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Post by Genghis on May 28, 2007 21:58:08 GMT
And the offending words from Ron Dennis were: “An outstanding result for the team. Both Fernando and Lewis drove so well and responded excellently to the team’s wishes of bringing both cars home safely in what was a memorable one-two result and McLaren’s 14th victory in the Principality. However there is some disappointment because of the different strategies we needed to follow to cope with a potential deployment of the Safety Car which has happened four times in the last five years. Consequently you virtually have to decide in advance which one of the team’s two drivers will claim the victory. Once the first round of pitstops had taken place we reverted Lewis from a one-stop-strategy to the faster two-stop-strategy and at the same time slowed both cars down to conserve the brakes. As a team we would like to race but this circuit requires a disciplined approach and as a result we can leave Monte Carlo with the maximum amount of points.” Taken from the excellent: www.mclaren.co.ukI don't see anything wrong with that. It's not as if Hamilton stopped and let Alonso by. It would be grossly unfair if action was taken against McLaren, considering some of the dreadful stuff Ferrari have got away with in recent years, where one rider was blatantly favoured. All the best Rob
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Post by admin on May 28, 2007 22:04:25 GMT
Thing is, McLaren slowed their cars down after the FIRST round of stops. Presumably, if they'd continued flat out, Massa would've seen waved blues, just like the rest of the field.
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Post by schumi on May 28, 2007 22:09:50 GMT
The issue only seems to be with a couple of the British newspapers, no-one else. Lewis was catching Fernando at one point and they feel deprived of seeing him get his first win. Trouble is, catching someone, and overtaking them in Monaco are two different things entirely.
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Post by admin on May 28, 2007 22:12:36 GMT
As Brundle mentioned in commentary, it all seemed relative. Hamilton seemed to be catching Alonso, but when push came to shove and before push came to shove, Alonso had already proved he had the pace to stay in front. Alonso clocked the fastest lap of the day, not Hamilton.
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Post by schumi on May 28, 2007 22:28:16 GMT
Alonso was always going to win the race, regardless of team orders. But I do wonder how things would have turned out had Lewis pushed as hard as he could. Massa was only ever going to get third, but could Lewis have taken Alonso without taking both of them out of the race? It would have been worth it - currently Alonso is leading the championship on race wins, but Lewis would have been ahead had he taken Fernando.
Commentary said that only twice in the past has the championship leader going into Monaco not gone on to win the WC. That leader going into the race was Lewis Hamilton. Could this be the year a Brit lifts the trophy?
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Post by donsking on May 28, 2007 23:29:29 GMT
And the offending words from Ron Dennis were: “An outstanding result for the team. Both Fernando and Lewis drove so well and responded excellently to the team’s wishes of bringing both cars home safely in what was a memorable one-two result and McLaren’s 14th victory in the Principality. However there is some disappointment because of the different strategies we needed to follow to cope with a potential deployment of the Safety Car which has happened four times in the last five years. Consequently you virtually have to decide in advance which one of the team’s two drivers will claim the victory. Once the first round of pitstops had taken place we reverted Lewis from a one-stop-strategy to the faster two-stop-strategy and at the same time slowed both cars down to conserve the brakes. As a team we would like to race but this circuit requires a disciplined approach and as a result we can leave Monte Carlo with the maximum amount of points.” Taken from the excellent: www.mclaren.co.ukWell that's the most contradictory and carefully worded load of old bollox I've read for many a year! So, on the one hand Dennis catagorically denies any team orders in his immediate response to the FIA investigation, then tells everyone the race winner was decided before they got to the grid, to the point where strategies were changed mid-race and drivers were told to slow down; then he tries to use brake conservation as a mitigating circumstance, because of course they didn't previously know that Monaco is a hard circuit for brakes and so they couldn't really prepare for that; well done Bridgestone for having a super soft tyre that will only be used in that race, what a bunch of tossers McLaren are for not having better brakes available for that race (although we all know that excuse is just a smokescreen to try and divert the thicko armchair enthusiasts). McLaren should be penalised for a blatent use of team orders, but the FIA should deduct constructor points only; it would be grossly unfair to expect the drivers to shoulder the burden of their paymaster's cynical choices. And no, I'm not saying that as a Hamilton fan. I think we were denied a proper grandstand finish on Sunday; qualifying promised so much, the race delivered nothing.
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Post by schumi on May 30, 2007 8:56:13 GMT
Latest from the boss: Bernie Ecclestone insists McLaren could face a ban or points deduction if they are found guilty of issuing team orders during Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. The FIA, motorsport's governing body, have launched an investigation into the circumstances of world champion Fernando Alonso's win in Monte Carlo amid allegations team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who finished second, was told not to challenge for the lead. Lewis admitted afterwards he was told to "ease off" in his pursuit of the Spaniard with McLaren insisting it was simply part of their strategy. But if the FIA conclude that the instruction amounted to team orders, banned under their own rules, Ecclestone would like to see the British-based team treated harshly. Ferrari were fined £500,000 when they were found guilty of issuing team orders after the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002 - and Ecclestone believes that is the least McLaren should expect if they are found against. "I don't know what the 'team orders' are or were," he told the Daily Mail. "One thing is for sure - if there were team orders which relate to the position of the two drivers - if somebody is told to move over or hold their position - it is against all the sporting regulations we have.
"If there were orders, they would be getting off lightly if they get the same sort of fine as Ferrari.
"They could be excluded from the championship or they could have points deducted.
"A fine for McLaren, with its money, would not have the same effect as docking points."
But Ecclestone has ruled out a direct punishment for Hamilton or Alonso, claiming they would not have had a say in the 'manufactured' result. "If there were instructions, it wouldn't be the drivers' fault," he added. "If I'm driving for you and you tell me to stay where I am and not overtake the guy in front, what can I do? "It would be those who give the orders who should receive the punishment." From www.planet-f1.com
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Post by admin on May 30, 2007 9:27:50 GMT
What a surprise, Ecclestone wanting to see any team but his beloved Ferrari harshly punished.
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Post by Genghis on May 30, 2007 12:18:23 GMT
What a surprise, Ecclestone wanting to see any team but his beloved Ferrari harshly punished. Sub, Agreed - there were blantant team orders at Ferrari in the back end of last year, with Massa quite often slowing to ensure Schumacher stayed ahead. What action was taken? Jack Shit. Now suddenly McLaren have done not very much at all, it was more sending out two drivers on different strategies than anything else and they face a points deduction to ensure Ferrari win the Constructors Championship. About time Biased Bernie was put out to grass. All the best Rob
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Post by schumi on May 30, 2007 14:41:49 GMT
The FIA have cleared McLaren of any wrongdoing during Sunday's Monaco GP. Formula One's governing body launched an investigation into Fernando Alonso's victory after Woking boss Ron Dennis admitted that he asked Lewis Hamilton, who finished second, to slow down during the race. However, the FIA have now declared that McLaren "did nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result". In a statement, they declared that McLaren's 'team strategy' was 'entirely legitimate' and ruled that 'no further action is necessary.' Full story on www.planet-f1.com/
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2007 11:35:20 GMT
what a bunch of tossers McLaren are for not having better brakes available for that race (although we all know that excuse is just a smokescreen to try and divert the thicko armchair enthusiasts). Then again, a mate of mine who works for an F1 team (that shall remain nameless) told me that they once forgot to send any tyres to a GP.
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