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[McLaren Fan]

From Autosport.com:

By Biranit Goren Wednesday, August 8th 2007, 10:52 GMT

McLaren have gone forward with their appeal against their penalty in the Hungarian Grand Prix, autosport.com can reveal.

The British squad were penalised after qualifying for what the stewards considered to be actions "prejudicial to the interests of the competition."

McLaren were barred from scoring any constructors' points, a total of 15 in the end, and world champion Fernando Alonso was demoted from pole to sixth place on the grid after unnecessarily impeding teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton was forced to wait for an extra 10 seconds behind Alonso's car in the final minutes of qualifying, and the delay meant the Briton was unable to complete his final flying lap.

The stewards found the team and Alonso guilty.

Within an hour McLaren notified the stewards of their intent to appeal, however by Sunday evening McLaren CEO Ron Dennis hinted the team were uncertain whether or not to continue with the appeal, although he denied suggestions the team already decided to repeal it.

But McLaren have decided to press on with the appeal, and the British national motorsport authority, which represents McLaren, have given notice to the FIA.

An FIA spokesman confirmed the news to autosport.com, stating: "We understand that the International Court of Appeal secretariat has received a confirmation of McLaren's appeal from the UK National Sporting Authority."

McLaren are still 19 points ahead of Ferrari in the championship with six races remaining.

Excellent news. I was worried with some of the messages coming from McLaren and Mercedes but there is plenty of evidence that should get McLaren their hard-earned points back. Sadly, it will be tough to convince the Ferrari International Association.[/b]

[alonso_campeon]

So if they r gonna get back the points, whats gonna happen with Alonso? I dont see that fair, they can get back the points because of Hamilton victory, so they r not penalased and Fernado is paying for everything...

[racechick]

Thats because Mclarens punishment is the one being appealed against , not the Alonso punishment, Thay would never win an appeal against alonsos punishment because it was blatant. They might not win the Mclaren appeal so they wont neccessarity get any points back. but they obviously feel its worth a try since the teanm werent at fault.

[ArtHowe]

and Fernado is paying for everything...

That's the way the cookie crumbles and it looks like Alonso has to eat it, crumbs and all.

[darwin dali]

The stewards decision re. FA's demotion by 5 positions was and remains unappealable (there's no recourse anyway, what's done is done) - only McLaren's penalty can be appealed.

[stonemonkey]

Well if the team weren't responsible for Alonso's delay in leaving the pits and impeding another driver whos responsibility was it?

[internos2k]

My hope is that never will happen it again. Fernando catched the punishing by himself, but still i don't understand why they punished the team. They say because those 20 secs, but also it means that a team is no more free to manage his drivers how it wants. It seems to be a DANGEROUS precedent, in my opinion.

[racechick]

Well if the team weren't responsible for Alonso's delay in leaving the pits and impeding another driver whos responsibility was it?

It was alonso's and his personal trainer (the guy on the pit wall who was talking to him when ron walked over and whipped his head phones off his head, at just about the point that it was impossible for hamilton to complete his final lap)

[bmwpower]

It was alonso's and his personal trainer (the guy on the pit wall who was talking to him when ron walked over and whipped his head phones off his head, at just about the point that it was impossible for hamilton to complete his final lap)

Please... His personal trainer doesn't even have a headset. As for Ron throwing his headphone down, it was AFTER the Q3 not when Alonso was sitting there thinking how he could piss off LH. Once and for all, FA did this on his own, it wasn't planned by him or anyone else. He was pissed that LH didn't let him pass during his run and saw the opportunity to SEND A MESSAGE back to LH and the team that he was disrepected. He was a hot head at that time and paid the price.

[racechick]

Ok point taken. But ron did go over to a guy on the pit wall who was talking to Alonso and pull his head phones off his head and frog march him off trailed by reporters. I agree that it was alonsos action and he that required the punishment. (I had heard that the guy talking to him was his trainer but could be misinformed)

[bmwpower]

The question no one asked was whom contacted the stewards and lodged a complain about McLaren's Q3 run?? Ron said he knows but not speaking, but Alonso has. Alonso said (maybe true maybe not) LH was seen talking to a steward after Q3, afterwards, the stewards informed RD that they are under investigation.
With RD, Alonso, LH and his PR in the room, RD & Alonso fielded a bunch of questions from the stewards while LH and his PR person sat silently listening to their explanations. Alonso said the team is not speaking to LH because they felt betrayed. Go to F1Live, search somewhere with the headline "McLaren Vs. McLaren" (or something like that) and you'll get the full story. At the end of the day, its just a childish move on both drivers.

[racechick]

I'll read that article when i get chance.
Anyone of a million people watching television could have lodged a complaint. Cant stewards just investigate anyway if they think its foul play?

[Selcouth_Feline]

Ok point taken. But ron did go over to a guy on the pit wall who was talking to Alonso and pull his head phones off his head and frog march him off trailed by reporters. I agree that it was alonsos action and he that required the punishment. (I had heard that the guy talking to him was his trainer but could be misinformed)

ITV commentators seemed to think it was his trainer and they thought Dennis might have wanted him to act as translator between the two of them?

Interesting re: who asked the stewards to investigate - it's the first I've seen that anyone actually asked the stewards to investigate the matter. Conspiracy theorists would probably say it was someone from Ferrari, in the hope that Alonso would take a grid slot penalty and end up behind Kimi, particularly as the track is known as one that is difficult to overtake on

Can stewards investigate incidents even if a complaint isn't lodged?

[Phil.T.Ho]

So if they r gonna get back the points, whats gonna happen with Alonso? I dont see that fair, they can get back the points because of Hamilton victory, so they r not penalased and Fernado is paying for everything...

i agree......McLaren as a "team?" made 1 almighty fu*< up in Hungary, and the stupid antics of both drivers, (although Fernando reacted to hamilton NOT OBEYING team orders), HAS been construed by the fia(sco) as having brought the "sport" into disrepute!!!!!.....McLaren did not enforce their order on hamilton which started this bo!!ox, so as a TEAM they are responsible!!!! all this doesnt matter anyway, because on September 13 McLaren will AND MUST be excluded from this years championship over the antics of Chief Designer Coughlan and Ferarri engineer Stepney......how surprising that these 2 crooks are both british!!!!!! there can be no place in racing for cheating on such a dirty and underhand tactic as stealing your competitors data, allowing you inside knowledge of their car and team structure and operational management!!!!!! McLaren to be excluded, and Fernando to Ferarri is on my Christmas wiish list!!!!!!

[Phil.T.Ho]

Well if the team weren't responsible for Alonso's delay in leaving the pits and impeding another driver whos responsibility was it?

It was alonso's and his personal trainer (the guy on the pit wall who was talking to him when ron walked over and whipped his head phones off his head, at just about the point that it was impossible for hamilton to complete his final lap)

no.....Dr. fRONkenstein threw his headset down after the swearing outburst on the radio from Lewboy!!!!!!!it was when hamilton told wRONg, "Dont ever fu<<in do that to me again".....what a cheeky monkey!!!!