The information was revealed as part of Renault's offense at the International Court of Appeal hearing today, as Ford blamed the FIA for creating a chaotic discussion over the legality of the aforementioned designs. As argued by Renault's lawyer, the team had built a similar system through the winter that was later dismissed by the international body as being “illegal”.
“It is not that Renault missed the boat ... it is because the FIA said it was illegal,” said Ford when before the 5 judges, therefore hitting back at Ross Brawn's argument that he'd informed the F1 teams about the innovative approach almost year ago.
In addition, he said Renault continued to develop their design through the past few weeks and would be ready to deploy it in Shanghai, if necessary.
Further on, Ferrari's QC Nigel Tozzi – involved for the Italian team in the spy saga of 2007 – hit back at Brawn's comments that the teams protesting the designs have only done it for “vindictive” reasons and because they're “too slow off the mark”. Arguing for the illegality of the double-decker designs, Tozzi described Brawn as “a person of supreme arrogance”.
“Only a person of supreme arrogance would think he is right when so many of his esteemed colleagues would disagree,” said Tozzi, who also argued the FIA have proved lack of consistency when judging differently the diffuser designs of certain teams.
“The position of the FIA is totally baffling. We urge you to save the FIA from itself,” added Tozzi.
The ICA is to issue a verdict very soon.
Google News