F1 Team McLaren's Costly Penalty

Last month at the Spanish Grand Prix the McLaren F1 team of driver Lewis Hamilton was penalized for a fuel irregularity. Once qualifying is complete all cars require enough fuel to return to the pits and provide a one-litre sample per the mandatory rules of the governing body of F1. Running lower levels of fuel can provide a performance advantage and regardless of that proof Hamilton did initially capture the pole position. After qualifying was complete McLaren ordered Hamilton to stop on the track due to lack of fuel caused by a fueling mistake from the team. The stewards rejected the reasoning and stripped Hamilton of the pole and had him start at the back of the field. Hamilton did finish on the lead lap and finished eight overall for the race but lost out on important season points by not finishing higher. Minimal race car tweaks can make all the difference but you have to make sure to follow all the rules or risk penalty.

F1 Going Back on Words

Earlier this year during the F1 season Felipe Massa let his teammate pass him per team orders to help in the standings.  F1 angrily spoke up, fined the team and warned the rest of the teams.  Now the governing body of F1 has dropped this ban on team orders and will allow teammates to pass each other in certain situations next season.  I personally think you should be able to work with your teammate for the benefit of the team but I'm sure their is some other motive behind this ban reversal.  I'm not sure the level of action over in Europe but I'm sure this huge sport has its share of gambling.  Are teams on the take?  How about F1?  Who knows but this is a pretty big turnaround from a few months ago.

Felipe Massa Warned of Prison Time if Race is Fixed for Teammate

Earlier this year at the German Grand Prix F1 driver Felipe Massa took team Ferrari orders to let teammate Fernando Alonso take the checkered flag which caused a firestorm in Formula One Racing.  This Sunday in Brazil where Massa is the home town hero many will be watching to see how this race unfolds.  Brazilians so dearly want to see their hometown driver win that a local prosecutor has warned Massa that he can be arrested and sentenced up to six years in prison if he takes orders from his team to help points leader Alonso at Sunday's race in Sao Paulo.  Who will win this Sunday, hometown pride or sports politics and fixes?

Alonso Accuses Hamilton in Race-fix Storm

Controversy struck at last weekends F1 European Grand Prix when driver Fernando Alonso accused the sport's governing body of fixing the race to assist 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton.  After Mark Webber's insane crash the safety car was deployed which is not to be passed.  Alonso slowed but Hamilton directly in front of him roared on.  Hamilton claimed the safety car was not out of the pits at the time and therefore he did not have to wait.  Difference of opinion or fact?  This helped Hamilton to finish second even with a 20-second drive-through penalty and keep the series lead while Alonso settled for ninth.  Alonso is ready to fight his way back into the lead positions after last weekend so stay tuned for the next F1 race.

Flavio Briatore's Lifetime Ban From Formula 1 Lifted Then Appealed

Former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore was given a lifetime ban from Formula 1 and all other FIA championships in September 2009 due to his involvement with race fixing in Singapore in 2008.  At the Signapore grand prix Nelson Piquet Junior was told to intentionally crash his car to assist Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso on to victory.  The timed pit stop by Alonso and intentional crash by Piquet helped Renault to its first victory of the 2008 season as seen here.Briatore's ban was lifted on January 6, 2010.  The governing body of Formula 1 will appeal the French court's overturn of Briatore's lifetime ban.