More FIA-McLaren shenanigans?
Discussion
Despite cutting a deal with the FIA to use the fifth pitlane slot this season, it seems that the FIA has apparently decided to shuffle them to the very end of the pitlane for the Bahrain GP, for as yet unexplained reasons. Links: F1-Live and Autosport.
What are they playing at? I guess Ferrari must be feeling threatened
[k]
What are they playing at? I guess Ferrari must be feeling threatened
[k]
[k]arl said:
Despite cutting a deal with the FIA to use the fifth pitlane slot this season, it seems that the FIA has apparently decided to shuffle them to the very end of the pitlane for the Bahrain GP, for as yet unexplained reasons. Links: F1-Live and Autosport.
What are they playing at? I guess Ferrari must be feeling threatened
[k]
I know nothing of the details within the country's politics, but the Royal Family of Bahrain own 30% of McLaren, so this seemed particularly odd.What are they playing at? I guess Ferrari must be feeling threatened
[k]
Max's revenge for the "Mercedes Hospitality girls "going public?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
possibly other teams bellyaching, as they should be in the last garage for "scoring " Nil Points last season.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
possibly other teams bellyaching, as they should be in the last garage for "scoring " Nil Points last season.
The reason given for allowing McLaren to move to the middle of the pitlane was that they needed more space to accomodate their enormous hospitality centre than what was normally available in the various paddocks.
It may just be that the Bahrain paddock is big enough that there is plenty of surplus space at the bottom end of it. In that case, we may well be seeing them moved back to position 5 in Spain or later.
It may just be that the Bahrain paddock is big enough that there is plenty of surplus space at the bottom end of it. In that case, we may well be seeing them moved back to position 5 in Spain or later.
SamHH said:
Given that we know almost nothing of any agreements or decisions that resulted in McLaren being given the fifth garage and in them now being given the last garage, I don't know how you can say that it is because "Ferrari must be feeling threatened".
Agreed, we don't know the details; perhaps I should have put a smiley on the end of my post! It just all seems a bit odd that it has happened without any apparent explanation or warning. The deal was always reported as 'McLaren to take fifth pit', not 'McLaren to take lowest pit which has room for their I guess it's my natural suspicion of all things FIA-related!
[k]
ninja edit - you've not seen me, right
Edited by [k]arl on Sunday 30th March 18:34
flemke said:
The reason given for allowing McLaren to move to the middle of the pitlane was that they needed more space to accomodate their enormous hospitality centre than what was normally available in the various paddocks.
It may just be that the Bahrain paddock is big enough that there is plenty of surplus space at the bottom end of it. In that case, we may well be seeing them moved back to position 5 in Spain or later.
Exactly, all the newer circuits have much larger and equal sized garages. It may just be that the Bahrain paddock is big enough that there is plenty of surplus space at the bottom end of it. In that case, we may well be seeing them moved back to position 5 in Spain or later.
[k]arl said:
SamHH said:
Given that we know almost nothing of any agreements or decisions that resulted in McLaren being given the fifth garage and in them now being given the last garage, I don't know how you can say that it is because "Ferrari must be feeling threatened".
Agreed, we don't know the details; perhaps I should have put a smiley on the end of my post! It just all seems a bit odd that it has happened without any apparent explanation or warning. The deal was always reported as 'McLaren to take fifth pit', not 'McLaren to take lowest pit which has room for their transporter'.I guess it's my natural suspicion of all things FIA-related!
[k]
Scuffers said:
[k]arl said:
SamHH said:
Given that we know almost nothing of any agreements or decisions that resulted in McLaren being given the fifth garage and in them now being given the last garage, I don't know how you can say that it is because "Ferrari must be feeling threatened".
Agreed, we don't know the details; perhaps I should have put a smiley on the end of my post! It just all seems a bit odd that it has happened without any apparent explanation or warning. The deal was always reported as 'McLaren to take fifth pit', not 'McLaren to take lowest pit which has room for their transporter'.I guess it's my natural suspicion of all things FIA-related!
[k]
the big hospitality suite things only go to teh europeans hence why you didn't see them at either of the first two races. but then why should bahrain be any different? guess it must just be down to the size of the garages, but suprised that kuala lumpur is not modern enough compared to bahrain to have similarly large garages all the way down the pitlane...?
sharp!Some further reporting/speculation (delete as applicable) on this matter here. The claims haven't appeared anywhere else yet, so a pinch of salt may be required.
In short, 'Bild' is apparently suggesting that the deal for McLaren to retain the fifth pit rather than being dispatched to the bottom of the pitlane was conditional on Ron stepping down. The paper claims that as he has not done so, the FIA have become 'frustrated' and taken action, viewing his 'podium antics' at the season opener (?) as provocation.
[k]
In short, 'Bild' is apparently suggesting that the deal for McLaren to retain the fifth pit rather than being dispatched to the bottom of the pitlane was conditional on Ron stepping down. The paper claims that as he has not done so, the FIA have become 'frustrated' and taken action, viewing his 'podium antics' at the season opener (?) as provocation.
[k]
Edited by [k]arl on Wednesday 2nd April 08:57
I find it interesting that for 30 years, Ecclestone has handled pit allocations. All of a sudden the Emperor-who-hath-no-clothes decides to get involved. Could it be that he's pi$$ed that he got exposed as a low-life and suspects that RD had something to do with it? Maybe it's a coincidence, but didn't Hitler have a similar penchant for retribution?
[k]arl said:
Some further reporting/speculation (delete as applicable) on this matter here. The claims haven't appeared anywhere else yet, so a pinch of salt may be required.
In short, 'Bild' is apparently suggesting that the deal for McLaren to retain the fifth pit rather than being dispatched to the bottom of the pitlane was conditional on Ron stepping down. The paper claims that as he has not done so, the FIA have become 'frustrated' and taken action, viewing his 'podium antics' at the season opener (?) as provocation.
if this is the case, then I for one think it stinks...In short, 'Bild' is apparently suggesting that the deal for McLaren to retain the fifth pit rather than being dispatched to the bottom of the pitlane was conditional on Ron stepping down. The paper claims that as he has not done so, the FIA have become 'frustrated' and taken action, viewing his 'podium antics' at the season opener (?) as provocation.
yet again Max/FIA acting like petulant childeren...
DangerousMike said:
Here in lies the problem when the people in power mess with what the rules are believed to be.In accepting the ruling last year, McLaren should have resigned themselves to being in the last garage (sounded to me from RD's comments that they had). And Bernie and everyone else should have let it be. Doesn't matter how this now pans out, someone will feel aggrieved.
But tbh, the same thing goes for the whole debacle from last year. The sports governing body had set a precedent previously with Toyota and Ferrari. i.e. let the teams deal with it. But instead, they then chose to become involved. i.e. they meddled.
The rules need to be clearly set out for all such eventualities. And the governing body needs to rule with impartiality and above all consistency (the profile of the team should not matter). This clearly isn't happening.
Ignoring for the moment his penchant for hookers, I'd see this as the biggest failing of the governing body and its leader over the last couple of years. And it shows no sign of abating.
If MM has a problem with McLaren, he should resign his position and set up a rival team to beat him on the track. Or take it outside. Anything but this very thinly veiled pettiness that he seems intent on continuing.
Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff