The Motorsport Thread (was the F1 thread)

^Everything except that Massa wont be involved () and that Kovaleinen will probably have the second McLaren seat so he'll get in there.

Speaking of F1 polotics, I think its going to get ugly(er) in the off-season. Renault have just been summoned to a hearing with the FIA to answer charges that they are/were in the possession of detailed McLaren documents betwen October 06 and September 07.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41257

Unfortunatly I'm inlclined to agree with you.

Now for some proper F1 news.

Honda have anounced that they have signed Ross Brawn to be their team principel alongside Nick Fry, this is quite a coup as I thought he was most likely to go back to Ferrari. For those that dont know, Ross was one of the "Dream Team" that brought the five drivers and 6 constructures titles to Ferrari, plus was tech director at Beneton when Schumacher won his first two titles.

Speaking of Schumacher, winter testing has begun and it MS that tops the time sheets at the end of the first day, his first drive in an F1 car since he retired! Ferrari brought him in to help develop the car without traction controle, which is banned next year, and develop he spec ECU that all teams have to use now. This is probably becuase, between them, Massa and Raikkonen have a grand total of 5 races without TC.

And lastly, Jean Todt is no longer the boss at Ferrari, he has been  moved aside and Stefano Domanicceli (sp?) will take over at the top. It seem de Montazemalo wanted an all Italian managment at Ferrari, to give it an Italian face, and he seems to have it now, having driven off Brawn to Honda and alienated Stepney (causing the spying scandel) and Todt, who may still be involved with Ferrari, but probably not the race team.

Just heard, Raikkonen has finally been declared champion after McLarens appeal was thrown out today by the FIA. Thank God, the first bit of commen sense all year.

JJLehto wrote: That's good......but Kimi technically was not champion yet??   Madness

Yea, but I thought that was settled like the day after....they were still thinking about overturning the results?

Oh wow...guess I can't blame them though for trying to appeal.

Well, unsurprisingly, Renault have been given no penalty in their court hearing last thursday, with the ruling saying that they were guilty of possesing documents belonging to another team but there was"insufficiant evidence" to show that they had used it. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but McLaren were found guilty of having others documents and there was also insufficient evidence to show that they had used it but McLaren were thrown out of the constructors championship and fined $100 million! What a load of bollocks.

Its clearly not Max that runs F1, its his f**king dog!

sleeper wrote: Well, unsurprisingly, Renault have been given no penalty in their court hearing last thursday, with the ruling saying that they were guilty of possesing documents belonging to another team but there was"insufficiant evidence" to show that they had used it. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but McLaren were found guilty of having others documents and there was also insufficient evidence to show that they had used it but McLaren were thrown out of the constructors championship and fined $100 million! What a load of bollocks. Its clearly not Max that runs F1, its his f**king dog!

Renault are French and the FIA is French plus Renault at the moment aren't a risk to Ferrari.

Well, maybe you already know this , but i have just read tha Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr. were announced by Renault as their 2008 drivers, i bet this year will be much better for the team than 2007, i believe they will be more competitive than Fischichella and Kovalainen.