- 09 Sep 07, 16:08#13353
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
From itv.com/F1:
ITV Sport commentator Martin Brundle says Formula 1's power-brokers must remember their responsibility to the sport and its fans as the spiral of political intrigue seemingly spun ever more deeply out of control in the Monza paddock.
Rumour and speculation over McLaren's fate when the World Motor Sport Council meets next Thursday to re-investigate how deeply confidential Ferrari information seeped into the team's organisation has entirely over-shadowed the on-track action at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.
And Brundle has warned that the sport is in danger of suffering serious long-term damage if the principal characters from the FIA, McLaren and Ferrari do not act responsibly to quieten the off-track row.
"For me , Formula 1 needs to remember its responsibility to the fans," he told ITV-F1.com.
"Events over the last 24 hours here at Monza have had a very bitter feel to them and this is not what the sport is about, or what the fans care about."
In his column for the Sunday Times, Brundle suggested that the circumstances in which McLaren finds itself - facing expulsion from the 2007 and '08 world championships, or at the very least a significant constructors' points deduction if found guilty of espionage - had "the feel of a witch-hunt, driven by the very people who have a primary responsibility to the sport."
Ferrari, whose dossier was allegedly passed to McLaren's now-suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan by Nigel Stepney, is the team that stands to gain most competitively from a McLaren censure.
Felipe Massa is currently 15 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship and Ferrari 11 behind McLaren in the constructors'.
Brundle pointed to a pattern in the timing of previous off-track rows that involved the Scuderia during a world title campaign.
"In all the leaked letters and positioning there is the feeling of a plan, an end game – and it's difficult not to see that through the prism of past controversies, often at around this time of year, involving Ferrari's fight for the world championship," he said.
"Think back to Fernando Alonso's incorrect grid penalty here last year in the midst of his title fight with Ferrari.
"Think back to four years ago when the Michelin tyres used by Ferrari's rivals were suddenly declared too wide, having been the same size for the previous three years."
The FIA denied on Saturday that it was pursuing any agenda against McLaren.
"The suggestion that the FIA's on-going investigation is about anything other than the pursuit of sporting fairness, demonstrates a blinding refusal to accept basic fact," said an FIA spokesman.
While F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone responded to suggestions that McLaren's Ron Dennis was considering withdrawing his team, by saying that he should instead stand and face the music.
"If they've done something really bad, wrong and they've got a big advantage, you've got to take it on the chin and say, 'I've been caught with my hand in the till, let's see how we can get out of it,'" he declared.
Brundle agrees, but added that caution should be used when deciding the nature of the punishment, that it does not hurt the sport, or the public's wider interests.
"If McLaren have broken the rules, they should be punished," he said.
"But if the FIA finds them guilty and bars them from this year's championship and probably the next, it will have a profound effect on the sport. Manufacturers and sponsors will all react to the damaged credibility.
"If the FIA takes further constructors' points from McLaren, it will cost the team tens of millions of pounds and generate potential difficulties with sponsor and driver contracts, but at least it will not wreck the future of Formula 1," he added.
"If it bars them from the remaining races in this year's championship and beyond, it will be like hitting the self-destruct button."
An interesting series of remarks from a very experienced driver and knowledgeable TV commentator. It's nice to know others are feeling exactly the same about with how the issue has been dealt.
ITV Sport commentator Martin Brundle says Formula 1's power-brokers must remember their responsibility to the sport and its fans as the spiral of political intrigue seemingly spun ever more deeply out of control in the Monza paddock.
Rumour and speculation over McLaren's fate when the World Motor Sport Council meets next Thursday to re-investigate how deeply confidential Ferrari information seeped into the team's organisation has entirely over-shadowed the on-track action at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.
And Brundle has warned that the sport is in danger of suffering serious long-term damage if the principal characters from the FIA, McLaren and Ferrari do not act responsibly to quieten the off-track row.
"For me , Formula 1 needs to remember its responsibility to the fans," he told ITV-F1.com.
"Events over the last 24 hours here at Monza have had a very bitter feel to them and this is not what the sport is about, or what the fans care about."
In his column for the Sunday Times, Brundle suggested that the circumstances in which McLaren finds itself - facing expulsion from the 2007 and '08 world championships, or at the very least a significant constructors' points deduction if found guilty of espionage - had "the feel of a witch-hunt, driven by the very people who have a primary responsibility to the sport."
Ferrari, whose dossier was allegedly passed to McLaren's now-suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan by Nigel Stepney, is the team that stands to gain most competitively from a McLaren censure.
Felipe Massa is currently 15 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship and Ferrari 11 behind McLaren in the constructors'.
Brundle pointed to a pattern in the timing of previous off-track rows that involved the Scuderia during a world title campaign.
"In all the leaked letters and positioning there is the feeling of a plan, an end game – and it's difficult not to see that through the prism of past controversies, often at around this time of year, involving Ferrari's fight for the world championship," he said.
"Think back to Fernando Alonso's incorrect grid penalty here last year in the midst of his title fight with Ferrari.
"Think back to four years ago when the Michelin tyres used by Ferrari's rivals were suddenly declared too wide, having been the same size for the previous three years."
The FIA denied on Saturday that it was pursuing any agenda against McLaren.
"The suggestion that the FIA's on-going investigation is about anything other than the pursuit of sporting fairness, demonstrates a blinding refusal to accept basic fact," said an FIA spokesman.
While F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone responded to suggestions that McLaren's Ron Dennis was considering withdrawing his team, by saying that he should instead stand and face the music.
"If they've done something really bad, wrong and they've got a big advantage, you've got to take it on the chin and say, 'I've been caught with my hand in the till, let's see how we can get out of it,'" he declared.
Brundle agrees, but added that caution should be used when deciding the nature of the punishment, that it does not hurt the sport, or the public's wider interests.
"If McLaren have broken the rules, they should be punished," he said.
"But if the FIA finds them guilty and bars them from this year's championship and probably the next, it will have a profound effect on the sport. Manufacturers and sponsors will all react to the damaged credibility.
"If the FIA takes further constructors' points from McLaren, it will cost the team tens of millions of pounds and generate potential difficulties with sponsor and driver contracts, but at least it will not wreck the future of Formula 1," he added.
"If it bars them from the remaining races in this year's championship and beyond, it will be like hitting the self-destruct button."
An interesting series of remarks from a very experienced driver and knowledgeable TV commentator. It's nice to know others are feeling exactly the same about with how the issue has been dealt.
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
