Ferrari Hits Back at Lauda

[tom1982]

Well i dont usually comment that much but i thought (unless its already been posted) this is pretty much a bh fighting rant from Ferrari.

The Horse Whisperer column stated: "After events in Hockenheim, a wave of hypocrisy swept through the paddock, with so many pundits, young and old, keen to have their say: some were promptly brought back into line by his master's voice, while others continue to pronounce sentence willy-nilly.

"The latest missive comes from Austria, from a person, who having hung up his helmet, has never missed out on a chance to dispense opinions left and right, even if, on more than one occasion, he has had to indulge in some verbal acrobatics to reposition himself in line with the prevailing wind.

"This time, good old Niki has missed out on a fine opportunity to keep his mouth shut, given that, when he was a Scuderia driver, the supposed Ferrari driver management policy suited him perfectly... That aside, where was all his moral fury when, over the past years, so many have been guilty of more or less overt hypocritical actions?"

Reacting to Lauda's suggestions that the FIA should give the Maranello team a 'pasting' for what it did, the Ferrari column states that in such a situation it is best simply to trust the governing body will do the right thing.

[Derek Smith]

Interesting, especially the bit which says that the FIA can be trusted to do the right thing. It tends to suggest to me that they are worried what the penalty might be and that they want to do a bit of sucking up to the power that be. This is the second time they've said something similar. Or it could be that they've been told the penalty already and they're more than happy with it.

This is a test for Todt's new regime and I'd suggest it is not the time for payback. Ferrari will have been lobbying the members of the committee - if they've got any sense that is and they got sense - so they will know what they are up against. The days when one team could be known to be cheating, then set alight to half of Germany and get away with it are long gone.

Ferrari were spoiled for choice as to who to pick on. I wonder why they chose Lauda.

[hondafanatic]

Derek Smith said:

Or it could be that they've been told the penalty already and they're more than happy with it.

I really hope this isn't the case, but I suspect there will be an element of truth in it.

[10 Pence Short]

hondafanatic said:

Derek Smith said:

Or it could be that they've been told the penalty already and they're more than happy with it.

I really hope this isn't the case, but I suspect there will be an element of truth in it.

My feeling is that Ferrari are not concerned about the hearing at all. There is still too much political support within the FIA for any harm to come to them. Whilst the operational side of the FIA has managed to become far more neutral, I don't trust dealings requiring the amalgamated judgment of the individual members to be so.

Either way, there doesn't seem to be any feeling inside or outside the paddock with neutrals that demands punishment. It's only those with an axe to grind who're making a song and dance about it.

If I was on the FIA panel my feeling, looking at the publicity effect of any harsh penalty against Ferrari, would be to avoid giving one. The fickle fans who don't pay much attention have forgotten all about the incident and won't 'get' why Ferrari are being so harshly treated now, then making them lose faith in the 'sport' and causing them to switch off. That would be hugely ironic, considering it was Ferrari's own actions that really did the damage.

If I was a betting man, I would wager Ferrari did everything they could to delay the hearing, knowing full well the likelyhood of a harsh punishment diminishes with time.

[mattikake]

Ferrari's arrogance and total disdain for the rules really is making them out to be proper scum.

They're saying Lauda is being hypocritical, but he only states "Either the rules are changed or everybody observes them. What they've done is wrong and they got an immediate punishment - and they will get a pasting from the World Council, that is for sure."

The past is completely irrelevant as the rules were different.

Why can't Ferrari get this into their thick heads? It seems that all this time Ferrari have been playing F1 to their own rules and the only reason they've been getting along "ok" is because the sports' rules happen to suit Ferrari philosophy. Now that the rules don't suit Ferrari philosophy, they are effectively saying they will ignore them. Because...?

I think they should burn as much as all my Ferrari t-shirts did in 2002... or as much as their car burned Lauda for his efforts, whichever insult reads most nasty.

[DJC]

mattikake said:

Ferrari's arrogance and total disdain for the rules really is making them out to be proper scum.

They're saying Lauda is being hypocritical, but he only states "Either the rules are changed or everybody observes them. What they've done is wrong and they got an immediate punishment - and they will get a pasting from the World Council, that is for sure."

The past is completely irrelevant as the rules were different.

Why can't Ferrari get this into their thick heads? It seems that all this time Ferrari have been playing F1 to their own rules and the only reason they've been getting along "ok" is because the sports' rules happen to suit Ferrari philosophy. Now that the rules don't suit Ferrari philosophy, they are effectively saying they will ignore them. Because...?

I think they should burn as much as all my Ferrari t-shirts did in 2002... or as much as their car burned Lauda for his efforts, whichever insult reads most nasty.

Stop being such a drama queen.

[DSM2]

DJC said:

mattikake said:

Ferrari's arrogance and total disdain for the rules really is making them out to be proper scum.

They're saying Lauda is being hypocritical, but he only states "Either the rules are changed or everybody observes them. What they've done is wrong and they got an immediate punishment - and they will get a pasting from the World Council, that is for sure."

The past is completely irrelevant as the rules were different.

Why can't Ferrari get this into their thick heads? It seems that all this time Ferrari have been playing F1 to their own rules and the only reason they've been getting along "ok" is because the sports' rules happen to suit Ferrari philosophy. Now that the rules don't suit Ferrari philosophy, they are effectively saying they will ignore them. Because...?

I think they should burn as much as all my Ferrari t-shirts did in 2002... or as much as their car burned Lauda for his efforts, whichever insult reads most nasty.

Stop being such a drama queen.

+1

Ferrari only did what other teams are doing, and without Smedley's incompetence, they would have cruised through it like the others are doing.

[Mazda Baiter]

Ferrari article said:

"This time, good old Niki has missed out on a fine opportunity to keep his mouth shut"

That is an excellent quote and I shall be using it sometime.

I'm not really arsed about the result of the WMSC because I believe them to be a bent organisation. The result will be known to Ferrari and I fully expect the road cars have already been delivered as payment.

The fact remains that their (Ferrari's)actions stink, but you will not get away from that when you have a sport in which the two championships available ensure contradictory tactics to be used on the track.

It has nothing to do with "Smedley's incompetence". I think it, at least, shows that someone in Ferrari has some morals.

[Derek Smith]

DSM2 said:

Ferrari only did what other teams are doing, and without Smedley's incompetence, they would have cruised through it like the others are doing.

Name those teams. McLaren? Red Bull? I don't think so.

And why blame Smedley? It was Massa who put the boot in, clear and simple. He made his feelings about team orders clear and obvious. And he didn't do it through incompetence.

Further, as we have seen before, when teams cheat then they become beholden to those who were party to the actions.

Whether the rule is a good one or not is immaterial. But what it is is a rule. Ferrari broke it and it was made apparent by Massa. Whether it is enforceable is hardly relevant as many of the current rules are not. Take a look at the RB front wing, directly contrary to the spirit of the rules but not the letter.

It is clear from the reactions of all those involved that there was a pre-race directive that Massa should move over if Alonso was faster. This seems to have been based on gap between the two. Alonso dropped back and then, just before his push, Massa was warned it was coming. So it was by no means just Smedley. It was a calculated breech of the rules. It wasn't as dreadful as the Piquet crash or the Verstappen fire where considerable danger was involved but it still is something done coolly and not in the heat of the moment. It should be punished.

I see Ferrari’s point of view and agree that their best chance of WDC and WCC lies with Massa accepting the role of #2. But there was a rule against it. Another best chance in the days of refuelling was to remove the filter so that pitstops could be two seconds shorter. But it was against the rules.

The fact that some other teams have forms of team orders is neither there nor here.

If team orders are allowed then there should be no WDC. After all it would then be a team event. So there would only be a WTC.

[10 Pence Short]

Derek Smith said:

If team orders are allowed then there should be no WDC. After all it would then be a team event. So there would only be a WTC.

Last time there was a WTC some tanned buggers drove planes into it.

[Adrian W]

come on stop being nieve, if it was Mcalren it could easily be another $100,000,000, but the Red team lets call it $100, you all know the outcome, please don't be suprised or frustrated.

[Derek Smith]

10 Pence Short said:

Derek Smith said:

If team orders are allowed then there should be no WDC. After all it would then be a team event. So there would only be a WTC.

Last time there was a WTC some tanned buggers drove planes into it.

I don't know much about terrorism but I would suggest calling them buggers is, perhaps, a bit risky.

[coetzeeh]

Adrian W said:

come on stop being nieve,

ok

[Mazda Baiter]

Adrian W said:

come on stop being nieve, if it was Mcalren it could easily be another $100,000,000, but the Red team lets call it $100, you all know the outcome, please don't be suprised or frustrated.

Ring Ring Ring Ring said:

Hello, this is 2008 calling. We want our bias back...

[Adrian W]

coetzeeh said:

Adrian W said:

come on stop being nieve,

ok

[Derek Smith]

coetzeeh said:

Adrian W said:

come on stop being nieve,

ok

Nieve Jennings yesterday in her abortive attempt to set a new style for wedding dresses.

[hairyben]

DSM2 said:

Ferrari only did what other teams are doing, and without Smedley's incompetence, they would have cruised through it like the others are doing.

Can we have some examples of "other teams" applying team orders in this way?, Far as I can see they make sure what they do is seen to be fair and reasonable, or not seen at all. Wheras ferrari turn up with their god complex and go:

Whatever- I'll do what I want

Sad days, I thought when montzerella threw ferrari's lot behind FOTA and managed not to do a special deal with the FIA/stab all the other teams in the back we were witnessing a more progressive, less selfish ferrari, but I guess there's still a long way to go.

[coetzeeh]

There was an incident last year when Heikki let Lewis through - sorry I do not recall which race it was.

As DC said, any team who claim not to have team orders are lying.

[DJC]

The rules are irrelevent.

Massa and Rob should have either done the job gracefully or had the balls to tell them to go Foxtrot Oscar. That is the long and short of it.


Half of the fun of GP racing and history is wondering who is cheating and how, not saying "oh well done" to those who stayed legal.