Ferrari Mailing List: SPOILER potential

[Rick Lindsay (richardolindsay]

Hello Friends,

I just read an extended article on Red Bull's flexible wing elements tests and the resulting grid penalties. What a load of prejudicial crap! I'd really like to know which fart-nugget steward or disgruntled engineer in a lower championship team, triggered the investigation! I mean, final position in the constructor's championship translates to money. Who benefits from ratting-out Red Bull for exploiting the letter-of-the-regulations, just like every other team?! Granted, Williams can't catch Red Bull in the constructor's ranking but that doesn't mean there isn't value to be gained elsewhere. Then again, the whole thing could be as simple as an over zealous steward wanting to feel important.

I'm pretty happy that the stupid double-points thing isn't giving the championship to an undeserving driver. Bernie's whole issue was to randomize the last race to hold the TV audience, or at a minimum, to keep this waining sport in the media. Realistically, the championship is already won. A Mercedes driver will win it. Who cares which one?! They're equally talented in nicely matched outstanding cars. The prize is going to the participating company with the biggest and most experienced R&D department; the company with oodles of experience with turbo engines and hybrid configurations. I can't wait until Honda steps back in with what promises to be an outstanding power plant. Its just a shame that Audi doesn't build an F1 engine!

So the season is ending and championships are all-but decided, unless the stewards choose to steal points for some implied infraction. I must admit that I'm pretty tired of my favorite TV announcers - Lee, David and Steve - telling me what a great season its been and what a great race today will be, as they try to infuse a little enthusiasm back into the process that pays their salaries. In contrast, Mark Weber has it right. Forget this rule-strangled and stage-managed series and move on to sports car racing. And at a minimum, let us also move on to next year and hope for a less boring, management-meddling season.

Your mileage may certainly vary.

-rick, up way too early