The Ferrari investigation (McLaren issues apology)

Ed · Post by Ed » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:28 am

And the President of the ACI - CSAI responded to Ron Dennis' letter by stating that the matter is for the International Court of Appeal to decide.

Here is the text of the letter:

Dear Mr Dennis,

Article 151c of the International Sporting Code

I refer to your letter of 1 August 2007.

It is apparent from your letter that there is a distinct difference between McLaren's view of events and that of Ferrari. It therefore seems appropriate for the matter to be reviewed by the International Court of Appeal as decided by the FIA President, Mr Mosley.

It is not my role nor would it be appropriate for me to answer your various points. It will be for the Court of Appeal to do so.

In any event, I would limit myself to stress that McLaren was found in breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, but nevertheless escaped any penalty.

As Mr Mosley indicated in his letter of 31 July 2007, it is important for the World Championship that the correct outcome is reached. It is clearly in the interest of the sport that the appropriate precedent for dealing with events such as these is set.

At the hearing of the World Motor Sport Council on 26 July 2007, Ferrari was legally represented but attended the meeting merely as an observer.

It accordingly did not have sufficient opportunity to present to the Council or ask questions of key individuals involved in this matter in order to test their evidence.

A hearing before the International Court of Appeal will allow Ferrari an opportunity to present its evidence and arguments in detail.

Yours sincerely

Luigi Macaluso
The President of ACI-CSAI

Copy:
Mr. Max Mosley (President FIA)
Mr. Jean Todt (CEO Ferrari SpA)

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:55 am

GhoGho wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:What of the White Powder?
Kimi's personal stash?

Might explain the Gorilla Suit n the Speedboat

GhoGho · Post by **GhoGho** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:41 am

Julian Mayo wrote:
GhoGho wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:What of the White Powder?
Kimi's personal stash?
Might explain the Gorilla Suit n the Speedboat

Ed · Post by Ed » Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:02 am

Ferrari have responded to McLaren's claim that Ferrari won the Australian Grand Prix this year with an illegal car.

Here is the text of the Ferrari statement:

With regard to the points made by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes concerning the 2007 Australian Grand Prix in a letter to the President of the ACI-CSAI, Gino Macaluso on 1 August last, Ferrari wishes to state very strongly that its letter contains accusations that are both serious and false.

Contrary to the statement put forward by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Ferrari never illegally gained any advantage.

The two F2007 cars used in the Australian Grand Prix were deemed by the Stewards to be in conformity with the technical regulations, before, during and at the end of the event. If there had been any illegalities, they would have been disqualified.

In fact, what the FIA did next is commonplace. The FIA took the opportunity to issue a clarification on the interpretation of the regulation and then asked the teams concerned to make the necessary modifications.

There are actually numerous examples of this in both the recent and distant past which have also involved other teams.

At the next sitting of the FIA International Court of Appeal, Ferrari will fully explain its position on the entire matter.

Ed · Post by Ed » Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:08 am

Meanwhile, McLaren replied to the last letter from the President of ACI - CSIA claiming that Ferrari did get the opportunity to present its case and ask questions.

Here is the full statement:

Dear Mr Macaluso,

Thank you for your letter of 2nd August.

My purpose in writing to you was to put forward a true record of the facts, given that, in the period leading up to and since the WMSC hearing, McLaren's reputation has been attacked by a series of incorrect press reports from Italy and grossly misleading statements from Ferrari itself.

Your letter of 1st August which was published to the media continued this campaign and left me with no alternative other than to respond.

You mention that Ferrari did not have "sufficient opportunity to present to the Court or ask questions of key individuals". This is not correct.

Ferrari submitted a 118 page written submission which was sent to WMSC members on 20th July, prior to circulating the McLaren submission four days later and only two days before the hearing.

Ferrari had lawyers of its choosing present and were at no stage prevented from asking questions or making submissions. Indeed Ferrari did make submissions and ask questions of witnesses.

If the ICA choose to permit an appeal then we are confident that the unanimous decision of the WMSC will be upheld. We are, however, not comfortable with any attempt to undermine the credibility of the decision of the WMSC by a misleading version of events portraying Ferrari as having had insufficient opportunity to present its case.

If Ferrari had wished to: submit more than 118 pages by way of written submission; ask more questions; or make longer oral submissions then it could have done so. It is therefore not a case of an insufficient opportunity but just dissatisfaction with the outcome.

I did not intend to publish this letter but as I now find that your letter to me has been published I have no alternative other than to do this. I suggest that we now leave this process to the internal consideration of the FIA.

Yours sincerely,

Ron Dennis CBE
Chairman & CEO

Copy:
Mr M Mosley (President - FIA)
Mr J Todt (CEO - Ferrari SpA)

jido · Post by **jido** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:59 am

Ed wrote:McLaren then responded to the President of the ACI - CSAI by revealing details about the case.

Here is the text of the letter:

Dear Mr Macaluso,

. . . . .
Yours sincerely,

Ron Dennis CBE
Group Chairman and CEO

Copy:
Max Mosley, President FIA, Jean Todt, CEO Ferrari SpA

Good reply. Let us see what the court thinks of all this.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:45 am

I can feel the conspiracy theorists starting to twitch

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 4:20 pm

Julian Mayo wrote:I can feel the conspiracy theorists starting to twitch

And Flavio says that both McLaren and Ferrari should be banned

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 4:31 pm

gkaytaz wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:I can feel the conspiracy theorists starting to twitch
And Flavio says that both McLaren and Ferrari should be banned

Like his style

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:59 am

Julian Mayo wrote:
gkaytaz wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:I can feel the conspiracy theorists starting to twitch
And Flavio says that both McLaren and Ferrari should be banned
Like his style

Like his glasses more

Just slightly more...

GhoGho · Post by **GhoGho** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:54 pm

gkaytaz wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:
gkaytaz wrote:
And Flavio says that both McLaren and Ferrari should be banned
Like his style
Like his glasses more Just slightly more...

His glasses are the only likable thing about him.......

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:01 am

GhoGho wrote:
gkaytaz wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:
Like his style
Like his glasses more Just slightly more...
His glasses are the only likable thing about him.......

Wouldn't mind his wallet

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:57 am

The FIA have set the date for the appeal hearing to be on the 13th of September. That is just 3 days prior to the Belgian Grand Prix.

The FIA will allow the press to attend the hearing and will accept written submissions by the all the Formula 1 teams and will be invited to attend and make oral submissions if they wish.

The statement read:

The International Court of Appeal (ICA) will meet in Paris on Thursday September 13, 2007 to hear a referral by the President of the FIA concerning a decision of the World Motor Sport Council regarding a breach by the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team of Article 151(c) of the International Sporting Code.

The referral was made by the FIA President under the terms of Article 23(1) of the FIA Statutes and Article 1 of the ICA Rules and Procedure.

In the interests of transparency the hearing will be open to members of the press and details of the accreditation procedure will be published closer to the time.

All of the teams competing in the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship have been given the opportunity to make written submissions to the ICA and have been invited to attend the hearing to supplement their submissions with oral presentations.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:54 pm

I reckon the FIA should be investigated. I reckon they couldn't butter a slice of bread without stuffing it up.

The more I think about it, the nonsense within McLaren at Hungabororing should have been left as an in-house matter, instead the FIA turned it into an out-house.

jido · Post by **jido** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:03 pm

Ed wrote:The FIA have set the date for the appeal hearing to be on the 13th of September. That is just 3 days prior to the Belgian Grand Prix.

No, you got it all wrong. It has nothing to do with the Belgian GP.

They set the date on the 13th of September because it is my birthday!