get a smile and an approving wink – discrimination at the worst level i’m afraid – that my bit over for now

By: Vertigo

Vertigo — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:01:04 +0000

This spying malarkey is turning sour, and is threatening to swallow up F1. If Renault are found guilty then the FIA need to ensure that F1 is transparent from now on, that everything is monitored and that things that need to be kept secret STAY secret. Otherwise we’re not going to have a sport in 18 months time.

By: bernie's nemesis

bernie's nemesis — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:52:57 +0000

“If Renault don’t get a $100 fine, and don’t have their points from the 2007 season removed then the FIA have proved themselves to be Foolish.Incompetent.Asses.”

Absolutely. But I think they’ve already done that, via Max’s statement about his relationship with Luca D.
The Head of a sporting governing body is being very foolish by admitting a biased relationship with the 2 current leading contenders.

Inflammatory statements made by Ferrari that have remained unproven- Luca D “There is a lot of Ferrari in that car”, went unpunished and that also doesn’t help.
The FIA required clarification about Mclarens initial claims.

I am sceptical that Max will punish Bernies new buisness partner too heavily either, as that could create political uneasiness in the F1 world. It’s all just a bit too old school network (that Ron has never been invited into).

If Flav gets his way, and sues for defamation, it really looks like Mclaren will get punished for the same thing that Ferrari and the FIA charged them with.

The FIA can have no grounds for not fining Renault a similar amount. The fear that Renault may leave if fined too much is just throwing toys from the pram on the grandest scale.

The whole thing is starting to smell really bad….

By: Sri

Sri — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:10:42 +0000

Loki, i have no clue. I have seen none of them personally slugging it out. Their drivers, well they are a different lot. Senna, Montoya, Schumacher etc. For once, i thought, they have stooped low enough already. Well, why not make it a lil’ amusing for us paying viewers .

And yes, no verdict till now. Looks like another one of those days!

By: nellyweb

nellyweb — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:09:58 +0000

OK here we go:

McLaren have now clarified that a few less people signed statements – 9 vs 18

McLaren have now confirmed that it was not uploaded to 11 computers, but 11 DISKS were uploaded to the renault computer network

McLaren state that 762 pages of documentation was taken, not 782 drawings

So it seems to me that all that has happened is that McLaren have clarified some details. There is no climbdown here, the effect is the same. Renaultt staff have signed statements saying that they have viewed the documents and that the data was uplaoded onto the Renault systems. This is significantly more evidence than was raised at the McLaren hearing.

If Renault don’t get a $100 fine, and don’t have their points from the 2007 season removed then the FIA have proved themselves to be Foolish.Incompetent.Asses.

By: Loki

Loki — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:02:13 +0000

No contest! I’ve never seen either taking a slug, but who’s weight would you really rather not have behind a fist???

I wonder if this is going to be another time when we will be kept waiting for the verdict?

By: Sri

Sri — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:47:06 +0000

Maybe a cockfight would not be out of place, any bets on who could pack a lethal punch? Ron or would it be Flavio?