The racing news site grandprix.com reported on a poll of 5500 fans by the German website F1total.com that reveals 50.35% of them believe the FIA manipulates the Formula 1 world championship. They later reported the FIA contacted them to point out that a poll of 23,710 pitpass.com fans show 54.22% do not believe the Renault F1 team is being treated unfairly. This refers to the 2006 Italian GP, where Renault’s Fernando Alonso was penalized 5 positions on the starting grid after Ferrari’s Filipe Massa complained of being blocked in the last moments of qualifying. He wasn’t blocked — the penalty was completely bogus, and everyone but Scuderia Ferrari and the FIA agree the penalty was wrong.

Jeez…get a clue FIA!

So the FIA thinks it’s OK that only 45% (5% less than the F1total poll) of the fans believe there is problem with fairness on the FIA’s part in F1 racing? Get in touch with reality! If even half that many believe the FIA is unfair and biased you have a serious problem with perception, and are endangering the sport. Even 10% is highly questionable, in my opinion. In the last year an episode of WindTunnel discussed how the legitimate sports gambling venues in Las Vegas no longer accept bets on F1 racing anymore. Why do you think it’s like that?

Hopefully when the FIA’s golden child Michael Schumacher retires at the end of this year, the sport will become a little more balanced and fair again. If not, it’s in real trouble. And please don’t interfere with the last three races of the season. If Schumi is to win the title from Alonso, let him do it on his own, if he can.