The Official 2007 F1 Series Thread.

[M42Technik]

So who heard the latest on McLaren? :p

I couldn't believe it myself, good gracious.

And as for the fine...

[Erick]

So who heard the latest on McLaren? :p

[Hick]

check www.itv-f1.com < best F1 site around

[M42Technik]

Initially they did not allow Mclaren to score constructors points at a past race but have since found more information in an email between Alonso and De La Rosa [test driver for Mclaren] that they had been using Ferrari technical data to improve their cars.

More info on this? Specifically the email itself if possible?

[Hick]

Rumors have it that Alonso may be moving to Toyota in the near future

[Jean]

Mclaren received technical information from Ferrari way back in march of this year. While Mclaren denied using any of the information it is still against the sporting rules of the FIA. Since Ferrari fired Stephany, an employee, and Mclaren suspended Coughlan, a technical director.

Initially they did not allow Mclaren to score constructors points at a past race but have since found more information in an email between Alonso and De La Rosa [test driver for Mclaren] that they had been using Ferrari technical data to improve their cars.

I hope Alonso gets fired next lol . Can't stand him.


GOO KIMI!

[Hick]

I don't even know all the details so this would be very helpful in getting up to speed before the hearings begin.

Mclaren received technical information from Ferrari way back in march of this year. While Mclaren denied using any of the information it is still against the sporting rules of the FIA. Since Ferrari fired Stephany, an employee, and Mclaren suspended Coughlan, a technical director.

Initially they did not allow Mclaren to score constructors points at a past race but have since found more information in an email between Alonso and De La Rosa [test driver for Mclaren] that they had been using Ferrari technical data to improve their cars.

[M42Technik]

You got it. Here goes:

The scandal started around June 22nd:

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news-detailed.asp?newsid=5648

It states that a former engineer Nigel Stepney had sabotaged Ferrari's F1 cars with a powder substance which was put into the fuel tanks just before the Monaco Grand Prix.

Then on July 4th Ferrari opened the gamut, stating that Nigel not only sabotaged Ferrari's cars (and was subsequently fired for it), but he also was passing techincal information to McLaren. McLaren did not say whom was the finger pointed at, and Stepney denied the charges against him, claiming it was a smear campaign against him.

FIA called on McLaren and Ferrari regarding the matter, on July 26th. Later, the suspected McLaren chief designer Mike
Coughlan decided, along with his wife and accomplise "to present a sworn statement giving details of his involvement in the alleged affair." Under British law if any of the statement is false, they will be automatically found guilty and sent to jail.

The information in question was how Coughlan ended up with a 780 page dossier of Ferrari's technical info, and if it was used in their own cars and distributed to higher-ups at McLaren. Apparently his wife had the book photocopied at a local shop according to lawyers, and that is how they found out he had the info. FIA then opened its own case on the matter.

On July 26th, the FIA met with Ferrari and McLaren for a hearing in Paris, France, and the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence from Ferrari. There were no penalties charged to either teams. McLaren stated that they had no idea of this information or the 780 pages until July 3rd when Ferrari noted McLaren about it.

Ferrari, immensly upset at the outcome of the hearing, said they would continue with legal actions against Coughlan and McLaren. Massa, Ferrari's driver, stated he "is only here to drive the car". Ferarri later stated they may be able to appeal, which they planned on doing forthright.

Meanwhile, the mood in Italy was one of indignation and there were suggestions that Formula 1 bosses had decided against punishing McLaren so as not to disrupt the championship.

On July 31st Ferrari officially had its appeal accepted by the FIA, and a Ferrari official described the decision to hold an
appeal hearing, in which both sides could participate, as "sensible".

If McLaren is found guilty, they will be removed from this years championship as well as the 2008 championshionship as well.

Finally, in todays news, Ferrari claims to have new evidence regarding the case, and the hearing it set for September 13th, one week from today!

McLaren are 11 points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' championship with five races remaining. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton leads the driver's championship by five point from team mate Fernando Alonso. Ferrari's Felipe Massa is 10 points behind Alonso and one point ahead of team mate Kimi Raikkonen. No drivers are commenting on the matter.

Here is a backlog of the articles regarding this event, from most recent to oldest.

• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=6530
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=6201
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=6160
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=6147
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=6124
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=6092
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=6088
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=5895
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=5904
  
• http://www.lifeinitaly.com/news/news...sp?newsid=5801

I work for LifeinItaly.com as a writer, and a web & graphic designer if it was not apparent. Hope this helps!

[PiercedE30]

Anyone interested in a backlog of the scandal? I wrote something up for work today to get people up to speed as of today before the hearing on the 13th. Its long, but its detailed and has plenty of sources.

I don't even know all the details so this would be very helpful in getting up to speed before the hearings begin.

[Hick]

Id like to see something from the FIA but i think a two season sanction is a bit much. In the past teams/drivers have been suspended for 2 races as per rules but we have not seen something on this scale.

Basically i dont want people to look back at 2007 and say Ferrari was given the world championship. However, whats fair is fair.

EDIT: Spa is where its at, best track EVA

[M42Technik]

Anyone interested in a backlog of the scandal? I wrote something up for work today to get people up to speed as of today before the hearing on the 13th. Its long, but its detailed and has plenty of sources.

[atomic]

Thought it was a really cool picture

[Jon325i]

Brasil. That is all.

Rather boring race - thank god Hamilton had a tire failure to keep things interesting near the end. That Turkish GP circuit kicks ass though. 4-apex turn 8 FTW.

Jon

[Maluco]

Brasil. That is all.

[vivalegreg]

they need to stop this bickering with each other if they want their team to win both championships whether its hammilton or alonso the victor....another team that seems to be doing this is um...cough cough...stutter...BMW!