Formula 1 nuttiness - Mclaren stripped of 2007 points

[Dennis Kalma]

McLaren hit by constructors' ban
Lewis Hamilton attended the hearing in Paris
Lewis Hamilton and team-mate Fernando Alonso keep their points
McLaren have been stripped of their points in the 2007 Formula One constructors' championship after the outcome of the 'spygate' row.

The team was also hit with a record $100m (£49.2m) fine but drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso will be allowed to keep their points.

The team must also prove there is no Ferrari 'intellectual property' in its cars next eyar before they can race.

The decision means Ferrari, who are currently second in the constructors' championship, 57 points ahead of third-placed BMW Sauber are almost certain to be crowned champions.

When he left the hearing, FIA president Max Mosley was asked if justice had been done, and replied "Yes."

McLaren team chief Ron Dennis is due to speak at a 1915 BST news conference.

Full story to follow

[Dennis Kalma]

I think this is F***ing insane. I am so bloody sick and tired of Ferrari I would rather cheer for any team in any sport than those bunch of wankers.

Every Ferrari car just got a bit uglier.....

Dennis

[w21055]

Wow that is catastrophic. This will be interesting to watch. I was enjoying the Mclaren run so far this year.

[scottmandue]

I think the folks running F1 are responsible for this... they took the bait and ran with it.

I'm sure McLaren will fight it.. right?

[dd74]

McLaren loses its points, the New England Patriots might lose two to five draft choices - spying doesn't pay. Just ask Valerie Plame.

[frogger]

What's the value to McLaren if they cannot compete for the Constructor's Championship. I would think that matters more to the team then the Driver's Championship. Just my opinion.

[w21055]

Originally Posted by frogger

What's the value to McLaren if they cannot compete for the Constructor's Championship. I would think that matters more to the team then the Driver's Championship. Just my opinion.

You are right and it will bring out the naysayers that Hamilton and Alonso do not deserve the hype they received this year. Mclaren will have to fight it. Now BMW is only 57 points out of first place!

[Dennis Kalma]

I guess my concern is that I honestly do not believe that Ron Dennis, Mercedes or their management would serious stoop that low. I also believe that if the tables were reversed, neither would Ferrari, BMW and pretty well any of the manufacturer funded teams make blatant and deliberate use of illegally gotten information....there is just too much at stake.

Now, for an individual employee to waltz around the legal line I can believe, but you do not punish the entire organization for the acts of the one...you tell them to stop it, fire the individual and ban him/her from the sport.

It looks to me that this is the vendetta for the manufacturers challenging Moseley....that guy gives scumbags a bad name, even Castro is higher in my esteem....

Dennis

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Crazy - do you have a link? F1's website isn't saying anything yet.

Does this mean they're totally eliminated from the constructor's race or what?

[Dennis Kalma]

Look at the BBC News....best news channel in the world bar none....

[Aerkuld]

It's been well known for years that the FIA and Ferrari are in bed together. This is just further proof if ever you wanted it. I think it's outrageous that this is allowed to happen. An insider at Ferrari is alledged to have given some details to a guy at McLaren but I doubt that guy would announce to anyone within his team that he had the information. If McLaren had any Ferrari technology on their car then I doubt that anyone in the team would have known. I'm still not convinced that the guilty parties are who they appear to be. I've said before that I wouldn't put it past Ferrari to have sent information out themselves to set up their own guy who had fallen from grace and deliver a blow to McLaren at the same time. I just don't trust the team one little bit.

I'm never going to buy a Ferrari now for sure!

[Aerkuld]

I wonder if Ferrari can explain how the McLaren team can manage to make Ferrari technology work better than Ferrari can?

[w21055]

Are they eligible to compete in 2008? Originally that was the possible punishment.

[Aerkuld]

Here you go...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6991147.stm

[Neilk]

Are the drivers eligible to score more points? If so, then Alonso and Hamilton can really duke it out without Ron Dennis worrying about team points. Could actually be really fun to watch.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I can't wait to see both Alonzo & Hamilton run Kimi/Massa off the track on Sunday. Maybe they'll just mount a couple of missiles on the cars and take 'em out that way.

The way it's going, Ferrari could both blow engines on Lap #1 and FIA would still find a way to give 'em the race victory.

[legion]

Originally Posted by Dennis Kalma

The team must also prove there is no Ferrari 'intellectual property' in its cars next eyar before they can race.

In other words, Ferrari gets to peak at McLaren's cars next year. Kinda ironic that they get FIA sanctioning to do exactly what they are accusing McLaren of doing...

[cairns]

Drivers are eligible to score points. No McLaren representative allowed on podium. No Constructor points for 2007. Car to be scrutineered by FIA in 2008.

$100M fine less FOM losses(?) resulting from decision.

Rumor that RD was requested to resign in lieu of fine.

An absolutely ridiculous verdict. By all accounts the only benefit McLaren received from this information was data to show Ferrari were cheating.

Heck if I were Ron I'd take that little weasel Bernie outside and beat the living ***** out of him. Then go after Mosley with a club.

The FIA has made a mountain out of a molehill and seriously diminished the sport. What BS.

[frogger]

Originally Posted by cairns

Then go after Mosley with a club.

[legion]

Originally Posted by cairns

The FIA has made a mountain out of a molehill and seriously diminished the sport. What BS.

Yep. I'm just about done with F1. First no U.S. Grand Prix (a big FU America from the FIA), now this.