No risk to pushing the boundaries anymore?

**Alfa Fan** · 2nd Jun 12, 22:43

It seems that now the FIA merely tells teams that they have to change their cars when they are deemed to have infringed the rules of the sport, rather than applying any form of punishment or deterrent to not doing so.

In the past it had always been the case that by trying novel ideas and using questionable interpretations of the rules carried the risk of exclusion and further punishments, but now all that seems to happen is they are told they have to change it.

Where is the incentive not to "cheat" now?

Also I realised after writing this that the title could equally apply to drivers on the modern circuit design, where there are no consequences to pushing over the limit any more. IMO it's cheapening the sport in both aspects...

**N4D13** · 3rd Jun 12, 01:45

For all I care, if it doesn't say in the rules that you can't do something, then you can do it. From that point of view, Red Bull haven't done anything wrong, so that's OK with me.

**F1boat** · 5th Jun 12, 09:34

Red Bull asked Charlie for the new design and he said "yes". They used it at won. At the time, it was not cheating. What's your point, really?

**wedge** · 5th Jun 12, 14:33

There are grey areas in the rules which allows innovation and there are devices considered to be grey areas and its down to the FIA to decide if it contravenes the rules.

Clarification is there because the FIA need all the help they can get, after all its the job of the teams to stay one step ahead of the rule makers or as one forum member succinctly put it: all cars are illegal, the authorities just don't know where to look.

Also it depends on the crime and perhaps circumstance. BAR/Honda were suspended for a number of races in 2005 for having an illegal fuel tank to use as ballast - even though it was passed by the scrutineers.

Another example but difficult to tolerate is the McLaren/Ferrari spy scandal of 2007. McLaren escaped lightly by having their drivers being allowed to continue on their WDC quest despite disqualified from the WCC and given a fine. A lesser team would have been dealt much more harshly and made into an example, as in the case of Honda.

**F1boat** · 5th Jun 12, 14:47

Originally Posted by wedge

BAR/Honda were suspended for a number of races in 2005 for having an illegal fuel tank to use as ballast - even though it was passed by the scrutineers.

Apples to oranges, really. The BAR car had a hidden device, which was never been approved by Charlie.