F1: Ferrari slam McLaren`s `false` accusations

[Rory Phoulorie]

Friday 3rd August 2007

Ferrari have hit out at McLaren following Ron Dennis' claims that the Scuderia's race-winning car in Australia was illegal.

In the latest twist in the on-going war between Ferrari and McLaren, which has come to a head in light of the the Stepneygate scandal, McLaren have accused Ferrari of racing an illegal car.

"As far as we are aware, Ferrari ran their cars with this illegal device at the Australian Grand Prix, which they won," Dennis said in a letter sent earlier this week to FIA president Max Mosley and Luigi Macaluso, president of the Italian Automobile Federation,

"In the interests of the sport, McLaren chose not to protest the result of the Australian Grand Prix even though it seems clear that Ferrari had an illegal competitive advantage."

And as to be expected Ferrari have not taken these allegations lying down.

"With regard to the points made by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes concerning the 2007 Australian Grand Prix in a letter to the President of the ACI-CSAI, Gino Macaluso on 1 August last, Ferrari wishes to state very strongly that its letter contains accusations that are both serious and false," the team said in a statement on Friday.

"Contrary to the statement put forward by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Ferrari never illegally gained any advantage.

"The two F2007 cars used in the Australian Grand Prix were deemed by the Stewards to be in conformity with the technical regulations, before, during and at the end of the event. If there had been any illegalities, they would have been disqualified.

"In fact, what the FIA did next is commonplace. The FIA took the opportunity to issue a clarification on the interpretation of the regulation and then asked the teams concerned to make the necessary modifications.

"There are actually numerous examples of this in both the recent and distant past which have also involved other teams.

"At the next sitting of the FIA International Court of Appeal, Ferrari will fully explain its position on the entire matter."

Planet-F1