Formula One the jury's out.

[grober]

Yes today is the day the FIA rules on the legality of the disputed rear diffuser. It has already been passed by race scrutineers so its likely to be ruled OK. However this is Formula 1 so anything's possible.

 

[kjay]

Fingers crossed.

.

 

[blondebier]

What time can we expect the verdict?

 

[robert.saunders]

What time can we expect the verdict?

should have been out by now

 

[recycled]

I hope common sense prevails

 

[Mactech]

The hearing is today, we won't get a verdict until tomorrow....sometime

 

[wemorgan]

Sounds like a rather heated debate.

 

[blondebier]

I hope you're right, but I'm not expecting it to go Brawn's way. The FIA seem to like controversy.

 

[Diesel Benz]

I hope common sense prevails

Since I have no preference, I had difficulties figuring out which decision would follow common sense? A British driver would suffer in any case, either Button or Hamilton (it would take a long time for Hamilton to have a competitive car).

 

[Stratman]

Ferrari accusing another team of arrogance. You couldn't make it up!

 

[wemorgan]

Ferrari accusing another team of arrogance. You couldn't make it up!

Indeed so. I can almost see the QC now in his pinstriped suit and large Windsor knotted tie, spouting on with the same arrogance he's accusing others of.

The only winners here are going to be the lawyers.

 

[MBK]

i dont think Brawn GP will be stripped of any points, but they maybe forced to pay a fine and re design their rear diffuser. along with williams and toyota.

 

[Mudster]

If the FIA court of appeal overturns the Stewards decisions, they are stating that their own appointed stewards (two sets at that) are not capable of interpreting their rules.....that's a big deal in this particular case.

I still feel it's unlikely this will be overturned.

 

[glojo]

Leading the debate was Ferrari's legal representative Nigel Tozzi QC, who successfully argued the team's case over 'spygate' and at last year's inquest into Lewis Hamilton's chicane-cutting move at the Belgian Grand Prix.

This really appeals to my sense of humour and as has been said... You could not make it up

For years Ferrari employed Ross Brawn to take advantage of the rules, to 'bend' the rules, and to darn right cheat... Front wings that moved and become unpinned at high speed, the rear wing that flexed at high speed

I have NO idea how this will end but hopefully it wil end and we can move on.

Does this type of diffuser make it more difficult to follow closely behind the car in front?

 

[wemorgan]

Does this type of diffuser make it more difficult to follow closely behind the car in front?

No-one knows since all the other cars are so much slower they can't catch up to find out

 

[SoopDood]

Good on Brawn and co. Great to see innovation and creativity 'within' the clearly inadequately defined rules. If the rules were clear, there wouldn't be a hearing now. F1 is meant to be the pinnacle of motorsport, surely not a body which suppresses design creativity and innovation to save on costs. If the diffusers are thrown out, that will be a disgrace. Really looking forward to seeing how they wrangle themselves out of this political mess.

 

[Thmsshaun]

Fingers crossed for Brawn. I feel this is all adding to the publicity of the sport. I would have expected to hear the verdict by now but I guess thats news for tomorrow now.

 

[MrT]

My prediction:

The Brawn/Toyota/Williams diffusers will be declared legal.
When McLaren add one to their car, their design will be found to be illegal...!

 

[PJH]

My prediction:

The Brawn/Toyota/Williams diffusers will be declared legal.
When McLaren add one to their car, their design will be found to be illegal...!

...and then Ferrari will get theirs and it will be legal again.

 

[glojo]

Good on Brawn and co. Great to see innovation and creativity 'within' the clearly inadequately defined rules. If the rules were clear, there wouldn't be a hearing now. F1 is meant to be the pinnacle of motorsport, surely not a body which suppresses design creativity and innovation to save on costs. If the diffusers are thrown out, that will be a disgrace. Really looking forward to seeing how they wrangle themselves out of this political mess.

I can never think of any era where the rules were 'clear'

I guess two examples would be the fan Brabham, and the six wheeled Tyrell

The Brabham wasdeemed 'legal' but not within the spirit of thre rules, but by crikey it stuck to the road like whoopsie to a blanket