"Official" F-1 Thread....SPA ! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

bobby · 09-13-2007, 11:23 AM

the most exciting track in the world?.......can't wait for the race and news on the "scandel"

The McLaren Formula One team escaped a disastrous end to a promising season but were however docked all of their points in the constructors' championship after a decision by the FIA.

The FIA convened a World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris to pore over allegations that McLaren, this season's pacesetters in both the drivers and constructors' competitions, benefited from a leaked 780-page dossier of secret Ferrari technical information.

As well as losing all their constructors' points, the British-owned team were fined 100 million (US) dollars.

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have however escaped losing the points they have won. Hamilton is currently leading the drivers' championship while Alonso claimed victory at Monza last week to close the gap on his team-mate to three points.

Ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, McLaren were in the lead of the constructors' championship with 166 points, ahead of Italian rivals Ferrari (143) and BMW Sauber (86).

The 'spygate' scandal has cast a gloomy shadow over the season since early July, when it emerged that Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney had given confidential information to McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan.

In an FIA hearing at the end of that month McLaren were found guilty of unauthorised possession of Ferrari data but no penalty was issued as there was deemed to be no proof that they gained any advantage from the information.

Ferrari were outraged by that conclusion but clung to the FIA's promise that they would revisit the case if fresh evidence came to light. Ahead of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix it transpired that the FIA themselves had uncovered new evidence and Thursday's meeting, originally scheduled to be a Ferrari appeal, was switched to a full World Motor Sport Council hearing.

The new evidence is said, by the British newspaper The Times, to include details of phone and email correspondence involving, amongst others, Alonso, McLaren test driver Pedro De La Rosa, Coughlan and Stepney.

Throughout the affair McLaren have pleaded total innocence, maintaining that not a single component on their MP4-22 car owes anything to the leaked dossier.

xoxoxoo

desal75 · 09-13-2007, 01:42 PM

I found it interesting that the FIA's press release said that the drivers were given immunity from losing points due to the evidence they provided. Alonso's revenge?

Lets get back to the racing now. And I guess we have to congratulate Ferrari on the Constructor's Championship or have they not clinched yet?

Craven Morehead · 09-13-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desal75

I found it interesting that the FIA's press release said that the drivers were given immunity from losing points due to the evidence they provided. Alonso's revenge?

Lets get back to the racing now. And I guess we have to congratulate Ferrari on the Constructor's Championship or have they not clinched yet?

Most everyone thinks Alonso flipped and ratted out McLaren. If he thinks there was favoritism before..........

And yes, I'm fairly certain Ferrari has won the constructors championship.

drop the flag

desal75 · 09-14-2007, 05:53 AM

I was watching Practice 2 on Speed this morning and Steve Matchett was openly questioning why the team was even letting him race. I am really interested to hear what the damning evidence was.

bobby · 09-14-2007, 06:02 AM

Kimi Raikkonen dominated the opening practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, lapping the 7.004 KM circuit over half a second clear of his nearest rival. While it was a successful session for the 2005 race winner, Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa did not manage to complete a timed lap.

Massa was an early casualty in the 90 minute session as his Ferrari seemed unable to turn right at Rivage. The F2007 bounced across the gravel trap at slow speed, nosing gently into the tyre barrier. Massa was soon out of the F2007 and would not play a part in the remainder of the session. It was almost certainly a mechanical issue rather than a driver error.

Back on track, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso led the way early on before Raikkonen exited the pits and put in a string of fast laps, the best being a 1:47.339s. Hamilton would end the session second fastest a tenth ahead of Monza winner Fernando Alonso.

xoxoxoo

some "Spa" pit babes...

xoxoxoo

Craven Morehead · 09-14-2007, 11:02 AM

Only the best babes are allowed in the F1 paddock.

BTW - today Ron Dennis admitted he was the one that tipped off the FIA regarding new evidence of cheating. Some feel it was in response to Alonso threatening to blow the whistle if not let out of his contract or to be named number 1 at McLaren. Damn, this is really ugly.

desal75 · 09-14-2007, 11:12 AM

Yet some are still reporting that the penalty is too harsh. After reading the FIA documents it seems the punishment fits the crime.

I think the odd effect will be Alonso driving like a man possessed the rest of the season in an effort to win the championship despite (what he sees) as his teams favoritism of Hamilton. And also making himself more marketable to potential rides for next season.

bobby · 09-14-2007, 03:52 PM

Alonso/Raikkonen at Ferrari...???? to weird !!!

xoxoxoo

The battle on track between the two top teams in Formula One continued this afternoon at Spa Francorchamps and as was the case last week at Monza, it was Fernando Alonso and McLaren Mercedes that led the way at the close of play on the opening day.

Alonso recorded a best lap of 1:46.654s and was able to lap within a few tenths of this on a fairly regular basis this afternoon, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton did not seem so comfortable with his MP4-22. Hamilton would close the gap by half a second late in the 90-minute session, reducing the deficit to just over a tenth of a second.

Felipe Massa was back on track after his incident this morning in his F2007. The Ferrari driver was third fastest while Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen had to be content with fourth on this occasion, half a second off the ultimate pace

...........Go red !!!!

Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa proved closely matched in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix as they locked-out an all Ferrari front row this afternoon. Just 0.017s separated the two over the 7.004 KM circuit, but it was Raikkonen who claimed the all-important Pole Position.

It was a relatively trouble-free run for the Ferrari duo, although a problem on Massa’s F2007 right at the start of the session was a concern for the Brazilian. Over at rivals McLaren, Fernando Alonso had it all to do on his final timed lap of the session after a spin at Rivage left him sitting provisionally tenth on the grid.

Alonso played it cool and his final lap was good enough to move him third fastest ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton who has not really got to grips with his MP4-22 this weekend. Hamilton starts fourth, but will be disappointed to be three-tenths off the pace of Alonso.

bobby · 09-16-2007, 09:56 AM

SORT OF BORING RACE BUT KIMI WON!!!

XOXOXOO

desal75 · 09-17-2007, 07:25 AM

How about Alonso's first corner move to push Lewis off of the track??!!! I don't think those two are playing Playstation together anymore as it was reported they did all of the time at the beginning of the season.

The best part is it looks like it will be a three way battle for the Drivers Championship all of the way to Interlagos.

09-13-2007, 11:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
bobby Super Moderator Location: 18,000+ posts on TFP #1,2,3,4 and 5,but I'm not counting!	"Official" F-1 Thread....SPA ! the most exciting track in the world?.......can't wait for the race and news on the "scandel" The McLaren Formula One team escaped a disastrous end to a promising season but were however docked all of their points in the constructors' championship after a decision by the FIA. The FIA convened a World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris to pore over allegations that McLaren, this season's pacesetters in both the drivers and constructors' competitions, benefited from a leaked 780-page dossier of secret Ferrari technical information. As well as losing all their constructors' points, the British-owned team were fined 100 million (US) dollars. Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have however escaped losing the points they have won. Hamilton is currently leading the drivers' championship while Alonso claimed victory at Monza last week to close the gap on his team-mate to three points. Ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, McLaren were in the lead of the constructors' championship with 166 points, ahead of Italian rivals Ferrari (143) and BMW Sauber (86). The 'spygate' scandal has cast a gloomy shadow over the season since early July, when it emerged that Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney had given confidential information to McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan. In an FIA hearing at the end of that month McLaren were found guilty of unauthorised possession of Ferrari data but no penalty was issued as there was deemed to be no proof that they gained any advantage from the information. Ferrari were outraged by that conclusion but clung to the FIA's promise that they would revisit the case if fresh evidence came to light. Ahead of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix it transpired that the FIA themselves had uncovered new evidence and Thursday's meeting, originally scheduled to be a Ferrari appeal, was switched to a full World Motor Sport Council hearing. The new evidence is said, by the British newspaper The Times, to include details of phone and email correspondence involving, amongst others, Alonso, McLaren test driver Pedro De La Rosa, Coughlan and Stepney. Throughout the affair McLaren have pleaded total innocence, maintaining that not a single component on their MP4-22 car owes anything to the leaked dossier. xoxoxoo __________________ "Life goes on,within you,and...with out you !" xoxoxoo

09-13-2007, 01:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
desal75 Psycho Location: Western New York	I found it interesting that the FIA's press release said that the drivers were given immunity from losing points due to the evidence they provided. Alonso's revenge? Lets get back to the racing now. And I guess we have to congratulate Ferrari on the Constructor's Championship or have they not clinched yet? __________________ The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed.

09-14-2007, 05:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
desal75 Psycho Location: Western New York	I was watching Practice 2 on Speed this morning and Steve Matchett was openly questioning why the team was even letting him race. I am really interested to hear what the damning evidence was. __________________ The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed.

09-14-2007, 06:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
bobby Super Moderator Location: 18,000+ posts on TFP #1,2,3,4 and 5,but I'm not counting!	Kimi Raikkonen dominated the opening practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, lapping the 7.004 KM circuit over half a second clear of his nearest rival. While it was a successful session for the 2005 race winner, Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa did not manage to complete a timed lap. Massa was an early casualty in the 90 minute session as his Ferrari seemed unable to turn right at Rivage. The F2007 bounced across the gravel trap at slow speed, nosing gently into the tyre barrier. Massa was soon out of the F2007 and would not play a part in the remainder of the session. It was almost certainly a mechanical issue rather than a driver error. Back on track, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso led the way early on before Raikkonen exited the pits and put in a string of fast laps, the best being a 1:47.339s. Hamilton would end the session second fastest a tenth ahead of Monza winner Fernando Alonso. xoxoxoo some "Spa" pit babes... xoxoxoo __________________ "Life goes on,within you,and...with out you !" xoxoxoo Last edited by bobby; 09-14-2007 at 06:08 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

09-14-2007, 11:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
desal75 Psycho Location: Western New York	Yet some are still reporting that the penalty is too harsh. After reading the FIA documents it seems the punishment fits the crime. I think the odd effect will be Alonso driving like a man possessed the rest of the season in an effort to win the championship despite (what he sees) as his teams favoritism of Hamilton. And also making himself more marketable to potential rides for next season. __________________ The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed.

09-14-2007, 11:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Craven Morehead Custom User Title	Only the best babes are allowed in the F1 paddock. BTW - today Ron Dennis admitted he was the one that tipped off the FIA regarding new evidence of cheating. Some feel it was in response to Alonso threatening to blow the whistle if not let out of his contract or to be named number 1 at McLaren. Damn, this is really ugly.

09-14-2007, 03:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
bobby Super Moderator Location: 18,000+ posts on TFP #1,2,3,4 and 5,but I'm not counting!	Alonso/Raikkonen at Ferrari...???? to weird !!! xoxoxoo The battle on track between the two top teams in Formula One continued this afternoon at Spa Francorchamps and as was the case last week at Monza, it was Fernando Alonso and McLaren Mercedes that led the way at the close of play on the opening day. Alonso recorded a best lap of 1:46.654s and was able to lap within a few tenths of this on a fairly regular basis this afternoon, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton did not seem so comfortable with his MP4-22. Hamilton would close the gap by half a second late in the 90-minute session, reducing the deficit to just over a tenth of a second. Felipe Massa was back on track after his incident this morning in his F2007. The Ferrari driver was third fastest while Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen had to be content with fourth on this occasion, half a second off the ultimate pace ...........Go red !!!! Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa proved closely matched in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix as they locked-out an all Ferrari front row this afternoon. Just 0.017s separated the two over the 7.004 KM circuit, but it was Raikkonen who claimed the all-important Pole Position. It was a relatively trouble-free run for the Ferrari duo, although a problem on Massa’s F2007 right at the start of the session was a concern for the Brazilian. Over at rivals McLaren, Fernando Alonso had it all to do on his final timed lap of the session after a spin at Rivage left him sitting provisionally tenth on the grid. Alonso played it cool and his final lap was good enough to move him third fastest ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton who has not really got to grips with his MP4-22 this weekend. Hamilton starts fourth, but will be disappointed to be three-tenths off the pace of Alonso. __________________ "Life goes on,within you,and...with out you !" xoxoxoo Last edited by bobby; 09-15-2007 at 07:15 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

09-16-2007, 09:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
bobby Super Moderator Location: 18,000+ posts on TFP #1,2,3,4 and 5,but I'm not counting!	SORT OF BORING RACE BUT KIMI WON!!! XOXOXOO __________________ "Life goes on,within you,and...with out you !" xoxoxoo

09-17-2007, 07:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
desal75 Psycho Location: Western New York	How about Alonso's first corner move to push Lewis off of the track??!!! I don't think those two are playing Playstation together anymore as it was reported they did all of the time at the beginning of the season. The best part is it looks like it will be a three way battle for the Drivers Championship all of the way to Interlagos. __________________ The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed.