The FIA finally bring this issue to an end by handing a three race ban to McLaren F1 Team for bringing the sport into disrepute after they were found to have misled race steward at the Australia GP.
However three race ban will be allow to be executed in the period of 12 months.
After a series of appeals and protests, FIA Court of Appeal (ICA) has rejected it all and concluded the “double decker” designs comply the 2009 regulations.
This diffuser had gone through the race stewards both in Australia and Malaysia, now ICA. Meaning that these three teams will have peaceful mind on the following race.
On the other hand, Ferrari having a headache as they are going to modified the existing F60 design. They reckon that with the “double decker” design, the race machine will gain 0.5 second a lap. However, it going to take time and involve R & D investment, we will not be seeing the revamped Ferrari in this coming China GP, probably in Catalunya, Spain or Monte Carlo which is 2 to 3 races from now, the soonest.
What will happen to the rest of the teams, perhaps they are not as rich as Ferrari, but I believe that with the clearance given by the FIA, the rest of the field will at least invest some time to improve their car on these. We’ll see…
Official list from http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/1/7223.html
Force India are the only team still to finalise their race line-up.
Ferrari
1 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)
2 Felipe Massa (BR)
BMW Sauber
3 Nick Heidfeld (D)
4 Robert Kubica (PL)
Renault
5 Fernando Alonso (E)
6 Nelson Piquet (BR)
Williams Toyota
7 Nico Rosberg (D)
8 Kazuki Nakajima (J)
Red Bull Renault
9 David Coulthard (GB)
10 Mark Webber (AUS)
Toyota
11 Jarno Trulli (I)
12 Timo Glock (D)
STR Ferrari
14 Sebastien Bourdais (F)
15 Sebastian Vettel (D)
Honda
16 Jenson Button (GB)
17 Rubens Barrichello (BR)
Super Aguri Honda
18 Takuma Sato (J)
19 Anthony Davidson (GB)
Force India
20 Adrian Sutil (D)
21 Giancarlo Fisichella (I) (updated 11 Jan 2008)
McLaren Mercedes
22 Lewis Hamilton (GB)
23 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN)
View my previous prediction: http://bcosurich.blogspot.com/2007/12/2008-f1-driver-line-up-prediction.html
Snippet of the transcript
The FIA has released a full transcript of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) hearing, which took place on December 6, concerning Renault’s possession of confidential technical information belonging to McLaren.
View transcript
Related topic: http://bcosurich.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/renault-escape-fine-over-mclaren-data/
