[Official] Round 02: Malaysian Grand Prix

[chillibowl]

this is f1 and stories involving Alonso, Ferrari, and Sauber lend themselves to speculation but...

Originally Posted by Holt

In fact, the businessman, lets say he's an oil man, his association alone with the congressman sends the message "you need to make calls in my favor". Maybe he makes large donations to his campaign or something else. In Ferrari's case they supply engines. The congressman gets the point: "Do what you can to help me out"

Sauber doesnt need to be told by Ferrari "Don't pass our car". Peter Sauber is not an idot. Do you really think he'd screw his engine supplier out of a Grand Prix with some crummy midfield car?

Peter Sauber is a smart business minded person but it has to be said his team is in much better shape now than it was pre 2000's. financially the team seem better funded (no doubt partly because of BMW's brief involvement) and the F1 prize money is so much more now that i dont see them as being beholden to Ferrari any more and they have an engine contract which Ferrari cannot break without exposing themselves to a nasty little lawsuit.

im curious what motivation would they have to bend to Ferrari's will? they can afford engines elsewhere if it came to that but then Ferrari would lose a customer and probably find it hard to sell their engines to anyone else as well.

by playing it safe they secured their financial future and in the next three weeks im expecting to hear about some new sponsors...you are right in that Sauber know this as well but i think it wrong to assum its a conspiracy.

also you brought up an example of the congressman...maybe an apt comparison because right now Luca is playing for bigger stakes then quibbling over a 1st or 2nd place result. his whole political platform is being built upon integrity and transparency...im not sure i see the motivation or advantage for him to risk a cheating scandal in F1.

im not going to discount anything (because this is F1) but in this case i dont see a clear cut reasoning of who stood to gain what with this 'conspiracy'.

i did enjoy your post though.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Holt

It was the perfect turn to make a "mistake"

To quote an old proverb: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Or don't risk what you have to get something that might not be attainable, and then risk losing everything.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98429

[Inigo Montoya]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

this is f1 and stories involving Alonso, Ferrari, and Sauber lend themselves to speculation but...

I don't understand why when people think Ferrari, they always assume the worst. Looking around the paddock, I see one team proven in the past to be in a real conspiracy (spygate and the Hamilton melbourne fibs), and another whose chief Engineer was banned for two years for cheating. And a third team has the technical director and driver that many here accused of manipulating F1 through team orders for years.

I don't see anyone in the ferrari paddock presently with those dubious credentials.

[Inigo Montoya]

And yes, I know Alonso was the beneficiary of the other spygate.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

I don't understand why when people think Ferrari, they always assume the worst. Looking around the paddock, I see one team proven in the past to be in a real conspiracy (spygate and the Hamilton melbourne fibs), and another whose chief Engineer was banned for two years for cheating. And a third team has the technical director and driver that many here accused of manipulating F1 through team orders for years.

I don't see anyone in the ferrari paddock presently with those dubious credentials.

But Ferrari has long been unnoficially protected by Bernie and co....he really doesn't like to see them do badly for more than a season these days!!

[csirl]

Originally Posted by chunterer

But Ferrari has long been unnoficially protected by Bernie and co....he really doesn't like to see them do badly for more than a season these days!!

Bernie protects the UK teams, nobody else. The facts are that since Bernie took control, the non-UK teams have whittled away one by one.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by csirl

Bernie protects the UK teams, nobody else. The facts are that since Bernie took control, the non-UK teams have whittled away one by one.

Bernie supports those who do as he say with no demands. Ei. Ferrari (soon Red Bull i hear).
Bernie is the stereotypical example of a rich, power hungry old man, whos thrust can only be counted on as long as your a good asset. Nationality, History or tradition is something you cannot blame Bernie Ecclestone tobe affected by! (just think about how much he wanted to axe Silverstone!)

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by csirl

Bernie protects the UK teams, nobody else. The facts are that since Bernie took control, the non-UK teams have whittled away one by one.

The only UK team Bernie's ever protected was Brabham and that's when he owned them. Bernie's always looked out for Ferrari, as he knows damn well the marketing potential for F1 would be seriously compromised if Ferrari ever got the hump and decided to leave.

[Ultimo]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The only UK team Bernie's ever protected was Brabham and that's when he owned them. Bernie's always looked out for Ferrari, as he knows damn well the marketing potential for F1 would be seriously compromised if Ferrari ever got the hump and decided to leave.

So then, as CTD said above: Bernard only cares about generating more revenue for FOM; i.e. himself.

He makes a fiendishly good villain for F1 though - I'd absolutely love to sit and have dinner with him.

[Adam43]

To be fair he has dragged a lot of people along with him. He is a villan whose success depends on the success of F1...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

So then, as CTD said above: Bernard only cares about generating more revenue for FOM; i.e. himself.

He makes a fiendishly good villain for F1 though - I'd absolutely love to sit and have dinner with him.

If you read this article by Joe Saward, it's understandable why Bernie cares about generating more income.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/...ith-new-debts/