F1 D-Day

[Wizzo]

Formula One’s version of D-Day is approaching, July 26, 2007. That day will mark a low point in the history of the sport as Stepneygate is aired in front of the FIA stewards and the ever sanctimonious Max Mosley

We all know the reason for this hearing. Nigel Stepney allegedly passed Ferrari intellectual property (780 pages worth) to Mike Coughlan. Mike Coughlan, chief designer for McLaren-Mercedes Formula One. Not some mid level tech weenie, their chief designer! Is McLaren the company guilty of conduct detrimental to the sport, and if so, to what degree, and what is the appropriate penalty? That is a weighty sentence fraught with devastating impacts.

What is unknown is the depth of facts in the “confidential” affidavit the Coughlan’s (Mike and wife Trudi) gave to Ferrari. We have been exposed to well timed leaks of information, including who tipped off Ferrari (a copy clerk); emails allegedly sent by Stepney to Ferrari; Coughlan stating he revealed to McLaren brass his possession of the documents; and Ferrari firing Stepney for allegedly sabotaging his own team’s cars. Did I miss anything relevant?

What I find interesting is the FIA’s summoning McLaren to “answer” to charges of conduct unbecoming. Has anyone read any specifics as to the detail of the charge(s)? Only what’s been strategically leaked by either Ferrari or the FIA. Surely there is no benefit to McLaren spewing this stuff is there? So what are the specifics of the FIA charge? If anyone knows, please comment, I really would like to know.

Further, if the charges are being leveled by Ferrari, I assume they will be part of the Inquisition team, presenting allegations and hopefully, real facts as they know them. I also hope no one presents the affidavit the Coughlan’s wrote as “factual”. Why? They are demonstrated liars, cheats, and subverters of everything ethical F1 is supposed to represent. How can one believe liars and cheats, especially when they are now trying to save their own asses?

Ron Dennis has steadfastly, loudly, and tearfully proclaimed his and his team’s innocence in this tawdry mess. I only hope he has more than his word to support his protestations of innocence, because his good word may not count for much when confronted by multiple liars and those who would chose to believe them. That would be Max Mosley. There is no love lost between Ron and Max, and if you think for one second Max is not ready to slap down McLaren, then you need to read up on the history of the two.

And the really strange part of all this is the relationship between Ferrari and Stepney. Ferrari, according to Nigel, had been untrusting of him from the late fall of 2006. They gave him less and less responsibility within the team, and began shadowing him throughout this year. If Ferrari were so concerned about the man’s loyalties why not fire him last year when your suspicions first arose? That’s the one point that leads conspiracy me to believe that Ferrari may be manipulating Stepney (“I’ve been framed”) for their own benefit. If you can’t beat them on track, steal a title through chicanery and FIA mandates. I sincerely hope that is not the case, but the entire affair has a stench to it that leads one down that path.

So, how will this all turn out? I’ll give you my take on a couple of ways this can go.

1. IF McLaren had no provable knowledge of Coughlan’s possession of the Ferrari documents, game over, no sanctions. Dennis’s word against Coughlan’s should be a win for Ron.
2. IF Coughlan can prove he told them he had the info and McLaren didn’t call Ferrari immediately, McLaren deserve punishment.
3. IF Stepney can prove he emailed detailed info on Ferrari’s moveable floor prior to the Aussie GP, McLaren deserve a sanction, but they may have a way out. If they can prove Stepney was acting as a whistle blower on illegal Ferrari design work, they may have a legal defense.

And what will those sanctions be, if McLaren are found lacking in ethics? I suspect McLaren would be docked manufacturer’s points, but the driver’s points would remain intact. The absolute worst would be if McLaren are excluded from both title chases, and the best season in years would effectively be over. In order for that to happen the FIA need incontrovertible solid proof of the team’s complicity.

Regardless, Mike Coughlan should be banned from the sport for life along with wife Trudi, and the copy clerk who turned them in should be awarded life time passes and free transportation to the GP event of her choosing. I’m sure Ferrari would gladly pick up the cost for that.

[Chameleon]

That's a lot of questions, Wizard.  I do know that Ferrari will be represented at the hearing, although they will not be making any charges, I think - more a case of being there to answer questions if required and to see fair play.

Essentially, the charge against McLaren is one of bringing the sport into disrepute (something the FIA has been guilty of often enough in the past but what court oversees them...?).  This seems to be based entirely on Coughlan's affidavit which, as you point out, is not necessarily "God's honest truth".  McLaren have already submitted a dossier detailing their defence to the charge and presumably this will be taken into account too.

How anything can be proved is beyond me.  Investigation into the civil and criminal charges continues and, as far as we can tell, have yet to produce any solid evidence apart from the fact that Stepney was telling the truth when he declared that his leave in Malaysia was booked through normal Ferrari channels (Stepney's lawyer has the payment slip).  Everything hinges on whether Coughlan's affidavit is given credence or not.

Which is a hell of a thing to base your whole case on...

[johnbull]

I've just been reading pages of it.

The whole thing is such a farse. I hope it does go all the way to the high court because that is the only court that is credible. The FIA courts certainly are not, from past experience, and as I think it was Chammy that said, there isn't one iota of proof. This is Coughlan's word against Mc Laren's and we all know how that would go in a serious, straight court.

So as I see it, Ron and the gang will have to drag this all the way past the FIA's jungle court if he wants a sensible verdict and vindication.

But apart from all this, what are the long term reperecussions going to be for motor racing. I can see the manufacturers getting very cold feet, very soon.

[Chameleon]

Autosport has a pretty good explanation of the case before the FIA court today.  Here's the URL:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61143