From PitPass: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=33374 Bernie had called a crissis meeting that included all the senior representatives from the F1 teams except Ferrari, McLaren, and Renault. As everyone is aware those are the three teams at the center of the spy sagas. What I find iteresting is this: "The fact is, Renault could face even harsher punishment than McLaren because the French team had its information for longer and has actually admitted that it was aware that (former McLaren employee_ Phil Mackereth had the data when he moved teams, having shown it to some of his colleagues." "While McLaren, to a certain extent, can ride out the spy saga, a similar spying charge would do no good to Renault's image. The fact that Renault won back-to-back championships doesn't appear to have made much impression on the French manufacturer's sales of road cars, however, a spy saga is definitely negative PR. Furthermore, Renault, which is proud of the fact that has one of the smallest budgets in F1- certainly amongst the leading teams- would be rocked by a fine similar to that imposed on mcLaren ($100m). Indeed, such a fine coupled with the bad publicity, might be enough to cause renault to rethink its F1 future." So, what do you think Bernie knows that we don't?
Charles, this whole spy thing is getting completely out of hand. Does anyone recall when Nicholas T left Ferrari and went to McLaren for one year? Guess where he ended up going back to? I am pretty sure he did not take any drawings with him back to Ferrari, but he sure learned the internal workings at McLaren. As I said in a previous post, there is a great article about the Ferrari/McLaren situation over the last three decades in Motorsport Magazine.
+1 I agree that it's gotten way out of hand. I'd hate to see a team like Renault go down the drain for something that every team has had happen in some form or another over the years. I'll be sure to check out the Motorsport mag. Thanks for the heads up.
That Max running the FIA has fricked up with his hate of RD and now its going to show it up for what it really is if Renault are guilty. Bernies smoothing the waters with the other teams.
could be anything but id like it to be offering some form of amnesty along the lines of "if youve got it then hand it over now guys - otherwise you will face penalties"
I would too. But, on one hand, I'd be nervous about seeing them both go and the resulting power vaccum that would occur. The devil you know.......... On the other hand, if either one is replaced and the other stays, whomever comes in the fill the void runs the risk of being polluted by the one that stays. As much as I despise Bernie, I'd prefer to see Max go and Bernie stay a year or two longer so the entire sport is not desptabilized.
It's gonna be hilarious when the huge triple [Toyota, Mclaren, Renault] standard is unveiled. Honestly, the FIA screwed the pooch on this one with a massively draconian penalty for an event which likely happens quite often in F1. At least 3 times in the past 3 years - that we know about.
I kinda think those that we criticize, Bernie and Max, know more than we do about the workings of F1. I prefer to wait and see what developes than to make hasty judgements. So far, we all watch the sport that is run by these two that you seem to slam at every opportunity. If you don't like them, don't watch or support F1. They are F1. By their very participation, the teams on the grid seem to agree. Personally, as long as their is a competitive F1 on TV, my opinion of whomever runs F1 is not important. Neither is anyone else's opinion on this forum.
Ron, I agree on the part of Bernie, but not Max. The races were much more thrilling until his FIA stepped in with the different rule proposals. Even that crazy Balestre was better at the rules than Mosley. Bernie I would keep.
+1 They established a precendent with the McLaren verdict despite the fact that numerous spy cases in the past were swept under the rug. They should have handled the affair more discreetly between the two parties rather than make a public spectacle. There are no winners but there are a lot of losers, with F1 as a sport being the biggest one. Now they are left with a clearly foreseeable quandry.
If they had done this to begin with at the beginning of the McFerrari situation, then fair enough. With what has happeneed to McLaren, won't they then cause merry hell as they got penalised for what seems to be a lesser infraction than Renault?
But they could always overturn their precedent ruling by saying some top-secret appeal was upheld, thereby quashing the record fine. This IS a circus, always remember that.
Anyone heard what the upshot of this meeting was about then.....? Bernie has been doing his usual moaning how he thinks Silverstone is the worst race track ,and if they dont spend money on it its going
