German Car Zone

ICA rule in favour of Brawn, Toyota and Williams


The FIA International Court of Appeal met yesterday in Paris to hear an appeal lodged by Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault. The three teams were appealing against decisions taken by the Panel of the Stewards on Thursday 26th March 2009 in Melbourne.

Prior to the race the three teams submitted protests to the Panel of Stewards arguing that the cars of Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams did not comply with the Technical Regulations.

The dispute related in particular to the diffuser design used by the latter three teams. The Panel of the Stewards rejected the protests submitted. The protesting teams then appealed the Stewards’ decisions and were joined yesterday in Paris by McLaren, Brawn GP, BMW Sauber and Toyota who give their accounts to the Court.

The International Court of Appeal announced today that the diffusers designs run by Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams are legal and therefore the results from the opening two rounds of the championship are now confirmed.


"The FIA International Court of Appeal has decided to deny the appeals submitted against decisions numbered 16 to 24 taken by the Panel of the Stewards on 26 March at the 2009 Grand Prix of Australia and counting towards the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship," a statement released this morning read.

"Based on the arguments heard and evidence before it, the Court has concluded that the Stewards were correct to find that the cars in question comply with the applicable regulations."

"Full reasons for this decision will be provided in due course."

f1live.com

FIA has officially unlocked Pandoras box thank ambiguity of regulations. Now begins the aftermath of this soap opera. Mclaren, Ferrari and BMW will develop highly questionable diffuser designs which will lead to a counter-appeal by Williams, Toyota and Brawn. I can already feel the stench from what is about to unfold.

To be fair, Brawn did offer to clarify and simplify the technical rules in March last year, but the team refused his offer.

I find it pathetic for teams like Ferrari and BMW complaining about this, especially for Mario Theissen, who called for a 'level playing field', what does he think F1 is? Ferrari had enjoyed years of domination, and it was their fault for not keeping Brawn, now they are going to be punished badly for their mistake.

It is game on for the big teams to catch Brawn, Williams and Toyota, and this will make the most exciting season to watch.

F1 GP has become more administrated than some socialistic country.

The only limit should be annual team budget - and it's up to teams how to use that budget - either for R&D, paying drivers, paying stuff etc.

FIA should limit team annual budget to eg. $150 millions. All the other regulations & rules (incl. technical requirements & limitations) should then be agreed between the team in some sort of "gentleman's agreement".

Right now FIA is administrating too much ... Making the series more interesting only due to continuous FIA intervention (eg. changing rules every season, punishing teams & drivers during the series etc).

It's a farce ...

^ Yeah, but be a bit less critical.

With all the technology advances and all the money(still) behind Formula 1 how would the playing field ever be moderately levelled if very specific, very scientific rules were not imposed. It'd be a frikken free for all...

Without rules Formula 1 would just be a business and not a sport as well.

The problem with rules is they are imposed by some administrator (FIA), and not by the teams themselves.

So, top-down, instead of bottom-up principle.

IMO rules should be agreed by the teams themselves - in a gentelman's agreement (incl. the set sanctions in the case of rule violations).

C'mon ... teams are investing zillions of Dollars in this circus, and FIA is still directing the game on its own.


****

The most interesting times of F1 were times of team-agreed specs. But when FIA started to intervene too much - favouring one specific team & driver, being that Prost, Senna, Schumacher etc - then everything went wrong.

It's not a sports any more. But a circus, a farce & looks like an administrated & directed event. Like some American wrestling matches.

Look, the FIA isn't perfect - far from it. But better the devil you know...

I am personally of the view that an independent, "unbiased" , scientifically motivated governing body is the only way to administer top-flight motorsport. The days of team-agreed specs are long gone and altogether impractical as this leads to behind-the-shed collusion, cartels and double-crossing.

None of which goes on in current Formula 1 now does it?

I'm sure the today's teams - owned by large carmakers -would not risk their reputation by cheating & violating gentleman's agreement.

Or perhaps I'm too naive.

I am with Eni on this one.

I don't know when the line was crossed, and who crossed it, but Formula 1 today is too often about reversal of decisions, rule changes, experimentations on the rules and nothing but FIA chasing teams and the teams making more and more scandals in return.

I don't recall incidents like that in the 80's or 90's. The sport was more about scary machines, running on huge tyres, in dangerous conditions, with drivers having huge physical abilities, in machines that were monstruous and powerful. Today F1 is sanitized, clean, and almost quiet, with cars driven by tender teenagers, and until last year, with races that were not played by overtaking, but rather pit stops, regulations, fuel, tyres, and everything else that requires calculations and strategy rather than pure hardcore racing which in my humble opinion isn't as attractive. Results are also temptative only, since they often get changed in the court room following the race.


I think what needs to happen is Bernie Ecclestone going away, and somebody with a simple racing mind taking over. A simple racing mind..


Mike

You mean Ferrari or McLaren or BMW? Noooo neverrrr...