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[AKR]

Could this be true. I was discussing this with a neutral
friend as I have thought this a possibilty a long time
but didn't want talk this out to any Ferrari tifosi for
fear of been regarded an outcast. Ferrari is very deeply
involved in the FIA and it leads me to believe that
corruption exists well deeper than what has been perceived.

2007 was Ferrari's 60th anniversary and it has been a known
fact that if they did not win the constructors championship
that they would of lost millions of dollars. McLaren's car
at the start of the season had defenitly no Ferrari parts
as they wouldn't of had possession of the 200 plus document.
I do remember that at the start of the seaon that McLaren's
car was quick and already posed a threat to Ferrari without
any chance of it having Ferrari parts. So what could of
really happened?

A setup perhaps? Maybe just maybe Stepnay was setup. He
was delibrately given the Ferrari documents by Ferrari to
give to Coughan and then the rest was all a pretence to
make it look like a scandal and McLaren gets done. I would
believe this. Why not? If McLaren's car is as quick as
Ferrari's and legit and they now have a big chance to
clinch the title and if Ferrari don't win they will loose
millions why not stuff the oppenent up through the legal
system instead? When all was very much lost Ferrari said the
only chance they had of winning was throughh the courts.
A chance they had good odds at since the scandal was all
made for Ferrari.

And then Kimi winning by a point when Hamilton had it in
the bag 2 races before. Another scandal for sure. Hamilton
isn't an idiot surely and if he were his superiors at McLaren
certainily are not even though I wished they were. They
knew very well that all he had to do was get 4 points or
whatever to wrap up the title. They would of told Lewis to
just finsih the race and get those points and be world
champion rather than be an idiot and take unnessary risks.

I would say that McLaren were told to loose the drivers
title OR ELSE!!!! Yes hard to believe but the final
outcome of Kimi winning doesn't equate. The 2008 McLaren was
going to be scrutinised. If McLaren didn't give in to
the FIA demands to loose the drivers title they potentially
could of faced sanctions in 2008 and possibly exclusion
again. As you can see for 2008 McLaren was practicly
cleared for 2008 and are ready for a new start. Perhaps
a deal to let Kimi win? Either let Kimi win OR ELSE face
further penalties in 2008. I would believe that.

Basically when there is corruption on the inside anything
is possible. Why is the mafia so powerful in Italy?
A good reason is because there is corruption in the heart
of the government in Rome. Why can Ferrari do what they
have done? They are very close to the FIA. And then you
have factors like Mosely not liking Ron Dennis. Another
factor to help Ferrari's cause and abuse the powers of
the FIA.

Anyway I thought I would share this with you as I don't
think there are any tifosi here that would condem me
over this statement. Either way I am a true Ferrari
tifosa forever. Ferrari is the team of my nationality and
I am passionate about cars, about Ferrari as I am about
my hertiage. But sometimes when things are wrong you just
want to let it out if you know what I mean.

[racechick]

Those thoughts have crossed my mind many times. I would not put anything past the FIA, they do an injustice to motor racing , the fans and all the people who work so hard within the teams. If my team or driver don't win ,so be it ; but if they are cheated out of winning that is a different matter and I get so angry. Is it such a difficult task for a governing body of a sport to provide a level playing field for all teams?

[deMuRe]

I think I've been watching the "Max n Bernie Show" for years. Contraversy and Drama, it's all designed to get F1 into the masses...

I actually thought Bernie sat down with Michael at the start of his career and said "Give me a villain and I'll make you one of the richest sportsman in the world"...

[stonemonkey]

I think most people would agree that spying in some form or another goes on a lot within most teams but whether or not Ferrari dangled a great big carrot in front of Mclaren I wouldn't like to say. Either way, if Mclaren took that data they were cheating but it's strange that there was enough evidence to kick them out of the constructors championship but not the drivers and I think it's possible that they were allowed to continue racing as long as they didn't win the championshuip maybe with the threat of further investigation and losing it anyway and exclusion from the 2008 season.[/conspiracy]
I'm not trying to take anything from Ferrari and I'm glad Kimi won in the end but I'd much rather see a driver win in a season that isn't such a political mess and hopefully whatever went on last year doesn't spill over into this year.

[7UpJordan]

Either way, if Mclaren took that data they were cheating but it's strange that there was enough evidence to kick them out of the constructors championship but not the drivers and I think it's possible that they were allowed to continue racing as long as they didn't win the championshuip maybe with the threat of further investigation and losing it anyway and exclusion from the 2008 season.

The FIA were about to throw the drivers out of the Championship until McLaren's lawyer pleaded with them to keep them in, I don't know what was said, but eventually Hamilton and Alonso were allowed to continue to fight for the Championship.

It's an interesting theory but I think it could be thrown in the bin if Williams suddenly start dominating this season or something along those lines.

[8-ball]

This is definitely the most will thought out theory that I have read regarding what happended in 2007. There is definite corruption in sport in Italy we saw that with the Serie A. Whether it spills over to the FIA I don't know but there is definitely a problem with the FIA and it can be solved with Moseley been shown the door. If there was a conspiracy i am glad Kimi was the beneficiary as he should have been a champion long before last year

[AKR]

Either way, if Mclaren took that data they were cheating but it's strange that there was enough evidence to kick them out of the constructors championship but not the drivers and I think it's possible that they were allowed to continue racing as long as they didn't win the championshuip maybe with the threat of further investigation and losing it anyway and exclusion from the 2008 season.

The FIA were about to throw the drivers out of the Championship until McLaren's lawyer pleaded with them to keep them in, I don't know what was said, but eventually Hamilton and Alonso were allowed to continue to fight for the Championship.

It's an interesting theory but I think it could be thrown in the bin if Williams suddenly start dominating this season or something along those lines.

If my conspiracy theory is true, it means McLaren got done in the drivers championship as well anyway since the theory states for Hamilton to loose the title or else......

[AKR]

This is definitely the most will thought out theory that I have read regarding what happended in 2007. There is definite corruption in sport in Italy we saw that with the Serie A. Whether it spills over to the FIA I don't know but there is definitely a problem with the FIA and it can be solved with Moseley been shown the door. If there was a conspiracy i am glad Kimi was the beneficiary as he should have been a champion long before last year

The Serie A scnadal was a perfect example of another clubs desire to attempt to take out another for the sole abuse of power. Juventus got it the worse and in a way AC Milan (the 2 greatest clubs in Italian football). Inter sort to take them down through the courts with very much bullsh1t evidence. Phone calls that were tapped etc similar to the emails Alonso had that stuffed up McLaren. Inter cheifs had connections within the calciopoli in a similar way that Ferrari has it with the FIA. Inter now cheat in my opinion more than the 2 big clubs that were convicted. They are first in Serie A by 11 points on second and couldn't even beat Liverpool who is like 5th in the EPL. In fact they lost 2-0 to Liverpool as they can't cheat in the UEFA Champions League. Suffer! I'm Italian and I was going for Liverpool. Ferrari would probably be the same regarding the 2007 championship. If there was no help by the FIA McLaren would of won both the constructors and drivers title. And yes I just said that and no I would never ever say that ouside this forum as Ferrari gives me too much pride. .

[McLaren Fan]

I think AKR has made a very good post. Corruption is rife in Italy and Ferrari and the FIA are bed fellows. Stepney has been maintaining since day one that he was setup, indeed, he had fallen out with Ferrari's top brass, so they could easily have taken the chance to get rid of Stepney and jeopardise McLaren in one go. As Ferrari said themselves, the only way they were winning the title in 2007 was in the courts.

The drivers' title was kept going by Ecclestone not for the love of McLaren or the fans, but because people would switch off their televisions with no titles to be decided, particularly the title for which most people would care more. By McLaren throwing the drivers' title at the end, the title race would be kept going, millions would be tuned in, and McLaren still leave 2007 with nothing.

The FIA and Ecclestone have so much power, McLaren could do little but comply. Nothing was in their hands.

We certainly can't prove it, a lot is circumstantial, and we'll never know what really happened in 2007, as far as I'm concerned. In my view, the bare minimum of what happened last year was what McLaren did being blown out of proportion, used as an excuse to penalise the time to assist Ferrari and another opportunity for Mosley to settle old scores with Dennis.

[stonemonkey]

The FIA were about to throw the drivers out of the Championship until McLaren's lawyer pleaded with them to keep them in, I don't know what was said, but eventually Hamilton and Alonso were allowed to continue to fight for the Championship.

Were they allowed to continue to fight for the championship or was some deal made that allowed them to continue racing as long as they didn't win the championship as total exlusion would've been bad for F1 and turned it into a one horse race?

[McLaren Fan]

Were they allowed to continue to fight for the championship or was some deal made that allowed them to continue racing as long as they didn't win the championship as total exlusion would've been bad for F1 and turned it into a one horse race?

I think a couple of things could have been on the table: McLaren could continue in a (now sham) title race faced with exclusion for the rest of 2007 and 2008. This would have put McLaren out of business. For Formula One, this would be a disaster. Mercedes would have to come up with millions almost overnight to save some semblance of a team. McLaren keep racing and make it look as though there was a title race still on. McLaren are saved, Ferrari win, and the fans are still watching.

[AKR]

Were they allowed to continue to fight for the championship or was some deal made that allowed them to continue racing as long as they didn't win the championship as total exlusion would've been bad for F1 and turned it into a one horse race?

I think a couple of things could have been on the table: McLaren could continue in a (now sham) title race faced with exclusion for the rest of 2007 and 2008. This would have put McLaren out of business. For Formula One, this would be a disaster. Mercedes would have to come up with millions almost overnight to save some semblance of a team. McLaren keep racing and make it look as though there was a title race still on. McLaren are saved, Ferrari win, and the fans are still watching.

That very much aligns with my prediction that Hamilton was told to loose. But now the next question. For 2008, will McLaren be allowed to legitemily contend for the title or will it be rigged again? Given the deepness of this scandal and how much control Ferrari has with the FIA I believe Ferrari will win again in 2008. Yes at the moment their car appears faster but I am certain that McLaren can challenge Ferrari in 2008 and for the title, just like in 2007, but I don't believe the FIA will allow McLaren to win in 2008. There is just too much corruption in all sports. I thought it was just in football. Oh well if it continues down this dark path in F1, so much as I like Ferrari winning I think it is going to completely ruin F1. Maybe a new break away sport will be born? Sounds silly but it has happen elsewhere has it not?

[Jabberwocky]

Perhaps after being told the throw the title last year, Mclaren and Hamilton will coin it in this year. So that Ron Dennis can retire at the end of the year on a high.

Assuming his wife does not want half of Mclaren in the divorce

[McLaren Fan]

That very much aligns with my prediction that Hamilton was told to loose. But now the next question. For 2008, will McLaren be allowed to legitemily contend for the title or will it be rigged again? Given the deepness of this scandal and how much control Ferrari has with the FIA I believe Ferrari will win again in 2008. Yes at the moment their car appears faster but I am certain that McLaren can challenge Ferrari in 2008 and for the title, just like in 2007, but I don't believe the FIA will allow McLaren to win in 2008. There is just too much corruption in all sports. I thought it was just in football. Oh well if it continues down this dark path in F1, so much as I like Ferrari winning I think it is going to completely ruin F1. Maybe a new break away sport will be born? Sounds silly but it has happen elsewhere has it not?

I would like to see all the teams get together, even Ferrari if they can bring themselves to break their alliance with the FIA which has existed since about 1983 during the days of FISA, and push for a more accountable and democratic governing body. If that doesn't happen, I would not mind seeing a breakaway series. The odd political scandal, although unfair and a disgraceful, was tolerable, but in the last few years Formula One has been going down the toilet: boring tracks, big business, teams being shagged over by the authorities, going green, cars easy to drive, the lot.

[texasmr2]

Assuming his wife does not want half of Mclaren in the divorce

Mercedes own 40% of the McLaren Group; the Barhraini Mumtalakat Holding Company hold 30%; and Dennis and TAG magnate Mansour Ojjeh own 15% each. So Mrs.Dennis would not get 1/2 but it would still be a multi multi million dollar stake at 7%.