F1 - the spygate incident

I am missing something here, surely. I have read the transcript for the extraordinary meeting of the FIA on the 13th and I do not understand the punishment given to McLaren.

In the earlier statement, McLaren was found guilty of being in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code. The team was not punished, however, because no proof could be found that the Ferrari technical documents had been used to make changes in teh current McLaren car.

How can FIA penalize McLaren so brutally when nothing in the transcript proves otherwise? Yes, the new information shows that the information reached Pedro de la Rosa and Fernando Alonso, but in line with the initial ruling of FIA on this matter, where is the proof that that information was used to benefit the car?

The decision seems to be founded on guesses and assumptions. McLaren offered FIA to inspect the car. FIA never did so. Why? Why rule so strongly against McLaren without a proper technical inspection? As far as I can tell no new information regardig actual use of the information has come out to light.

And why on Earth allow the drivers to keep their points?????? Sure, I would like Alonso to win the Championship again, but if FIA believes that the data was improperly used and rules with to effect, even without proof, then they should also punish the drivers.

Why don't they do it? So that fans of the sport continue watching without complain while one of the greatest teams in the History of F1 is punished beyond reasonabe measure. It is not only the USD100 million, but the likelyhood that under the current Concorde agreement McLaren looses most of the funds for the 2008 season. The punishment is not fit to the crime, in my opinion. Even if it were, do not be hypocrites: the team (and that includes the drivers) is either guilty or it is not. Do not take half measures that allow a hollow victory for a team that, this year, does absolutely not deserve winning the constructor's Championship while keeping the fantasy of a fair fight.

A shame. And a wonderful competition gone dirty for all the wrong reasons.

Mr. C

on prejudice

We are all prejudiced in one way or another, and no matter how open-minded we consider ourselves there is always a little corner of our minds that conceals a well hidden preconception. The important thing is to make an effort to identify those judgments that we made based on a preconception rather than a fact and hold them back.

I am writing this because of a short new piece I read today. Apparently a couple of people have been told off by employees of Southwest Airlines Co. because they were not appropriately dress for a flight. I am not writing because of this. I do not know the circumstances and the airline employees may have been justified in their actions (personally, I doubt it, but then again...). I am writing about a comment made by one Lynda White, who teaches etiquette classes (somewhere) and who has been quoted by CNNMoney.com saying that one should dress conservatively in an airplane because you maybe sitting close to a prospective employer and:

"If you wear provocative clothing, tattoos, or you smell of alcohol or cigarettes, who's going to believe you?"

Right. So the tattoo on my right shoulder makes me incompetent? Some of the best physicist I know are heavy smokers. Does that make them unfit to do their work? I think not.

Consider what this lady is saying. Would you actually want to work for somebody that only gives you a job based on your appearance? Please. Look a bit further. Scratch a bit deeper.

This formalism, this lack of respect for attitudes and cultures different from your own, this focus on the superficial is what leads us to fight each other all over the world. From brother to neighbors to nations. You don't dress like me, you are beneath me. Your don't follow my religion, you are evil. These generalizations, these judgments based on preconceptions, are fundamentally wrong.

Be tolerant. Open your mind. You will be amazed at the wonderful people you meet and the new joys you find in life.

Mr. C