Niki Lauda has added to the criticism of McLaren's decision to appeal the outcome of the 2007 world championship. The triple world champion, who formerly drove for Ron Dennis' Woking based team, said trying to get three cars kicked out for fuel irregularities so that Lewis Hamilton can win the title by default was 'abstruse' at best and possibly sour grapes. "This is a catastrophe at the end of a chaotic year," the Austrian told Thursday's edition of the daily Frankfurter Rundschau. Lauda's criticism follows a similar reproach from the German newspaper Bild-Zeitung earlier this week. "If McLaren succeed, they will deserve only one title: Worst Losers, 2007," Europe's most widely-circulated daily wrote. for once, what Lauda is saying makes sense
+1 Thanks for the link Brain. I don't think the FIA is that stupid to take the title from away Kimi. At worst they might take away constructors points from the three cars to satisfy Mclaren and enforce the rules.
If McLaren actually does win by through a decision made by the FIA, I think we should all e-mail them very nasty letters!
It seems to me there are two issues here. If a team breaks the rules in a way that does not put the car outside the required specification then it's right to deduct only WCC points. However, if a driver gets an advantage because his car, tyres or fuel do not meet the specifications then any WDC points he wins should, potentially, be deducted.
I already did. Actually letters shopuld go to Mercedes, they own a big part of the team. Thansk for the info Brian.
McLiaren. And Lauda is right for once... I comented on this before, and I´ll explain WHY RON IS SO EAGER TO APPEAL ...he´s trapped with the number 24-25 cars for next year...he can ONLY choose NOT TO PUT THEM IN THE CARS HE WAS COUNTING ON HAVING THE NUMBER 1 NEXT YEAR!!!!...that was his consolation!!!...that KEPT LOTS OF MONEY FROM SPONSORS AFTER THE RULING AND BEING KICKED OUT...he cheated, got excluded, BUT at least he´ll have number 1 and 2 cars on the grid...an that helps with sponsors BIGTIME...and after this years debacle, the last thing he needed was being STUCK with that... ALL SPONSORS work the same way, the want to be relationed with the best car, the best team, THE NUMBER 1...or they´ll go elsewhere... WHOEVER says is not important for Ron or his organisation TO HAVE NUMBER 1 & 2 cars on the box and for the big money pics and tv shots is just naive...or plain ignorant. the NUMBER 1 is burning his forehead, and that´s why he´ll appeal and make as much fuzz as he can. HE WENT THE EXTRA MILE FOR IT (this time a little cheating was in order) and failed...last year he had to bring ALONSO so he could have the number 1...but he wanted to earn it -sure thing the bigger heads were demanding him to win it this time- now that he´s screwd BIGTIME by Hamilton ultra fast karma, he´s IN PANIC MODE... Mc Liaren has lost way much more Ron ever would.Because of him and his managment.and a bunch of high payed morrons desperated and pressured to have the best car and the best driver on the grid. Im glad they couldnt achieve neither.
I don't really like Lauda. He's one of the commentators of our F1 broadcast in Germany, and all through the year he was bashing Ferrari, in a weird way making them responsible for the spy scandal, he always favoured Hamilton. Even before the Brasilian race he was clearly pro MCL. But after the race he claimed to have rooted for Ferrari all the year, with them being the clear winners etc etc...
...you should listen to the commentators I have to listen...you just described them and they aint Lauda !!! is this some kind of normal behavior for TV comments? I´learned a lot of portuguese listening O-Globo transmissions a long time ago and they were GREAT, great info, on track commentators ALL YEAR LONG, lots of interviews, padock talk, technical, gossip...I really miss that on my network...
+1 I bet Vodafone are pissed out of their minds. They left Ferrari for McCheaters and everything was looking peachy until the last race when the team they just opted out of won the title against all odds. Probably the person who made the decision for the move to McCheaters is fearing for his job now. Also another interesting point is that given that FIA approves next years ML cars they would be in a disadvantage with their pit lane placements. This way RD is pretty much loosing next years title too. If BMW keep going in the direction they were headed this season, the pitlane issue could as well give them the little edge over McCheaters to take the fight to them. I still don't understand how can they hope to change the outcome of the WDC, when they THEMSELVES set the precedent this year, by which IF punished at all BMW should get just a fine and MAYBE WCC points deducted.
the reason Vodafone left Ferrari is because they wanted to become title sponsors, so badly. but at Ferrari, of cos, Marlboro owns almost the whole car. West left Mac, and Vodafone saw a chance there, boosted with the news that Fred was hopping to Mac too.
Thanks for the info. I knew that Vodafone left Ferrari 'cause they wanted to be title sponsors, but I still think they lost out on their move. They are eating their shorts right now.
The reason Vodafone left McLaren was mainly financial. Title sponsorship was a secondary consideration to the very substantial cost difference. I was there.
Any team trying to win any championship in the courts or boardroom is lacking in Character. Hey....Wait a minute...
