Fuel issue- No penalty for BMW/Williams- McLaren to appeal

As I understand it, McLaren's objection is that these points had been looked at and decided in a minuted meeting, using the correct formal process. So in theory the FOM temperature was the official temperature and the refuelling tank fuel temperature was the one that had to be 10 degrees below ambient. Either the stewards didn't know, or like too many stewards before them they looked at the short-term fallout instead of running the sport by the rules. They spent 3 hours deliberating so that does make it look like a "judgement call" - taking the easy way out.

So I think McLaren are right to challenge a poor bit of officiating, to improve things next time, but I don't think they or anyone else want to change the result.

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Originally Posted by passmeatissue

As I understand it, McLaren's objection is that these points had been looked at and decided in a minuted meeting, using the correct formal process. So in theory the FOM temperature was the official temperature and the refuelling tank fuel temperature was the one that had to be 10 degrees below ambient. Either the stewards didn't know, or like too many stewards before them they looked at the short-term fallout instead of running the sport by the rules. They spent 3 hours deliberating so that does make it look like a "judgement call" - taking the easy way out.

So I think McLaren are right to challenge a poor bit of officiating, to improve things next time, but I don't think they or anyone else want to change the result.

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Further to my reply to Juppe's post, I would like to ask, just for my own satisfaction if I may, the exact ruling which states the FOM temperature is the official temperature, and how this is measured and certified correct. I would also ask, if I may, the reference to the refuelling tank fuel temperature as the one which has to be correct, and how this is measured and the measuring instruments certified accurate and correct.

I would stress, at this stage, that this is only for my own knowledge. However, others may infer that the exact scientific procedures for temperature measurements and references may have been, at best, dubious, and quite possibly inaccurate.

This was on pitpass (http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=33298)
quoting McLaren... "The team believes that the FIA has, in written clarification of the Technical Regulations and in its minutes of two Formula 1 Team Manager meetings, made clear how it would interpret and manage the Regulations and Procedures associated with the control of fuel temperatures. This process was followed in the normal manner by the FIA Technical Delegate following the Brazilian Grand Prix and the irregularities were reported by him to the Stewards of the meeting."

However Ted Kravitz on ITV (http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?T...tz&PO_ID=41190) says that the FOM temperature data was in disarray, perhaps too much so to use even if they wanted to.

How can a organization with the resources that the FIA has, always have such a problem enforcing their rules. You would think that a company this big could hire competent people and provide them with the proper tools for the job. This problem of selectively enforcing the rules has been going on for years.

It's bad for the competitors and for the reputation of the sport.

I agree! there's a good item on this on planet-f1 today - http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,1895...828705,00.html

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Originally Posted by ioan

But they don't want a clarification they want the others to be punished.
And they have to reasons:

1. Trying to win the WDC for Hamilton, but it's very unlikely
2. Trying to get more WCC points to offset some more millions from their $ 100.000.000 fine. As it stands they virtually got less points than Ferrari this season and they have to pay in excess of $ 50.000.000 fine. If however they manage to get Williams and BMW disqualified than they will get more points than earlier and they will also have most constructor points in which case there is more TV revenue virtually allocated to them and thus they will have to pay a smaller fine in the end.

So they are not appealing because they want a rule clarification, that's just a smoke screen as they have two way better reasons for an appeal than a mere rule clarification.
Not to mention that they did often seek for clarifications in the past without appealing (Renault's MDS, Ferrari floor beeing a few examples from the last 2 seasons).

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Even if I think McLaren are acting like a-holes in this situation and should take defeat graviously and not try what they're trying.

be honest... if Ferrari would be involved in this situation you and the other Ferrari fans would be giving us 9 pages long threads with hundreds of posts about how BMW and Williams should stick to the rules and that Ferrari deserves the title cause the other cars weren't legal anyway... and bla bla

I mean this is getting boring to read in every single thread "RD and McLaren are the most pathetic losers ever" when you'd be supporting Ferrari if they wre doing the same!

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Originally Posted by jso1985

Even if I think McLaren are acting like a-holes in this situation and should take defeat graviously and not try what they're trying.

be honest... if Ferrari would be involved in this situation you and the other Ferrari fans would be giving us 9 pages long threads with hundreds of posts about how BMW and Williams should stick to the rules and that Ferrari deserves the title cause the other cars weren't legal anyway... and bla bla

I mean this is getting boring to read in every single thread "RD and McLaren are the most pathetic losers ever" when you'd be supporting Ferrari if they wre doing the same!

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Link Please!!!

this whole thread...

Just for my knowledge, is it the temperature of the fuel in the fuel rigs or the temperature in the car or both that is covered by the FIA rules? It would be really simple to require a calibrated temperature sensor in the car's fuel tank which could easily be monitored if you want to get that precise. The same goes for the fuel rig.

(Perhaps they should take drivers' and team principals' temperatures, too?) ;)

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Originally Posted by jso1985

this whole thread...

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but you didn't provide a link ;) :D