- 13 Sep 07, 21:51#13656
Well, after Mike Coughlan admitted to sharing details of Ferrari's illegal designs which were immediately forwarded to the FIA, then allowing a firewall to be set up so no further information could be received from Stepney, I think it's perfectly natural for the FIA to penalise McLaren for not using any data for their car, the one that had been tested from January.
But seriously, if the FIA have evidence that Ferrari data came from another source, rather than Mike Coughlan, who only provided information not used in the car, and that their car was enhanced because of it, then fair enough, McLaren should be excluded. However, if the evidence only shows Mike Coughlan's data of the "floor device, a rear wing flap separator, and a technique to lower the floor of the car.", all of which was sent directly to the FIA and, being as the first was illegal, not used in the car, then I can't see how they could punish them.
So, to sum up, if the FIA have evidence we haven't heard that categorically state McLaren used Ferrari's data in their car, then I say they got off lightly, especially since they seem to have done a better job than Ferrari themselves of putting a car together that actually works. If, however, the evidence just states what we heard so far, that one person had some data, showed it to a few others who forwarded it on to the FIA and told him to stop being a silly b*gger, then they shouldn't have had such a harsh penalty.
But seriously, if the FIA have evidence that Ferrari data came from another source, rather than Mike Coughlan, who only provided information not used in the car, and that their car was enhanced because of it, then fair enough, McLaren should be excluded. However, if the evidence only shows Mike Coughlan's data of the "floor device, a rear wing flap separator, and a technique to lower the floor of the car.", all of which was sent directly to the FIA and, being as the first was illegal, not used in the car, then I can't see how they could punish them.
So, to sum up, if the FIA have evidence we haven't heard that categorically state McLaren used Ferrari's data in their car, then I say they got off lightly, especially since they seem to have done a better job than Ferrari themselves of putting a car together that actually works. If, however, the evidence just states what we heard so far, that one person had some data, showed it to a few others who forwarded it on to the FIA and told him to stop being a silly b*gger, then they shouldn't have had such a harsh penalty.
Last edited by pb on 13 Sep 07, 21:54, edited 1 time in total.
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