Sorry but I feel a long post comming (and a little rant) I'd just like to point out now I am not criticising anybody's personal viewpoint, we are each entilted to our own, and I'm not targeting my post at any individuals. The first part is a genral observation at what I've seen and read, the latter part a rant at this whole debatical. So here goes (*deep breath*)
I must admit that I am very dissappointed with Stepney, Coughlan, Alonso & De La Rosa. There is no disputing that what they did is wrong, and you cannot argue against the penalty given to Mclaren. At the end of the day those four individuals have done something underhand, and although it is just those four individuals Mclaren as a team are responsible for their employee's actions.
I am however very suprised at the vast quantity of anti-mclaren posts on this website claiming the team are cheats. I think everybody is forgetting that THIS SORT OF THING HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, what Mclaren did wrong, is get caught. And you would be very very naive to think Ferrari (and other teams) don't do the same sort of thing.
What seperates this particular case from others is that the information gained by Mclaren was not gained just by their empoylees looking and and/or finding out how the Ferrari works, they had a man on the inside (stepney) providing information.
I also disagree that Mclaren's car - from a design view point - has benifited from the information at all. Of course knowing Kimi's pitstops helps with race strategy, and knowing their weight distribution may teach you a thing or two about what their car is like (understanding the enemy sort of idea if you like) and having a gas to inflate your tyres with to prevent blistering is handy. BUT NONE OF IT, can influence the aerodynamic or mechanical design of this years MP4-22. (but of course it CAN provide an endge on track)
Furthermore, as a result of this point above, how is it that Mclaren have been given such a hefty penalty when cars like the 1995 Ligier (I can't remember the year exactly but I think it was basically a copy of the bennetton from the same year) get no penalty what-so-ever. This point also further proving that espionage in F1 has always happened, is still happening, and will continue to happen.
At the end of the day, what a few Mclaren employees have done was morally wrong, in practice the only thing they did incorrectly (as opposed to wrong - which implies a moral value) was get themselves caught in the act. And what they have done is no worse than what Ferrari, BMW, Toyota and any of the other big name / high budget teams are doing this very moment.
I am NOT saying they do not deserve a penalty - don't do the crime if you can't do the time - they got caught and they deserve to be punished. What I am defending is the accusations that Mclaren have done a dirty dirty thing, almost as if no other team has ever done such a thing, and how dare they for being the first to sink to this new low and taint out sport. Wise up, its a fact of F1 - it happens.
I've seen a few posts also criticising Ron Dennis, some implying that he knew all along and "yeah right, only those four empolyees knew", Ron Dennis loves F1, but first and foremost he values his own integrity, always has done, and always will do. When Ron Dennis tipped off the FIA about the emails and text messages (the only conclusive proof that any wrong doing was done remember) he effectively sealed his teams fate, he would have know that (maybe he hoped he'd recieve a lesser penalty as a result) but for him to do that shows more balls than others in his position, and more honesty, transparacy, intergrity (call it what you will) than most others.
IF Bennetton where running illegal traction control in 1994, and if this was done under his nose by his designers, d'you think Flavio would have told Max? No. If you'd seen the interview with Steve Ryder, pre-race, at spa, on ITV's build-up, you'd have seen the look in his face, and the tone in his voice, he's has been hurt by the accusations. Ron's no actor, in fact when he does try to cover up things (Hungary after quali) he does a pretty bad job at it!
What Ron Dennis did is appludable, and frankly its the only appludable thing that's come of this whole case, which - even more than Mclaren, Ferrari, Stepney, Cloughlan, or who or whatever - has tainted our sport.
Its disgusting that such a relatively minor thing (minor as in it's not unusual - i'm not saying its not wrong - of course its wrong) has cast such a shadow over our sport for so long.
This whole thing has been handled very badly indeed. And its about time we put this behind us, accept that its happened, accept that (in reality) it probably hasn't affected the championship much at all, and if anything BE THANKFUL that
if it has given Mclaren any edge at all, it has provided us with one of the most thrilling, entertaining, and damn close championship show-downs that we have had in years! Or have we forgotten the action we've seen on track this year? Lewis' overtaking, Ferando's move on Massa at Nurburgring, Kimi's awe inspiring drive at Spa, Massa's romp home in Turkey. Mathematically four people could win this! Realistically, three people are in with a ver good shot.
This whole thing should NEVER become bigger than the sport. And I'm afraid it may do this. We cannot let that happen. If we do, we are no better than the meddling big-wigs who change rules to artificially "enhance" our sport, we are no better than Stepney or Coughlan, or the cry-baby Ferrari team who alomost every year at Monza complain about their closest championship competitor. (2003, 2006, 2007 are high profile events).
The action is ON TRACK people, lets not forget that.
EDIT: Blimey what a way to hit 900 posts - that was a misson - sorry guys!
Silence is golden when you don't know a good answer.
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