Is there Corruption in the FIA?

[JoStream]

With all these rumors on Ferrari having a major say in FIA decisions, is there any reliable evidence that may suggest that there is corruption within the FIA? :shock:

[Carlis]

Reliable evidence? Don't think so... All we have are hypothesis from both sides Pro-Ferrari and Anti-Ferrari.

We have, for instance, the Malaysian GP in 1999. Ferrari broke the regulations by a bit... supposedly, no gain of performance there, but they were OFF the rules. No penalties.

The Michelin tyres festival in 2003... Triggered by Ferrari (Even though, early 2005 Dupasquier claimed that they never changed their tyres that season...)

But, then again, we have the opposite side of the coin:

Why in the hell would Ferrari wanted the 1 tyres set/weekend rule? just to test a particular compound, they would need up to 1 single day...for just one compound. Michelin would test 2-3 per day, at least...

Or, if the FIA is in Ferrari's pocket, why did they allowed the "you are faster than him, overtake him" moments at Renault? Or the "voluntary help" from Montoya to Kimi? Even more... why they didn't disqualify Renault after China, when Briatore came public claiming that he ordered Fisichella to a) Hold Kimi in the early stages of the race (we all heard the: "You are +.8, low your consumption" in the early laps, when Fisico was losing "just" .8 with respect to Alonso) and then b) that he ordered Fisichella to hold Kimi in the pits, which was explicitly prohibited by the FIA after SPA... Isn't that "bringing the sport into disrepute" (i.e. breaking a regulation knowing that you are breaking it)?

From my point of view, the most suspiscious FIA activity came from 1994 and Benetton (now Renault). The fuel rig incident was blatant cheating admitted by the team... nothing happened... The traction control embedded on the system, and the team lying about how to activated it were reasons more than enough to sanction them that year. For some reason, the FIA decidied that Benetton did nothing wrong, and nothing happened.

I would say that the FIA is just trying to level the field by trying to help the "popular teams" at some particular point, but as I said, I don't think we don't have any clear suggestion of corruption inside the FIA.

[JoStream]

Yea, it's difficult.

In 1998, at the British Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher won the race in the pitlane, even though he should have been blackflagged... :shock:

But he didn't win the championship at the end :D

[Carlis]

In 1998, at the British Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher won the race in the pitlane, even though he should have been blackflagged... :shock:


Yes! I forgot that one! That one, I thought, was sort of bizarre...Specially because Michael received a race-ban penalty in 1994, supposedly, for ignoring a black flag (that was "voluntarily" retired a few laps later by the Marshalls) also at Silverstone