- Title: UK: SCHUMACHER AVOIDS FORMULA ONE BAN/ WILLIAMS AND MCLAREN CLEARED.
- Date: 11th November 1997
- Summary: COLNBROOK, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 11, 1997) 1. FIA MAX MOSLEY SAYS (ON SCHUMACHER): "THE WORLD MOTORSPORT COUNCIL HAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED ALL THE FACTS OF THE INCIDENT INVOLVING MICHAEL SCHUMACHER AT THE GRAND PRIX IN JEREZ. IT HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ALTHOUGH THE ACT WAS APPARENTLY DELIBERATE IT WAS INSTINCTIVE AND IT WAS NOT PREMEDITATED. THE WORLD COUNCIL HAS GIVEN CAREFUL THOUGHT TO BANNING MICHAEL SCHUMACHER FOR 1998, BUT HAS CONCLUDED THAT TO DO SO WOULD BE FUTILE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO DRIVER COMPETING IN 1998 WHO WOULD NOT BE READY TO ACCEPT A BAN IN 1999 IF HE COULD WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1998. IT WOULD NOT BE A DETERRENT IN ANY SENSE."(ENGLISH) 2. MOSLEY (ON WILLIAMS/MCLAREN): "WE'VE CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY ALL THE EVIDENCE RELATING TO WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RACE IN JEREZ, INCLUDING TRANSCRIPTS OF RADIO CONVERSATIONS AND THE WORLD COUNCIL IS QUITE SATISFIED THAT THERE WAS NO ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN WILLIAMS AND MCLAREN TO FIX THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE." (ENGLISH) Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 26th November 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: COLNBROOK, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA8JRHBM6Z5P86B8BPPT0WRDNFJ
- Story Text: INTRO: Michael Schumacher has avoided a ban or fine over his collision with Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez and the Williams and McLaren teams have been cleared of trying to influence the outcome of the race.
Michael Schumacher lost his second place in the 1997 formula one championship on Tuesday (November 11) after the sport's governing body ruled at a hearing west of London that he was guilty of dangerous driving at the last Grand Prix of the season.
Max Mosley, head of the world body (FIA), announced the decision at a news conference.
Mosley said the authorities had decided that Schumacher did act deliberately, but not in a premeditated way.
"The world council has given careful thought to banning Michael Schumacher for 1998 but has concluded that to do so would be futile," Mosley declared.
"There is no driver competing in 1998 who would not be ready to accept a ban in 1999 if he could win the championship in 1998.
"It would not be a deterrent in any sense." Mosley said retrospective exclusion of Schumacher from the 1997 championship meant he would lose all the points, while preserving the race results.
He said the world council had considered imposing a fine but had decided against it in favour of Schumacher taking part in a road safety campaign.
Asked whether there was any paradox in using in such a campaign a driver who had crashed into others, Mosley said that a reformed sinner was the strongest advocate.
The world council sanction drew gasps of disbelief from the media present at the news conference and Mosley was asked directly whether this meant Schumacher had been "let off the hook".
He replied that it sent a message to all drivers in all areas of motorsport that they could not behave in a certain way and escape punishment. "It is a major penalty that we have imposed," he insisted Mosley said Schumacher had done the wrong thing both as far as the rules were concerned and for himself. But he added: "It was a completely instinctive thing. If he had thought about it for one second he would have done differently." At a separate hearing, FIA (International Automobile Federation) ruled that there had been no attempt by the Williams and McLaren teams to influence the grand prix at Jerez.
"The world council is quite satisfied that there was no arrangement between Williams and McLaren to fix the outcome of the race," Mosley said.
"It is now completely clear that there was no collusion," Mosley added.
The London Times newspaper had published transcripts on Saturday of audio taped conversations between the teams and their drivers. The newspaper suggested that Williams driver Villeneuve allowed McLaren's Mika Hakkinen to pass on the last lap to win the season-ending European Grand Prix.
Mosley said Williams had asked McLaren not to interfere in the world championship battle between Villeneuve and German Michael Schumacher during the race. But once Ferrari's Schumacher was out of contention, their sole concern was for Villeneuve to finish in the points and win the title.
"They were desperate that he did not attempt to fight the McLaren in a car that was damaged," said Mosley.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
