Formula 1 teams’ battles out of the track with debates
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Reuters
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Nisan 07, 2009 00:00
KUALA LUMPUR - Events in Europe could reshape the Formula One championship before teams regroup in China next week.
The focus is on the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and an appeal court hearing scheduled for Paris on April 14 that will make a definitive ruling on the sport's diffuser controversy. Â
If the four protesting teams -- BMW-Sauber, Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault -- succeed in overturning stewards' decisions from Australia and Malaysia, then pace-setting Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams will be reined in.
If the independent court agrees with the six stewards that the cars are legal, then expect Jenson Button to continue winning with topsy-turvy looking starting grids and results.
Rivals are already covering their bets, rushing to complete their own versions of the 'double-decker' rear diffuser that they believe to be illegal but that has brought Brawn's Button two wins from two races.
"Two of the three teams with a two-stage diffuser are clearly quicker," said BMW team boss Mario Theissen. "Brawn as number one and then Toyota. We cannot sit back and wait until the court of appeal is held and we have a decision. We have to work on it and we are spending money on it. But you cannot expect to make up for such a big gap within a few weeks. And it is clear that the teams that have it already are developing their cars as well."
The FIA, and its president Max Mosley, are also weighing up further action against McLaren for "deliberately misleading" race stewards in Australia.
The team, under the guidance of Martin Whitmarsh, has already been excluded from the race classification of the Melbourne season opener. McLaren was fined a record $100 million and stripped of all their constructors' points in 2007 for a controversy involving Ferrari data in their possession.
If the four protesting teams -- BMW-Sauber, Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault -- succeed in overturning stewards' decisions from Australia and Malaysia, then pace-setting Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams will be reined in.
If the independent court agrees with the six stewards that the cars are legal, then expect Jenson Button to continue winning with topsy-turvy looking starting grids and results.
Rivals are already covering their bets, rushing to complete their own versions of the 'double-decker' rear diffuser that they believe to be illegal but that has brought Brawn's Button two wins from two races.
"Two of the three teams with a two-stage diffuser are clearly quicker," said BMW team boss Mario Theissen. "Brawn as number one and then Toyota. We cannot sit back and wait until the court of appeal is held and we have a decision. We have to work on it and we are spending money on it. But you cannot expect to make up for such a big gap within a few weeks. And it is clear that the teams that have it already are developing their cars as well."
The FIA, and its president Max Mosley, are also weighing up further action against McLaren for "deliberately misleading" race stewards in Australia.
The team, under the guidance of Martin Whitmarsh, has already been excluded from the race classification of the Melbourne season opener. McLaren was fined a record $100 million and stripped of all their constructors' points in 2007 for a controversy involving Ferrari data in their possession.