Illegally flexing rear wings

[mcdenife]

Heres more regarding the Ferrari barge boards thing (Malaysia 1999) from Shant fabrication:

Interviewed after the race, Ron suggested that the by-now bald tyres on the two Ferraris were illegal, and that a protest was in order - the possible penalty, disqualification.
The disqualification did come, but in a form nobody expected - illegally-sized barge boards. Whether the FIA was tipped-off remains a mystery, but what is certain is that the controversy raged long after the championship officially finished at Suzuka.
The bargeboards on the red cars were discovered to be 1 centimetre wider than was officially allowed. There seemed to be no argument - the cars were illegal, Hakkinen would be installed as the 'winner', and consequently the championship had been decided then and there.
On this last point, cynics suggested, lay the basis for the success of Ferrari's appeal. Title showdowns are always good for ratings, and particularly because Japan is a flyaway race, the viewing figures would be seriously diminished if the title was already decided. Hence, something had to be done.
That something was the re-instatement of both Ferraris, much to the chagrin of Ron Dennis. To this day, Max Mosley is absolutely adamant that Ferrari won on the basis of its appeal, and not because there was a title at stake. Ron Dennis, for his part, is equally adamant that forces beyond those of the FIA Tribunal were at work. There is one other thing that needs to be known however, and that is that Ferrari was allowed to look at its cars, even though they had verbally admitted that their car was illegal - instead, they intended to appeal on a punishment-not-fitting-the-crime basis. On this point, the rules are explicit: unless the team in question admits to the infringement in writing, the car must be impounded until the appeal is heard. Ferrari was therefore able to look at its cars, and on the evidence available, changed the basis of its appeal. The end result is, of course, history.
All in all, it was an ugly resolution to a race which had marked a rapid return to form for Ferrari, although it did prove to be a suitably contentious lead-up to the title showdown, two weeks later, in Japan. This weekend's race will be face a mammoth task if it is going to match the inaugural race for controversy, but we live in hope that it will prove to be more exciting in terms of on-track action.

[Scuderia_Russ]

So, what happens in the race? Schumacher tries to knock Villeneuve off the track to win the title and get away with it again just like he did in 1994 against Hill.

Sigh. Damon punted the Benetton out of the race if I remember correctly.

However, he just so happened to hit the toughest part of Villeneuve’s car – the sidepod! Ha, ha

This is a really unbiased article you are quoting Manchild...not.

If Villeneuve would have knocked him off, I am sure the punishment would have been much harder.

It's this sort of random, dreamed up speculation that sees Ferrari and Schumacher continuously accused of crap. There is absoloutely no way that Villeneuve would have made that corner if Schuey wasn't there. (see even I can have a go at speculating)

Anyway, the international media as a whole chose to avoid reporting this and completely side-stepped pressing the FIA into conceding why Schumacher was given such a lenient punishment. I, myself, was only aware of Schumacher receiving this lenient ‘driving’ punishment in November 1998 – 12 months after he got it! This proves that the media tried their very hardest to overlook this pathetic punishment, and this is just another example of the FIA – Bernie Ecclestone and Max Moseley – bending over backwards for Schumacher & Ferrari.

If this clown "only found out about it 12 months after he got it" He is either a no-body or is obviously not in a position to see the big picture. Probably both. (there I go speculating again... quite easy this speculating business. I can say whatever I want and I don't need any evidence to back it up!)

If anyone is in any doubt about what is said above, then they should have looked at the arrogant smile on Eddie Irvine's face when walking away free from the court room - it was written all over his face that they got away with it

There he goes again!

After the controversy of Ferrari's 'illegal' barge-boards came another revelation - but it came several weeks after the race. This revelation - which you may still be unaware of due to the international media deliberately avoiding it

And why the hell would the international media avoid such stories?! I'm guessing because there is nothing to tell.

During the same Grand Prix, Ferrari were accused of using a form of Traction Control by an anonymous source in the F1 paddock. The anonymity of this individual should not detract from the believability of what he said because he is spot on.

Ha-ha. An engineer and traction control expert as well as a journalist. (pretty poor one at that.) There could be any number of reasons that Ferrari's were quicker out of certain corners than McLarens!

If you have access to a copy of the 1999 Malaysian GP, then watch the rear-wheels of Michael Schumacher's car when he exits the slower corners on the track - especially the first and last corners. If you look closely, you can see his wheels and car rear-end exit in an ultra smooth manner. Also, if you look at Hakkinen who was right behind him, you will notice how differently and slowly he exits the same corners compared to how Schumacher does.

This is a joke right?

There was also a website similar to mine that included footage of Schumacher exiting the slower corners. Unfortunatley, the site has moved base and I have lost track of it.

Probably closed down for spreading lies. (I'm loving this speculation stuff)

Not only does this quote prove that Ferrari actually used traction control, it proves that Moseley is prepared to indirectly voice his partiality towards them, and, most importantly, the simple fact that he is prepared to "have a quiet word with them" instead of banning them from the race and punishing them for an infringement (banning them would have made McLaren the 1999 Constructors' Championships!).

So an unnamed source that could have been the cleaner at Malaysia G.P. press office for all you know claims that Ferrari are using traction control in conjunction with Max saying he will have a quiet word about with a team about the use of such a device. Could have been Minardi for all we know.

So, in giving that quote, he is basically saying that Ferrari got away with an illegality and that he and the FIA are going to do nothing about it. So, you can rest assured that Ferrari are extremely unlikely to ever get banned on ANY illegality ever again in the near and probably distant future.

Did I miss the bit about the confirmation of Ferrari's guilt? I don't remember anything about it at the time!

This is serious stuff people.

No it isn't. It's the biggest peice of circumstantial, Mickey Mouse journalism that I have ever had the misfortune to read.

If only the mass media would tell the motorsport world the truth and bring Ferrari and the FIA to justice!

I'm curious to know not only who the mass media are but why thet are witholding all this information and great sports stories about Ferrari!

Take Brazil 2000, for example. David Coulthard finished in a strong second place, but after the race, his car was deemed illegal by the FIA due to a ‘supposed’ front-wing irregularity. The race stuards and the FIA said that Coulthard’s front wing was 5mm shy of the required dimensions. However, what had really happened was that his front-wing had been slightly damaged during the race, and because it was damaged, it was dragging on the ground throughout almost the whole race. If his car had genuinely been in an illegal condition, then that would have warranted the disqualification – but the stuards/FIA deliberately avoided what really happened in order to help Ferrari as much as they possibly could and maximise their chances of winning both championships purely for money-making purposes.

This proves what bullshit this guy is spouting because after this race, Coulthard admits in a press confrence that the team raised the front wing outside the allowed limits because of the bumpy nature of the track. They didn't ask the stewards for exemption or permission. It is in full colour straight after the Grand Prix on the official season review!! I have seen him admit as much with my own eyes!!

This is an absoloute joke!!

[DaveKillens]

If we didn't have controversy it would be a boring world. But please be nice to each other, we're all race fans.

[manchild]

Take it easy SR... it was just a big fat article suitable for pasting

The way events are presented in it isn't that good but I used it only because it mentiones controversial situations. You really didn't have to go into all that replying, sorry for that

Anyway, it is not worse than ideas and public releases we get from Max

[FLC]

Any successful team or individual would be subject to this sort of speculation, living legends, big names and outstanding performers in particular. I believe Ferrari is bending the rules at the same exact level as the other teams. If there was really something in those accusations i think we would prob. see a lil more comments and actions about it, than the usual whining of Renault (in particular this time...), Mclaren and the rest. Just like they knew how to unite and act last year in the USA, they could do it on this matter too.
I cant believe that the FIA is performing fake tests on Ferrari cars. Even if the FIA didnt like the wing and how it works, it could have told Ferrari to ban it without punishment because of some excuse (innocent interpertation or something), but the noise the other teams made wasnt up to that level, so the wing is prob. perfectly legal.
So until something is really proven i think the best comment for us, ferrari fans, is the comment of Jean Todt: "I'm flattered. Flattered that people are interested in Ferrari again...".

[janus]

stop creating speculation about ferrarithe next things you fys come up is somthing that ferrari did to win 5 champ in a row tferrari

[acer]

what's the big thing even they won 5 title with a car that is illegal?

[jezzwa]

haha how ironic, after claiming Ferrari's wing is illegal they are having their own tested by the FIA, talk about egg on face renault

[m3_lover]

FIA delegate Charlie Whiting may already have arranged a meeting with Renault's Pat Symonds, amid claims that the R26 racer's unique rear wing end plates are designed to bend at high speed, thus reducing wind drag.

According to 'Auto Motor Und Sport' in Germany, the Renault's 2006 rear wing is designed so that - at high speed - the trailing edge moves out of the line of wind flow.

A central theme of the 'flex' case against Ferrari, meanwhile, is that - unlike every other team - the main element of the '248' car's rear wing is not reinforced by vertical 'supports', which in theory could allow the wing to bend at high speed.

'Auto Motor Und Sport' suggests that Ferrari could be asked by the FIA to install such supports.

[peroa]

To me it sounds more like:

"Oh, you dare to question Ferrari`s rear wing?
Now we are going to check you and we are sure we will find something..."

[Spencifer_Murphy]

Nothing will happen to Renault. if im on the right track here they are being investigated for the RWEP, how it looks like its "hinged" right?

Well they've been using that since Monaco 2004, so I guess the FIA have to check it again to make sure they havent modefied the design to allow more flex.

[Sawtooth-spike]

Boy that Rear wing closes up at high speed, and the end plates move a fair bit 2.

I Think Ferrari are not the only ones doing this, it might just be they are the most obviose.

Come on FIA Sort it out!

[Scuderia_Russ]

McLaren wings are also under investigation but because they are not Ferrari no-one is bothered.

[Steven]

There is nothing wrong with the current wing as it is proved legal by FIA stress testing. Every team tries to optimise their wings but the new rear wing would even go a step further... the story continues

[allan]

common!!
if FIA wanted ferrari 2 win all those championships, then why did they change the rules every year?
qualifying,points,engines, wings,and so on! they could ban ferrari of competing in first place..
then what was so special about michael in 94-95? so the fia didn't punish him the right way? or even what is so special about ferrari and shumi right now in this time??
afterwards in 97 they punished schumacher the hard way, because of hiting vil.
But, when juan pablo montoya came on the line, he became the "overtaking hero" after hitting both of the SCHUMACHERS in several occasions, and pushing kimi off the track in A1 ring 2002
In my opinion, saying:"THEY ARE CHEATING" is the loser's way of saying
'THEY ARE BETTER THAN US"but because they are way too cowered to admit it.
so if any one believes any team is cheating, if it was ferrari or what ever it is, PROVE IT!