Phuket Thailand: McLaren-Mercedes wiped from the constructors' championship

Nautilus · #1 14-09-2007, 07:08

McLarenhave been stripped of all their points in this year constructors' championship and handed a $100 million fine, following the World Motor Sport Council spy hearing today.

Fernando Alonsoand Lewis Hamiltonboth retain their points' in the drivers' championship.

Halley G · #2 14-09-2007, 07:14

delighted!

Nautilus · #3 14-09-2007, 07:49

Why arent the drivers points deducted also?

Arent they part of the team?

Halley G · #4 14-09-2007, 08:07

they are, but it was the team that was cheating.
if a football player makes a bad tackle, you cant hold the whole team responsible

Nautilus · #5 14-09-2007, 08:17

The drivers are drivnig the car designed and built by the cheating team, NO?

Erm...

Halley G · #6 14-09-2007, 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nautilus

The drivers are drivnig the car designed and built by the cheating team, NO?

Erm...

dont follow soccer or f1, just trying to explain. yeah drivers are only driving for team and driving a cheating car, how do they know that? it happenes in every sport, whether it drugs in athletes or cheating like this. i know in couple of cases athletes didn't know till results came back positive. and of day it up to f1 board

Nautilus · #7 14-09-2007, 08:33

Erm, ok, understand what you're saying.

Really bad for the sport.

Dodger · #8 14-09-2007, 10:51

Doesn't happen in golf!!! all caddy cars are built to the exact same spec!!

aussie dollar · #9 14-09-2007, 11:07

drivers should lose points also

Captain · #10 14-09-2007, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger

Doesn't happen in golf!!! all caddy cars are built to the exact same spec!!

But some have bad batteries.

steve@thaib · #11 14-09-2007, 19:17

I think it's more about politics than sport. The amount of the fine is shocking, and is also compounded by the stripping of constructor's points (the teams get paid per point). I don't know how much financial clout Mclaren have but this could conceivably wipe them out.

Also, let's not forget that it was the actions of one Mclaren employee that brought this about. And, given the fact that it was this year's car they had the drawings for, and that the cars are at least a season behind the development teams so these drawings are already last years, it's not really possible for them to have nicked anything from the Ferrari design and used it on this seasons car; the net gain to Mclaren is zero.

To me, it's no coincidence that Mclaren was at the forefront of a movement to set up a rival championship to F1. I think this was about punishing the team and the Ferrari drawings were a just the vehicle the FIA needed.

IJ · #12 14-09-2007, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nautilus

McLarenhave been stripped of all their points in this year constructors' championship and handed a $100 million fine, following the World Motor Sport Council spy hearing today.

Fernando Alonsoand Lewis Hamiltonboth retain their points' in the drivers' championship.

thats a ridicolous sum of money?
who gets this money?
ij

Halley G · #13 14-09-2007, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

thats a ridicolous sum of money?
who gets this money?
ij

good question, who does get it????

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

I think it's more about politics than sport. The amount of the fine is shocking, and is also compounded by the stripping of constructor's points (the teams get paid per point). I don't know how much financial clout Mclaren have but this could conceivably wipe them out.

Also, let's not forget that it was the actions of one Mclaren employee that brought this about. And, given the fact that it was this year's car they had the drawings for, and that the cars are at least a season behind the development teams so these drawings are already last years, it's not really possible for them to have nicked anything from the Ferrari design and used it on this seasons car; the net gain to Mclaren is zero.

To me, it's no coincidence that Mclaren was at the forefront of a movement to set up a rival championship to F1. I think this was about punishing the team and the Ferrari drawings were a just the vehicle the FIA needed.

your dead right, car that is being deveopmented and drawn up now,
is for next year!
so drawings they have are useless really depending on how long he had them?

Nanook · #14 14-09-2007, 21:51

First of all there has been spionage cases as long as I follow F1 since the early 70-ies. Famous cases are the ones around the Lotus 78 that swept many races and the Brabham with the fan on the back which won a GP in Sweden driven by Niki Lauda.
Also around the Ligiers and Shadow/Arrows. Those last cars were like identical twins. Also in more recent years there have been such cases. Actually Ferrari has been involved as well, but basically always got off the hook, since they used to be the only non-English team participating.

In this case, McLaren weren't really doing well in the winter test season. Now they have won 60% of the races, I think. How come? I don't know. Maybe they used Ferrari info, maybe not.

The team has been punished badly $ 100 mio is an awful lot of money, and I can't justify is this too much or not.
In my view it is a politically thing and most probably McLaren will appeal. At least I am glad the drivers are not involved.
Like others mentioned, I am also curious for where this money goes. In Bernie's pockets???

marc26 · #15 15-09-2007, 02:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

I think it's more about politics than sport. The amount of the fine is shocking, and is also compounded by the stripping of constructor's points (the teams get paid per point). I don't know how much financial clout Mclaren have but this could conceivably wipe them out.

from everything i have read and heard, this is a drop in the bucket for them
i heard they are all cash flow positive and generate 500mil/yr in profit

all in all, will cost them upwards of 300mil when you factor in not competing for the 80mil plus psonsorship money