Sometimes I wonder if the people who run F1 know anything about the sport at all. Only today Bernie Ecclestone has commented on the cool fuel appeal in a way that makes it clear he really does not understand what it is about at all.
Bernie sucks it from his thumb
After tempting fate (or the Appeal Court judges) by threatening to resign if the verdict results in the driver's world championship being transferred from Raikkonen to Hamilton (well, I would be tempted - wouldn't you?), he then suggests that Ron Dennis will drop the appeal at the last moment. Which shows that either Bernie does not understand why McLaren appealed in the first place, or that he does not believe that was the real reason behind it.
As revealed yet again in Autosport's interview with Martin Whitmarsh today, McLaren require clarification of the rule since they, like all F1 teams, need to know the boundaries of what they are and are not permitted to do. It is as simple as that and has nothing to do with Hamilton missing out on the championship. The team is doing all of the teams a favor by insisting that the rule be clarified so that there will be no dubious decisions from the stewards in future.
Bernie must surely understand this and should know that Ron is extremely unlikely to back down from an appeal required to ensure that his team is not penalized in the future for contravening a rule that is open to whatever interpretation the stewards choose to decide on the day. In even thinking it possible that McLaren would withdraw the appeal, Bernie is effectively saying that he believes Ron to be a liar and that his actual purpose is to win the championship for Hamilton.
Can Bernie really believe that Ron would invite the disgust and rejection of all F1 fans that would follow a verdict that altered the championship outcome? The man has been insulted and pilloried all season - is it likely that he would relish the thought of even more to come his way? No, Bernie, it can only be that Ron needs to know how the rule will be applied from now on so that his team can go racing without fear of unfair and idiotic penalties being handed out on the whim of the stewards. It would all be unnecessary had the FIA got the thing right in the first place.
I can only presume that, after all these years, Bernie knows absolutely nothing about Ron Dennis. Like Max Mosley, he ascribes to Ron motives and morality akin to his own and gets the man totally wrong as a result. Only a fool would pursue a championship tainted in the way that Hamilton's would be if achieved in such a manner; and Ron may be many things but he is not a fool.
It is all a bit pointless anyway since the appeal will not result in the championship changing hands. Bernie gets that right, at least. It was a technical infringement and will be dealt with as such - with a constructor's points deduction or a fine. We all know that.
In fact, the only reason Bernie has opened his mouth on the matter is to garner a little more publicity. What a pity he managed to stuff his foot into it so effectively at the same time.
Bernie sucks it from his thumb
After tempting fate (or the Appeal Court judges) by threatening to resign if the verdict results in the driver's world championship being transferred from Raikkonen to Hamilton (well, I would be tempted - wouldn't you?), he then suggests that Ron Dennis will drop the appeal at the last moment. Which shows that either Bernie does not understand why McLaren appealed in the first place, or that he does not believe that was the real reason behind it.
As revealed yet again in Autosport's interview with Martin Whitmarsh today, McLaren require clarification of the rule since they, like all F1 teams, need to know the boundaries of what they are and are not permitted to do. It is as simple as that and has nothing to do with Hamilton missing out on the championship. The team is doing all of the teams a favor by insisting that the rule be clarified so that there will be no dubious decisions from the stewards in future.
Bernie must surely understand this and should know that Ron is extremely unlikely to back down from an appeal required to ensure that his team is not penalized in the future for contravening a rule that is open to whatever interpretation the stewards choose to decide on the day. In even thinking it possible that McLaren would withdraw the appeal, Bernie is effectively saying that he believes Ron to be a liar and that his actual purpose is to win the championship for Hamilton.
Can Bernie really believe that Ron would invite the disgust and rejection of all F1 fans that would follow a verdict that altered the championship outcome? The man has been insulted and pilloried all season - is it likely that he would relish the thought of even more to come his way? No, Bernie, it can only be that Ron needs to know how the rule will be applied from now on so that his team can go racing without fear of unfair and idiotic penalties being handed out on the whim of the stewards. It would all be unnecessary had the FIA got the thing right in the first place.
I can only presume that, after all these years, Bernie knows absolutely nothing about Ron Dennis. Like Max Mosley, he ascribes to Ron motives and morality akin to his own and gets the man totally wrong as a result. Only a fool would pursue a championship tainted in the way that Hamilton's would be if achieved in such a manner; and Ron may be many things but he is not a fool.
It is all a bit pointless anyway since the appeal will not result in the championship changing hands. Bernie gets that right, at least. It was a technical infringement and will be dealt with as such - with a constructor's points deduction or a fine. We all know that.
In fact, the only reason Bernie has opened his mouth on the matter is to garner a little more publicity. What a pity he managed to stuff his foot into it so effectively at the same time.