Hill: Spy row will dent Lewis, McLaren bid.

"he will go into the season knowing that he can run at the front and win grands prix. The flip side of that is he has created very high expectations and anything less and he's a loser."

All this from a WDC and a Brit to boot. It is a good thing that this was not a quote from Webber!

Damon's pretty much hit the nail on the head here. It is a shame that something such as this has been allowed to rumble on into 2008.

I'll reserve judgement until evidence is presented though. If something or other is found then fair enough, but if not, I think Ferrari could go on to taint themselves if they win the title because it looks like they have gone to great lengths off the track to discredit their rivals. Although I agree that an inquiry is appropriate, the way its being played out in public and is attracting so much authoritative attention makes me slightly suspicious as to whether there is an ulterior motive to distract McLaren. Just a thought.

Why would only Ferrari taint themselves if they win the title? If Renault, BMW,... or any other team win and Mclaren don't, won't people still claim that it is a tainted title?

Does anyone here know enough about Italian or EU law to know for sure that Ferrari have any say in the matter at this point? Once the investigation is started I doubt that Ferrari has the influence to call it off. This is a legal case not a civil case. The investigators have a responsibility to determine if laws were broken.

It goes without saying that the McLaren cars will undergo very strict scrutiny at every GP, and I'm sure that whatever is fitted on these cars will be genuine McLaren originals. They cannot afford to be re-embroiled in any more controversies.

The McL cars are already being considered to be championship contenders due to their performance during testing, so unless the cars prove to be inferior during races or if the morale and motivation of the team is affected due to the present problems,(continuation of the investigation; Ron leaving possibility; etc), their chance of winning should not be compromised.
As I said before, and as Damon Hill has just confirmed what I said many posts ago...

..... Lewis has not left a lot of margin to manouver, has created very high expectations within his fans, media and all F1 followers that anything less than a win at every GP makes him look to be a loser.
(Before anyone jumps on me please re-read what Damon has said).

Damon is aware like most of us, that McLaren is under a great deal of pressure and that might affect their ability to compete successfully as a team this season if they are continuously distracted, and they might give an edge to other teams.

In this sport the whole package has to be in place for success to be achieved. Driver desire and ambitions alone are not enough, although of course they help.

The current proceedings in Italy involving McLaren are a criminal investigation conducted by the Italian authorities. The Italian police are doing exactly what a UK police force would do - gather all possible evidence and submit it to the prosecutor who then decides whether anyone should go to trial. Ferrari can no more interfere with this process than McLaren could stop a criminal investigation in the UK.

If charges are brought, the process will take for ever. In the worst case we might see suspended sentences finally confirmed in 5 or 6 years time. McLaren will know this and are certainly not worried. The case it will make no difference to the Championship. Damon is talking rubbish.

It was said that Ferrari are pressing charges against Stepney in Italy.
We know that Coughlan is being investigatd by the British police.
We know that the homes of RD and other senior McLaren personnel were raided by the police, and also several computer hard discs have been taken away for further investigation.
We know that Mclaren have already admitted guilt and have been fined by the FIA $100M.
RD might be relinquishing his position as a result.
And the "A Lawyer" said that McL are not worried.
In a sport that is measured in milliseconds, with all these distractions the A Lawyer said that it will not affect the Championship and that Damon is talking rubbish.
What a heap of RUBBISH.

When I said Ferrari's title could look tainted it is because they are part of this challenge to McLaren. As far as I am aware, it doesn't involve anyone else. I just think it is being blown out of proportion and seems to be a bit of a waste of taxes IMHO.

Anyway, although Ferrari may not have much involvement now, they would surely know a criminal case like this is going to take time to resolve. They would have fired the first shot, so of course they are involved. I don't think Italian police are doing it out of a matter of principle.

It's plainly obvious that Ferrari are using the case to try and unhinge McLaren.
Two men are finished in F1 and McLaren got handed an unfair fine whilst Renault got away scotfree.
Case over, it should have been, but no the Italians will not let go, to much Ferrari influence all around!

As long as taxes have been used as a point here, I am curious it the amount of "wasted" taxes exceeds the amount of tax Hamilton has avoided paying by moving to a tax haven?

Mark,

I searched this page with mozilla and found the word "taxes" 3 times, twice in your post!

"As long as taxes have been used as a point here, I am curious it the amount of "wasted" taxes exceeds the amount of tax Hamilton has avoided paying by moving to a tax haven?"

Hand on heart put yourself in the same position as lewis and say you would not do the same!

I'm sick of all the lewis hatred on this site, there is no reason for it apart from jealousy! If all you guys who slate lewis think you are better than him then why the hell aren't you driving for mclaren or any other f1 team for that matter! answers on a postcard! Peace out!!!! loosers!

metalsteve - I assume you meant to direct this to me and not to our four legged friend. Although my posts may at times be critical of Hamilton I do not hate him.

The point is how can a Hamilton fan complain about wasted taxes when Hamilton has or will end up costing his nation a significant amount of tax revenue? He is free to leave the country for this purpose. If I were in his shoes I may very well do the same. I sure would feel guilty though, when they play the British national anthem and raise the Union Jack during a podium ceremony.

"I sure would feel guilty though, when they play the British national anthem and raise the Union Jack during a podium ceremony." ROTFLMAO how many drivers live in tax havens these days?

Apologies Mark, if there is two Mark's posting on here, please just register your name, makes it soo much easier to ingore the trolls. Ta! No offence intended!

No worries. When I first looked your post was adressed to Snoopy (hence the four legged friend reference). Not sure how that happened. The tax issue doesn't really bother me especially as I don't live in England. I was just trying to point out the irony in Snoopy's point relating to the investigation.

Typo on my behalf Mark, Edited it soon as i could! No offence mate!

I take half, most, of the comments on here with a pinch of salt. Theres a lot of people hiding behind unregistered names that just like to cause arguments etc and cant get over last year. I just think that no matter what you read in the media, you can not take away from lewis what he has achieved in his career. And to those that are looking through thier rose or scarlet tinted glasses, take them off for a second and look at the real picture in F1! (sits back and waits for the ferrari anti mclaren brigade, yawn!) I like kimi too btw!

Mark, if Hamilton had done something unique by moving to another country, compared to other drivers/sport stars/celebrities etc etc, then it would be more of an issue, but he is a small fish in a big pond so there is no point in worrying out the shortfall we are trying to make up because, until there is a law, there is nothing that can be done.

I am just sceptical to the effort, man power and money being spent to humour Ferrari's endeavour on a matter that really should - and I thought was - being dealt with by the FIA, and maybe Ferrari/McLaren's own internal processes. It's the timing that interests me, probably more than the matter itself

Weapons of Mass Distraction (WMD) have a short self-life. Just ask president George Bush Jr. If Stepney actually know where the bodies are buried as he had claimed earlier. There is going to be a new twist to the tale.

Apart from that I think the rest of us are looking forward to the race in Melbourne. Everything else is only another WMD. If the Italian police had spent the same amount of time investigating the Mafia, Italy would be a very safe & peaceful country ;)

McL are paying for what they did,if you r doing anything wrong then you should better be prepared for results,and i don't want Ron to leave the team because he was there 'The Boss' when all that alonso,hamilton spat and all spy controversies happen,so now if he goes then others have to pay for his dids,if McL and Ron wants their lost honour back then they should face this situation and emerge out of it as a champion thats only way out.... no mercy in gods laws ..

feck me, now even god gets quoted aginst McL.....

To Mark and Metalsteve, why should LH, or any other nationality who doesn't live in the country that they were born in, feel guilty on the podium. He is still British. Does it bother any of the other drivers who live in tax havens? I'm pretty sure it doesn't.