Saturday, March 28th, 2009...11:30 am
Diffuser Gang row goes to appeal
I don’t have much faith in the FIA stewards led by Ferrari man Alan Donelly. Their decision making can seem fair at times and completely absurd at other times like the time when Felipe Massa was awarded the win at Spa in 2008. Sure, Lewis Hamilton was guilty but the punishment didn’t fit the crime as he got stripped of the win when he was clearly the fastest and took the most risks whereas Felipe had nothing.
Furthermore, Max Mosely is well known for saying he would always to something different to what the stewards decided. So as the row surrounding the ‘double decker diffusers’ goes to the FIA International Court of Appeal in Monaco which will be held after the Malaysian GP, Brawn et al are free to race for the next 2 races under appeal. This means they could have their results overturned if the cars are deemed illegal and the stewards were incorrect to clear them for racing.
My view is that the stewards being weak, wanted to clear the cars for racing because:
- its not clearly illegal
- they wanted to avoid a scandal and avoid spoiling the show at the season opening.
I think what will happen is that because the cars are faster than last year due to the downforce performance gain, and the KERS cars are too disadvantaged, the FIA will rule the diffusers legal.
The FIA will also then change the rules to outlaw the diffusers to make the competition closer and bring the manufacturers back into contention allowing the diffuser gang to keep their results to avoid bringing the sport into further disrepute.
1 Comment
March 29th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I should add that after seeing the GP at Melbourne which culminated in a fantastic win for Jenson Button whilst watching Ferrari et al play a bit part - the acrimony will only heighten against the diffuser gang. This will only perhaps encourage the FIA to divide FOTA and crush the appeal.
One may also note that KERS certainly provided much entertainment between those that have and those without in terms of the starts giving closer racing between Ferrari et al and the diffuser gang.
Further fuel for the FIA to leave the show as it is and dismiss the acrimonious appeal from Ferrari, Renault, BMW and Red Bull.
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