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Brundle hits back at FIA writ

Martin Brundle has spoken out at the FIA s recent decision to sue British newspaper The Sunday Times over a column he wrote in September 2007, just days before McLaren were thrown out of the 2007 Constructors Championship and fined $100 million. Brundle has accused the FIA of trying to deter the media from making negative comments about F1 s governing body over the controversial espionage issues.

Brundle s latest column claims that the timing of the FIA s legal threat is not a coincidence. “The timing of the writ is significant, in my view, given the FIA s decision to find Renault guilty of having significant McLaren designs and information within their systems, but not administering any penalty. It is a warning sign to other journalists and publications to choose their words carefully over that decision.

“I am tired of what I perceive as spin and tactics of the FIA press office, as are many other journalists. I expect my accreditation pass for next year will be hindered in some way to make my coverage of F1 more difficult and to punish me. Or they will write to ITV again to say that my commentary is not up to standard despite my unprecedented six Royal Television Society Awards for sports broadcasting. So be it.”

Brundle has emphasized that he believes what he wrote was a matter of opinion and an opinion that he should be allowed to express freely. “As a former Formula One driver, I have earned the right to have an opinion about the sport, and probably know as much about it as anybody else,” he continued.

“I have attended approaching 400 Grands Prix, 158 as a driver. I have spilt blood, broken bones, shed tears, generated tanker loads of sweat, tasted the champagne glories and plumbed the depths of misery.

“I have never been more passionate about F1 and will always share my opinions in an honest and open way, knowing readers will make up their own minds.”

Whilst we at Forumula1.com wouldn’t like to comment on Martin Brundle and his opinions, we would like to say that we believe the FIA is an incredible organisation, so much so, that some of our journalists even sleep with a picture of Max Mosely under their pillow!

Now can we please get on with the sport, that means racing for those who don’t know, and ensure that 2008 is remembered for just that…

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