F1 links: FIA publish Ferrari documents

16th June 2009, 23:45 by Keith Collantine 29 Comments »

The FIA published a vast quantity of material today. Most of it relates to its discussions with Ferrari over whether the Italian team was able to use its technical veto to block the imposition of the budget cap. As I wrote last week:

It is worth remembering why Ferrari’s attempt to use the French courts to block the FIA’s 2010 rules was rejected. It was not on grounds that the contract was invalid – which might have offered Ferrari a way out of this predicament. It was because the court ruled Ferrari had missed an earlier opportunity to exercise the technical veto afforded to it by the contract.

Perhaps, then, Ferrari’s agreement with the FIA is rather more iron-clad than they would like to believe.

There’s more discussion of the documents in yesterday’s links thread. Inevitably you have to wonder at what point did the FIA or Ferrari (or both) begin crafting their replies with a view to how they would look when they eventually got published. The FIA’s letter of June 10th certainly gives me that impression. Here the FIA press release with links to further reams of reading material at the bottom, plus more of today’s links:

16/06/09 – The FIA and FOTA

Ferrari pinning hopes on modified F60

"Both drivers will use the new lightweight chassis, the first time by Felipe Massa. The updates were tested at Fiorano on Monday by Massa, whom was stuck with straightline testing duties as Marce Gene was away at Le Mans."

Vettel sunk in race for Laureus honours

"Instead of it being [Vettel] receiving a visitation from a member of the Academy in the build-up to this weekend's British Grand Prix – a race where he is expected to challenge for victory – British swimming sensation Rebecca Adlington, who won two gold medals in Beijing at the age of 19 to become Britain's first female Olympic swimming champion in 48 years, was confirmed as the award's latest winner."

Lewis: we need a global Decade of Action for road safety

Lewis Hamilton: “In the UK we have made great progress on road safety, but much more can be done. We need a global Decade of Action to cut the number of deaths by half. It is an ambitious vision, but not an impossible one. And it could help to save millions of lives.”

Jenson Button disappoints fans by pulling out of triathlon

"A spokesman for Button, pictured, said he decided to pull out of the charity event after realising belatedly that it was just a week before the Silverstone Grand Prix on Sunday." (Via Vee8)

New teams get a taste of Mosley vindictiveness

"By now, it is abundantly clear that last week’s publication of the entry list was not designed to clear up the situation. Every single line in that publication was designed to wind someone up. It’s the way Max Mosley does his business: personality politics, vindictiveness and grandstanding. He clearly gets a thrill out of putting people in painful situations."

No Movement: Budget Cap Stays

"One thing that cannot be denied however is that, as things stand today, it is the FIA that is appearing to be making itself open to negotiation while FOTA is not."

Damon Hill: why F1 needs Silverstone

Damon Hill on Silverstone 1992: "]Mansell] won the race, crossed the line in front of me as he had just lapped me, and this bloke jumped over the fence and was jumping around in the middle of the track. I was going down the straight, I’d backed off but I was still doing 150mph, and he wasn’t looking at me at all. So I swerved, missed him and we got as far as Stowe at which point everyone was on the track and we couldn’t go any further. Everyone left their cars and they were being stripped of parts… I just thought ‘well, you can take everything – it’s only a Brabham’."

Mark Webber column

"All the drivers share the same view. We want to drive for the best teams and race against the best drivers. If it's not the FIA Formula 1 world championship, so be it. It'll still be the most prestigious championship."

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