Formula 1
McLaren, Ferrari and Ecclestone Reaction
In a statement, McLaren have said that they expect the rules of F1 to upheld consistantly and fairly. "The more important the outcome of a race, the more important it is that the rules are applied consistently and fairly in accordance with ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
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In a statement, McLaren have said that they expect the rules of F1 to upheld consistantly and fairly.
"The more important the outcome of a race, the more important it is that the rules are applied consistently and fairly in accordance with the procedures that have been strictly adhered to in the past. We sympathise with Ferrari but this matter has to be put into a wider context." Said the statement.
Mika Hakkinen said "I don't really like it. It is not the way to win a title. It does not feel good to me.They won the race fair and square on the track. But the team does not want me to talk about this until after the hearing."
The McLaren line is a lot stronger than their initial public statements, when Ron Dennis said "This is not a way to win a World Championship. It is bad for the sport."
Irvine, meanwhile, has spoken on the exclusion.
"I hope the judges decide that the punishment was too heavy. I'm convinced that, aside from the facts of what happened, the final decision will take account of people's good faith"
"I can't believe that they are taking the points and the leadership of the world championship away from me for something like that. The punishment is too harsh compared to the crime. I'm relying on Ferrari's ability to defend themselves. As a driver, I can't make any appeals. All I can do is drive and say that the car was exactly the same as the one at the Nurburgring. It seems impossible to me to lose a world championship over a story like this. Everybody in Formula One knows that things like these give you little or no advantage at all... it was an oversight"
The President of the Italian Automobile Club, who will be defending Ferrari at the appeal, Rosario Alessi, said "It's like being given a life sentence in jail for a parking offence"
Michael Schumacher, meanwhile, was more circumspect: "I feel very sorry for the team, because they did all that work for nothing. These things happen. And anyway what could I do about it? It would all be very different if, at Suzuka, I was going there to help the team try and win the world championship."
Michael Schumacher's manager, Willi Weber, said "Ferrari is a team that never had any infractions before. Perhaps the manufacturer of this part made a mistake."
Jean Todt, meanwhile, has said he offered to put his head on the block to Luca Di Montezemelo "I accept the blame, since I'm in charge of the sporting management, I gave the chairman my full willingness to accept any decision that he might see fit. He told me to concentrate on Japan"
Bernie Ecclestone has attacked the disqualification of Ferrari in Malaysia.
"What happened in Malaysia is bad for the sport. I would like what the public want - to see a great finish in Japan worldchampionship could be decided by someone quite junior who has made a mistake in the factory."
Bernie Ecclestone, however, has no influence on the outcome of the appeal.
Stephen M Baines <stephen@motorsport.org.uk>
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