Monday 27th April 2009

Merc To Leave F1 Over ‘Lewis-gate’?

Merc’s boss says big FIA penalty could threaten engine deal

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With McLaren under continued pressure from the FIA over its allegedly dishonest response to a stewards' inquiry at the Australian GP last month, Mercedes and other McLaren partners are reportedly considering their positions with the team.

The FIA meets on Wednesday to consider charges that McLaren has brought the sport into disrepute. A range of draconian penalties could follow the proceedings, including possible exclusion from the 2009 championship or race bans.

Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche is quoted in the German media today, saying the firm could pull out of its engine supply deal with McLaren following the FIA’s decision.

‘If circumstances change, perhaps because of an unreasonable punishment by the FIA, it is possible that we could consider our engagement,’ he told Focus magazine.

Zetsche’s veiled threat could be politicking designed to help mitigate the perceived threat of FIA sanctions, but separate reports suggest McLaren’s other sponsors are viewing the possible outcome of Wednesday’s meeting with trepidation, too.

[fastgerman.com]

Bunch of nazi's! The battle was over a 3rd and 4th place in the first grand prix, not the final race providing life changing results. Such a shame to see the interview with Hamilton before yesterday Grand Prix and hearing he doesn't enjoy F1 anymore, can't blame him really. Top driver and I hope people start giving him their support again soon.

[cvegas]

After the many injust or unreasonable decisions made against McLaren Mercedes by F1 management over the years it is no suprise that Mercedes is thinking of leaving. It would be a massive loss to the sport and severely damage F1.

[[AJ]]

Is this not getting a bit serious now? I am in no way condoning what McLaren did. It was dishonest, unprofessional, un-sporting and it really was daft of them to lie for the sake of just a couple of points, but have they not had their punishment already? If this was kickball, it would have been long forgotten by now. Football kickers dive all over the floor and feign injury to try and gain an advantage or free kick. They are always in the media for illicit behaviour.

I know F1 is a gentleman's sport and racing drivers and teams should hold themselves in far better conduct than we see from the foodball fraternities, but kicking them out of the season is a little harsh I think.

[jayfish]

Surely this is just Mercedes telling the FIA not to go too hard on Maclaren, just making them aware of potential consequences for their action. A not very subtle but potentially effective nudge in the right direction.

[VladD]

All of this political gesturing is quite amusing. Max obviously wants to slap another $100M fine on McLaren, so the big players are making threats. I'm sure there will be lots of secret meetings going on in the background and the case verdit will be decided before the hearing.

[little bill]

I thought Merc owned most of Mclaren F1, surely it would be more complexed than just stopping engines?

[VladD]

[AJ] said:

It was dishonest, unprofessional, un-sporting and it really was daft of them to lie for the sake of just a couple of points, but have they not had their punishment already?

The thing is AJ, as has been pointed out on other threads, lieing is part of the game, rightfully or not. It's just this time, [sarcasm]for some unknown reason[/sarcasm], it's been blown way out of proportion. As you say, LH was punished by losing his race result, and that should have been the end of it.

[Smartass]

Brawn-Mercedes for 2010 anyone?

I've always been a bit sceptical about McClaren's persecution complex but even I'm starting to believe that there is an anti-Mac bias in the FIA.

[BoRED S2upid]

Just feet stamping befor the verdict on Wednesday. Imagine if it were Ferrari up before the FIA they would be holidng press conferences all over the world "We will pull out of F1" blagh blagh blagh to try and get a reduced penalty.

[DavidT]

jayfish said:

Surely this is just Mercedes telling the FIA not to go too hard on Maclaren, just making them aware of potential consequences for their action. A not very subtle but potentially effective nudge in the right direction.

Yes, that's what it is. Why else would Mercedes comment before knowing the outcome?

McLaren will be better placed in F1 now that Ron Dennis is not at its helm. Good as he was, he just didn't ever seem to rub along with the all the elements that run F1

[BSC]

fastgerman.com said:

Bunch of nazi's!

Don't you think your statement is way out of proportion?

To call the CEO of Daimler-Benz a nazi when he is considering an economical decision is not fair.

[audidoody]

At this rate F1 will end up like the Americas Cup.

A minority-interest event run for a few teams

[navier_stokes]

Already being discussed here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[HereBeMonsters]

Surely Mercedes are just threatening to stop supplying McLaren, not to leave F1? After all they also supply a couple of other teams, one of which is doing quite well WITHOUT cheating?

Oh, sorry, I forgot this was PistonHeads, where sloppy journalism abounds...

[9hellheaven]

They cheated as a team, and they lied as a team, I say kick them out as a team. In the pursuit of success they have gone beyond what Is anything like acceptable. Maybe they should change their name to Mclaren/RBS/Bank of Scotland/Halifax/ MPs Expences Racing PLC. Why do you think Ron Dennis jumped?.. He knows all the muck Is going to come out thats why. How many other Championships did they gain through the same or similar methods?
Bye bye McClaren!..

[wab172uk]

fastgerman.com said:

Bunch of nazi's! The battle was over a 3rd and 4th place in the first grand prix, not the final race providing life changing results. Such a shame to see the interview with Hamilton before yesterday Grand Prix and hearing he doesn't enjoy F1 anymore, can't blame him really. Top driver and I hope people start giving him their support again soon.

It doesn't matter if it was for 7th & 8th place. The whole point is that McLaren lied to the FIA to get another driver (Trulli) and team (Toyota) docked points.

It's un-sporting and deserves to be punished.

McLaren brought all this on themselves. I have no sympathy for them, or believe the FIA are out "to get" McLaren. If they hadn't lied, there would be no problem. But they did........

[Nobody You Know]

Pathetic on all sides.

And will PH and everyone else stop putting 'gate' on the end of any story it's sad low level journalism.

[Jgtv]

On another not why is every scandal now "XXXXX-Gate" for fks sake the Watergate as the name of the office wasn't it? It wasn't a bloody scandal about water was it!


but they are throwing there toys out the pram a bit, If you dont let us win were going home and we will take our balls with us.
They have had a st start to the season they should deal with it, if they no longer can afford to stay in then thats another story but it should have nothing to do with anything else

[[AJ]]

wab172uk said:

fastgerman.com said:

Bunch of nazi's! The battle was over a 3rd and 4th place in the first grand prix, not the final race providing life changing results. Such a shame to see the interview with Hamilton before yesterday Grand Prix and hearing he doesn't enjoy F1 anymore, can't blame him really. Top driver and I hope people start giving him their support again soon.

It doesn't matter if it was for 7th & 8th place. The whole point is that McLaren lied to the FIA to get another driver (Trulli) and team (Toyota) docked points.

It's un-sporting and deserves to be punished.

McLaren brought all this on themselves. I have no sympathy for them, or believe the FIA are out "to get" McLaren. If they hadn't lied, there would be no problem. But they did........

Agreed, but is that not just it. Have McLaren not already been punished by having their points striped? Surly it doesn't warrant them being kicked out of the whole season?

[sleep envy]

cvegas said:

After the many injust or unreasonable decisions made against McLaren Mercedes by F1 management over the years it is no suprise that Mercedes is thinking of leaving. It would be a massive loss to the sport and severely damage F1.

not when their engine is leading both championships it isn't