Turkish podium controversy

BootsOntheSide · 29 Aug 2006, 16:20 (Ref:1696776)

Maybe this thread is a matter for Parc Fermé, I suppsoe it depends on how it develops:

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=37161

I don't know an awful lot about this exact issue, but I'm convinced that if the British Grand Prix had a trophy presented by a Northern Ireland Unionist figure, Bernie would immediately use that as justification to scrap the next year's race.

Sodemo · 29 Aug 2006, 16:23 (Ref:1696781)

At the end of the day its a load of political nonsense.

Would anyone really care who handed out the trophies on the podium?

Political and religious beliefs are the most common cause for friction and conflict between countries, it makes me want to stand up and say, "oh grow up the lot of you and stop being so petty".

Rant over.

R59 · 29 Aug 2006, 18:37 (Ref:1696933)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monster

At the end of the day its a load of political nonsense.

Would anyone really care who handed out the trophies on the podium?

Well obviously a large number of Cypriots and Greeks did. This was obviously a provocative move, and the Turkish MSA should have thought carefully about this with Turkey still trying to join the EU.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monster

Political and religious beliefs are the most common cause for friction and conflict between countries, it makes me want to stand up and say, "oh grow up the lot of you and stop being so petty".

Rant over.

I agree with you 100000000%, but sadly in this world, people do not see it as being petty. It is their fundamental right to stand up and shout that they are better than anyone else, and if you don't like it, we'll force to you like it by fair means or foul. Sadly the foul seems to be the way of the world at the moment. When will they ever learn that it does not work. For every one you make happy, you really p off 10000!

bosch! · 30 Aug 2006, 00:03 (Ref:1697198)

It really is a big deal guys, sport and politics shouldnt mix.

Lets fast forward to the China GP, who shall we have presenting the trophy, the fake Dali Lama or the Governer of the Taiwain province, Taiwan tends to think of itself as an independent country, the Peoples Republic of China disagree.

Sport shouldnt be used to insult your neighbours (unless they are Tottenham fans

) the FIA WILL step on this political exibithionism at this point, as the should, and we will lose one of the most exiting GP's for a couple of years. Can't be helped; it was a stoopid thing for the Turks to do and they should pay for it

I'd put money on them loosing the Rally round too, the statement from the FIA screamed NOT HAPPY!!!

elspethhardie · 29 Aug 2006, 16:26 (Ref:1696785)

I was reading about this and wondered:
- who chooses the people who present the trophies?

BootsOntheSide · 29 Aug 2006, 16:30 (Ref:1696791)

It amazes me that the FIA either didn't know about it beforehand, or chose not to intervene.

Mr V · 29 Aug 2006, 17:46 (Ref:1696863)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

It amazes me that the FIA either didn't know about it beforehand, or chose not to intervene.

Just reading on crash.net that the names of the people presenting the trophies was given to the FIA very late. Still, i think it's a load of nonsence over nothing, but it would be typical of the FIA to drop a track that has provided good entertainment.

kipper · 29 Aug 2006, 17:46 (Ref:1696865)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monster

At the end of the day its a load of political nonsense.

Would anyone really care who handed out the trophies on the podium?

In a way I agree with you, but the issue over the Turkish Grand Prix was that it appeared to promote a republic that isn't recognised by any nation apart from Turkey. Therefore, should F1 (or indeed any sporting event) be used to issue propaganda however small it was?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

It amazes me that the FIA either didn't know about it beforehand, or chose not to intervene.

GrandPrix.com are reporting that it was a deliberate action and that the organisers avoided telling the FOM and Allsport Management (for they organise the podiums) until it was too late for them to respond.
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17372.html

newoutsider · 29 Aug 2006, 16:37 (Ref:1696797)

I think you'll find it is the local org that decides who - normally local bigwigs. In this case I daresay that FIA didn't know exactly who the man was until it was announced on the PA, but there again, I'm not too sure what they could have done about it anyway!

zac510 · 29 Aug 2006, 16:39 (Ref:1696801)

If they hadn't announced that they were staging an investigation then I'm sure nobody West or East of turkey would have ever known there was a problem.

Now people will be baying for Max's blood just as another excuse to hang **** on Max.

Rex Judicata · 29 Aug 2006, 16:49 (Ref:1696813)

I think having someone from the wrong country, or exile government, or contested areas is akin to showing the wrong flag or playing the wrong music - perhaps worse if an exile group gets to present the winner's trophy. Wouldn't that be like having the head of the old Shin Fein, or IRA, or something like that present the winners trophy at the British GP? If it's serious, the problem is how do you make those that are complaining whole again?

Suze · 29 Aug 2006, 16:46 (Ref:1696810)

This has also been reported in a couple of the national newspapers - not sure exactly how the FIA could have avoided it - all a bit mad really.

jab · 29 Aug 2006, 16:47 (Ref:1696811)

This is bad. Turkey could lose the race over this

BootsOntheSide · 29 Aug 2006, 16:55 (Ref:1696821)

Get Herman Tilke to build a racetrack in Greece?

courageous · 29 Aug 2006, 17:36 (Ref:1696855)

Podium celebrations & border disputes don't mix very well - just ask Eddie Irvine (at one race, they raised the irish flag for him - Eddie is from Northern Ireland & his family got death threats)

Knowlesy · 29 Aug 2006, 17:48 (Ref:1696869)

Wasn't there a podium mix-up at Jerez 1997 that ruled out that venue from future F1 races?

It's amazing that such fundamentally bland and pointless side issues can have such a far reaching effect.

kipper · 29 Aug 2006, 18:19 (Ref:1696908)

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowlesy

Wasn't there a podium mix-up at Jerez 1997 that ruled out that venue from future F1 races?

Yes, the local mayor took part in the podium despite not being on the list of dignatories. Given that the Turkish Grand Prix error can be construed as being more significant it is possible to see where the calls for the races cancellation are coming from. However, an element of the Jerez situation was that the race was never intended to be a permanant addition to the F1 calander so the resolve of the FIA to enforce this ban has never been tested.

ralf fan · 29 Aug 2006, 18:02 (Ref:1696889)

Only at good tracks do such things occur.....

joe rossi · 30 Aug 2006, 00:28 (Ref:1697203)

it is a big issue, like it or not..read the Grandprix.com article..very illuminating.

the FIA work hard to be politically neutral, and the rules are very clear. The Turkish Govt deliberately hoodwinked the FIA , and the FIA must now be seen to react and punish Turkey, or it will be a free for all at future GPs the world over.

This will be an interesting story to watch...

Gt_R · 30 Aug 2006, 04:02 (Ref:1697288)

Pity that for a GP so exciting, the politics is what that gets the limelight.

And pity for a track that provides some good racing, that i feel and i hope the FIA feels the same, the need to drop the circuit as a punishment.

ralf fan · 30 Aug 2006, 04:48 (Ref:1697292)

yes the grandprix.com article is very enlightening.....

It is a sad bit of exploitation by the authorities... unnecessary and uncalled for...
and at the end of the day the people who will suffer the most are the fans who shall not watch races on that gem of a circuit...sad....but understandable if the FIA goes throug with it....

newoutsider · 30 Aug 2006, 06:02 (Ref:1697301)

Who cares?

Who would have known?

Well, apparently, the Cyprus Motor Sports Association, which is a fully paid up member of the FIA is lodging an official complaint, so that's why this has attracted so much attention.

I have no political view on this, but legally, there is only one government in Cyprus so the Turks have done themselves no good by presenting the so-called President of an illegal regime at an official event - as said previously, it would have been as if the British GP prize had been handed out by the leader of the IRA - and then had him announced as the President of Ulster.

The ultimate sanction would of course be to take the GP away from Turkey, which would be a great shame as its a great venue that produces great races.

climb · 30 Aug 2006, 06:21 (Ref:1697305)

Considering the country where the rant comes from, I don't expect this accident to bring up relevant consequences, particularly given the name of the race major sponsor...

Once said that, It's crystal clear that a better attention should be paid about who presents the trophy.

Chatters · 30 Aug 2006, 07:43 (Ref:1697334)

Without reading the prior posts, I have to say... It's an accidental stuff-up (I presume). Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.

ensign14 · 30 Aug 2006, 08:23 (Ref:1697365)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chatters

Without reading the prior posts, I have to say... It's an accidental stuff-up (I presume). Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.

No, this was deliberate. Given that the FIA has a list of categories of people who can present trophies (seriously), the choice of a President of a country that no-one bar Turkey recognizes was an overt political move to promote a Turkish viewpoint.

The question is which congenital moron at FOM composed the caption without realizing that there was a potential problem?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
WPS Controversy... bringing the sport into disrepute??	GTRMagic	Australasian Touring Cars.	46	18 Aug 2004 10:13
The Reido Rules Controversy thread	Reido Rules	Touring Car Racing	27	17 Sep 2003 17:12
except from the ferrari tactics at austria what was 2002's most controversy?	ram_villeneuve*	Formula One	17	4 Sep 2002 17:55