Alpha Tauri and the FIA

[Presuming Ed]

Hustle_ said:

honda_exige said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Official annoucement.
https://www.fia.com/news/fia-welcomes-alphatauri-f...

Sorry, but this is dodgy as fk, and dare I say highly likely to raise questions from (eight of) the F1 teams next week ahead of the first race.

Geee you guys are gonna be mighty angry when you find out which F1 team(s) sponsor the FIA and provide them with their safety cars.

Oh, wait.

Something tells me you aren’t talking about the Aston Martin ones

This is genius, I'm sure the FIA use many systems/products that are sponsors or ultimate owners of teams. Providing some shirts to the FIA, yeah thats really gonna make a difference. What do I get if I offer free Monster Energy drinks. Would the same reaction come from BOSS or PUMA being the official shirt of choice?

It ain't all some giant conspiracy. The season needs to start quick before all our heads explode.

[PlywoodPascal]

MustangGT said:

Blib said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Official annoucement.
https://www.fia.com/news/fia-welcomes-alphatauri-f...

Sorry, but this is dodgy as fk, and dare I say highly likely to raise questions from (eight of) the F1 teams next week ahead of the first race.

Don'tcha love F1?

Absolutely shocking, how can they be so stupid!

they are going to redefine how style and convenience combine in motorsport.

style - winning
convenience - I scratch your back, you scratch mine.

Edited by PlywoodPascal on Tuesday 20th February 11:31

[Bas Jaski]

honda_exige said:

Geee you guys are gonna be mighty angry when you find out which F1 team(s) sponsor the FIA and provide them with their safety cars.

Oh, wait.

Or which F1 team provides ALL teams with the ECU
Or who provides the FIA with trucks
Or which team has Veto power over any rule change they don't like


And so on and so on.

It's quite funny to see people get their panties in a twist though because the FIA is wearing Alpha tauri socks.

[PlywoodPascal]

shirt said:

Good move tbh, current fia uniform for race weekends is dire.

Next up for liberty’s glitzing up team, getting mbs to ditch the bouffon.

yeah they need a proper uniform.

I am thinking shoulder pads,
oversized epaulettes
pantaloons
all in some sort of satiny/shiny/slick nomex material
ceremonial fireproof balaclavas
some of those ttty 'driving shoes'

[Bo_apex]

Bas Jaski said:

honda_exige said:

Geee you guys are gonna be mighty angry when you find out which F1 team(s) sponsor the FIA and provide them with their safety cars.

Oh, wait.

Or which F1 team provides ALL teams with the ECU
Or who provides the FIA with trucks
Or which team has Veto power over any rule change they don't like

Surely not. Why isn't PH in a froth ?

[Sandpit Steve]

Bas Jaski said:

honda_exige said:

Geee you guys are gonna be mighty angry when you find out which F1 team(s) sponsor the FIA and provide them with their safety cars.

Oh, wait.

Or which F1 team provides ALL teams with the ECU
Or who provides the FIA with trucks
Or which team has Veto power over any rule change they don't like

And so on and so on.

It's quite funny to see people get their panties in a twist though because the FIA is wearing Alpha tauri socks.

I think there’s a big difference, and certainly the appearance of a big difference, between the examples above, and seeing the race officials such as the RD, stewards, and scrutineers, walking around wearing the logos of a competitor.

It’s as much about how it looks, as any actual conflict of interest. How long before a commentator says something along the lines of “Well, we have the decision of the Red Bulll stewards, and it’s no penalty for Max. Not much of a surprise there”

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Tuesday 20th February 15:48

[Bas Jaski]

said:

I think there’s a big difference, and certainly the appearance of a big difference, between the examples above, and seeing the race officials such as the RD, stewards, and scrutineers, wearing the logos of a competitor.

It’s as much about how it looks, as any actual conflict of interest.

When Todt became FIA president everyone had their panties in a twist. Nothing happened.


You lot really, really need to stop wearing your tin foil hats.

[520TORQUES]

Sandpit Steve said:

It’s as much about how it looks, as any actual conflict of interest. How long before a commentator says something along the lines of “Well, we have the decision of the Red Bulll stewards, and it’s no penalty for Max. Not much of a surprise there”

Never, they like their pit pass too much.

[matrignano]

Sandpit Steve said:

I think there’s a big difference, and certainly the appearance of a big difference, between the examples above, and seeing the race officials such as the RD, stewards, and scrutineers, walking around wearing the logos of a competitor.

It’s as much about how it looks, as any actual conflict of interest. How long before a commentator says something along the lines of “Well, we have the decision of the Red Bulll stewards, and it’s no penalty for Max. Not much of a surprise there”

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Tuesday 20th February 15:48

Also the above, I assume, are awarded through an audited, fair and competitive process/RFP.

Not sure the same applied to the clothing deal?

[Forester1965]

There are a million and one clothing firms not associated with a current F1 team. Yet the FIA have chosen to enter a commercial contract with a firm owning two of them. No suggestion from me there's anything underhand going on, rather it's a tone deaf decision that creates an unnecessary nod to the possibility of bias. Would have been very easy to look elsewhere and avoid it altogether.

[Bo_apex]

Bas Jaski said:

said:

I think there’s a big difference, and certainly the appearance of a big difference, between the examples above, and seeing the race officials such as the RD, stewards, and scrutineers, wearing the logos of a competitor.

It’s as much about how it looks, as any actual conflict of interest.

When Todt became FIA president everyone had their panties in a twist. Nothing happened.


You lot really, really need to stop wearing your tin foil hats.

don't mention the Safety Car logo either.

[thegreenhell]

Sandpit Steve said:

I think there’s a big difference, and certainly the appearance of a big difference, between the examples above, and seeing the race officials such as the RD, stewards, and scrutineers, walking around wearing the logos of a competitor.

It’s as much about how it looks, as any actual conflict of interest. How long before a commentator says something along the lines of “Well, we have the decision of the Red Bulll stewards, and it’s no penalty for Max. Not much of a surprise there”

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Tuesday 20th February 15:48

I would imagine they will simply have FIA logos on. It's not like they'll be wearing actual F1 team gear. Alpha Tauri aren't even an F1 team anymore, so you shouldn't worry unless they start issuing fines that have to be paid via Visa Cash App, or whatever it is.

[520TORQUES]

Bas Jaski said:

When Todt became FIA president everyone had their panties in a twist. Nothing happened.


You lot really, really need to stop wearing your tin foil hats.

Apart from the secret deal with Ferrari when they ran their illegal fuel flow sensor which allowed more power. You are correct, nothing "official" happened there.

[Bo_apex]

520TORQUES said:

Bas Jaski said:

When Todt became FIA president everyone had their panties in a twist. Nothing happened.


You lot really, really need to stop wearing your tin foil hats.

Apart from the secret deal with Ferrari when they ran their illegal fuel flow sensor which allowed more power. You are correct, nothing "official" happened there.

The FIA soon shut down that piece of ingenuity. Did they prove it was actually illegal ?

[Bo_apex]

Forester1965 said:

There are a million and one clothing firms not associated with a current F1 team. Yet the FIA have chosen to enter a commercial contract with a firm owning two of them. No suggestion from me there's anything underhand going on, rather it's a tone deaf decision that creates an unnecessary nod to the possibility of bias. Would have been very easy to look elsewhere and avoid it altogether.

Agree with this, plus the long running safety car bias.

[Bas Jaski]

Forester1965 said:

There are a million and one clothing firms not associated with a current F1 team. Yet the FIA have chosen to enter a commercial contract with a firm owning two of them. No suggestion from me there's anything underhand going on, rather it's a tone deaf decision that creates an unnecessary nod to the possibility of bias. Would have been very easy to look elsewhere and avoid it altogether.

There's also plenty of ECU manufacturers out there. Why did they go with Mclaren? Could've stuck a (very much race proven) Motec ECU in for all teams.

[honda_exige]

Sandpit Steve said:

Bas Jaski said:

honda_exige said:

Geee you guys are gonna be mighty angry when you find out which F1 team(s) sponsor the FIA and provide them with their safety cars.

Oh, wait.

Or which F1 team provides ALL teams with the ECU
Or who provides the FIA with trucks
Or which team has Veto power over any rule change they don't like

And so on and so on.

It's quite funny to see people get their panties in a twist though because the FIA is wearing Alpha tauri socks.

I think there’s a big difference, and certainly the appearance of a big difference, between the examples above, and seeing the race officials such as the RD, stewards, and scrutineers, walking around wearing the logos of a competitor.

It’s as much about how it looks, as any actual conflict of interest. How long before a commentator says something along the lines of “Well, we have the decision of the Red Bulll stewards, and it’s no penalty for Max. Not much of a surprise there”

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Tuesday 20th February 15:48

There's only a difference for the mentally challenged. I wonder how the cost of some shirts and trousers compares to a fully funded safety car and transport.

'Here's the Mercedes safety car leading the Mercedes F1 car at a suspiciously good time for the Mercedes F1 team' said no one.

It's a bit dim to be suspect of one but not the other.

[520TORQUES]

Bo_apex said:

520TORQUES said:

Bas Jaski said:

When Todt became FIA president everyone had their panties in a twist. Nothing happened.


You lot really, really need to stop wearing your tin foil hats.

Apart from the secret deal with Ferrari when they ran their illegal fuel flow sensor which allowed more power. You are correct, nothing "official" happened there.

The FIA soon shut down that piece of ingenuity. Did they prove it was actually illegal ?

By soon you mean after two years. They introduced a second fuel flow sensor into the system after they discovered the cheat and covered up their agreement with Ferrari. Even Max called them cheats.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single...

[520TORQUES]

Bas Jaski said:

There's also plenty of ECU manufacturers out there. Why did they go with Mclaren? Could've stuck a (very much race proven) Motec ECU in for all teams.

Something like a Motec, with respect to them, is not on the same level as the systems required to run a modern F1 powertrain. McLaren electronics were the best in the business and generations ahead of any traditional aftermarket ECU. The systems are fully open to the FIA, it's just a best in class component with a configuration controlled by the FIA.

[Bo_apex]

520TORQUES said:

Bo_apex said:

520TORQUES said:

Bas Jaski said:

When Todt became FIA president everyone had their panties in a twist. Nothing happened.


You lot really, really need to stop wearing your tin foil hats.

Apart from the secret deal with Ferrari when they ran their illegal fuel flow sensor which allowed more power. You are correct, nothing "official" happened there.

The FIA soon shut down that piece of ingenuity. Did they prove it was actually illegal ?

By soon you mean after two years. They introduced a second fuel flow sensor into the system after they discovered the cheat and covered up their agreement with Ferrari. Even Max called them cheats.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single...

Good article


But -

Post-season, Ferrari maintained that it had operated fully within the regulations throughout 2019, with Mattia Binotto explaining at a team event post-season the team was fully within the rules.

“We have never changed our way of operating the engine for the last part of the season, showing that our power unit is fully legal.”