Formula 1: The GOAT - Chapter 235: Verdict

Chapter 235: Verdict

“So, depending on how much we back him up, the punishment will differ widely?” Helmut repeated what he had been told as he slowly tapped on the table in deep thought.

He had received the report nearly at the same time as it was reported to the stewards by the team, and using that report, he had immediately convened the legal team to look through the situation and what the possible measures were. As he broke down the situation more and more, something started coming to his mind. Although it was not something he had ordered to happen, he immediately saw it as a welcoming situation the moment the final outcome was something they could actively influence.

After all, the only punishment you fear is one you have no hand in deciding, but if you can decide on it, then it is no different from an opportunity.

The relationship between Fatih and Red Bull had been like a pendulum, constantly shifting from one side having the upper hand to the other with each major situation. He knew for the first time that the pendulum had swung in their direction in a major way, and it was his opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

He could both gain the upper hand while at the same time increasing the amount of pressure Fatih would be under. He already knew from the reports of Fatih’s training period that the initial two weekends that he would have missed as a result of not meeting the age requirement wasn’t going to be enough to put him under pressure at all, so long as he performed as he did during practice.

Pressure is the great divider, and a driver’s capabilities are determined by how they deal with it when they are under an extreme amount of it. Although he knew how talented Fatih was, he still wanted to see how he dealt with it, and at that moment, he made a decision. Although it was their side’s fault that Fatih was facing the current problem, they would help just enough so that the situation only ended with Fatih under extreme pressure.

“Then let’s do it this way,” he said before he started breaking down what his expectations were to the head of the legal team. As for how to accomplish results as close to that, that was going to be up to them.

“How should we deal with the articles?” the head of PR for the academy asked, wanting to know if he had a possible direction he wanted them to take or if they followed the usual response.

“Don’t do anything about it. Leave it to their side to deal with, and if his team asks for our support, tell them we are doing everything we can in our capacity,” Helmut said immediately.

“Understood,” the head of PR said as she took note of the words to act upon later.

The meeting continued for about five minutes before it came to an end, and everyone else left the room to accomplish their assigned tasks, leaving Helmut alone.

“Show me your true self when you are cornered, Fatih,” he said in a low voice before he picked up a phone and called someone.

…

It seemed like Fatih was more famous than many had expected, as the moment the news about the situation was released to the public, it immediately became a topic of conversation in the motorsports community. People started talking and speculating about it, and it wasn’t helped by his group of fans who watched his videos, joining in as well to ask questions and try to understand the situation.

Upon seeing that much interest in the driver and the situation, news companies related to motorsports released article after article, some remaining on the side of facts while others embellished or even used unproven rumors as the source of information and based their articles upon them.

It was the first time Fatih had experienced that much attention in a negative aspect, and it felt overwhelming in a different way than how it usually felt when similar attention was placed on him for positive matters. But despite that, he didn’t bother to post an explanation about it or do anything in response, as he didn’t even have access to his accounts, which had been handed to Elena’s department for them to oversee. His mother still deemed him to be too young to have access to such a big account where people with different intentions would try to connect with him, and haters would try to intimidate or threaten him.

On the third day, they finally received the date of the hearing at the Motorsport UK National Court in Bicester Motion. It wasn’t long until the fifteenth arrived, and they immediately left and headed to Bicester Motion for the hearing with their legal team.

….

Bicester Motion.

“Are you nervous?” Elena asked Fatih, who was wearing a bespoke suit, sitting and waiting to be called to give his testimony. Although it was not mandatory, his legal office had recommended his attendance to demonstrate that he was a “compliant professional” who respected the authority of the ASN.

Cases like these were usually used as disciplinary lessons by the court, so his absence could create the possibility of him being punished more harshly than if he had attended.

“Not at all. What is going to happen is going to happen, and we did everything we could, so only the final outcome remains,” Fatih said as he walked calmly with Elena and his mother flanking him, while their legal team followed behind.

“Good, so let’s not go off the script just for semantics and things like that, understood?” Rümeysa said as she placed her hand on Fatih’s shoulder. She knew Fatih’s tendencies of wanting a situation to be understood and interpreted as it is, and if someone didn’t see it his way, he would do everything to make sure he explained his point of view. Although it was an admirable characteristic, it was not going to be very helpful in the current situation, as the judges might see it as a challenge to their authority.

“I know, Mom. It is the seventh time you are repeating it,” Fatih said as he adjusted his tie moments before they entered the building.

……..

The hearing went no differently than how it had been briefed to him by the lawyers from their family office who specialized in motorsports-related matters. The prosecution, which was Motorsport UK, presented their case and argument before Team Arden presented their side of things.

Both sides called witnesses for cross-examination before Fatih himself was called to the stand, where questions designed to see if he was aware and had turned a blind eye were asked, which he answered word for word, trying not to deviate from the script at all.

The entire hearing went on for two hours before there was a break. They had to wait as the verdict was deliberated, and after two entire hours, they were finally called back to listen to the final verdict.

The Chairman of the Panel finally started reading the paper once everyone everyon supposed to be in the rooms was in the room.

“Please stand. The National Court has concluded its deliberation in the matter of Motorsport UK v. Fatih Yıldırım and Team Arden.

The Court finds a proven breach of General Regulation H.22.1.1 (License Grade) and C.1.1.4 (Ineligible Entry). While we acknowledge the Team’s decision to self-report, the fact remains that you accessed a high-speed circuit during an official session without a valid competition license. This created an unacceptable legal and safety liability for the Championship and its insurers.

It is the Order of this Court that:

Immediate Disqualification: You are formally disqualified from the entirety of the opening event at Brands Hatch. All times set are voided.

Suspension of Competition Privileges: Your entitlement to participate in the British F4 Championship is hereby suspended for a period of twelve (12) consecutive races.

This suspension applies to all Official Practice, Qualifying, and Race sessions. You are prohibited from entering the circuit in a competition vehicle during any TOCA-sanctioned event for the duration of this term.

This ban is effective retroactively from the commencement of the first official session of the current season. Consequently, you will be ineligible to participate in any further sessions until the conclusion of the fourth event of the calendar.

Your Competition License shall be endorsed with six (6) penalty points.

Team Arden is ordered to pay a fine of £5,000 for failing to ensure the eligibility of their driver under Regulation D.10.1.

The Court clarifies that while you may continue private testing on non-race days, you are persona non grata on the grid for the next four race weekends. You may return to official competition only once your age-exemption and license are fully ratified by the FIA, and only upon the start of the fifth event of the season.

You may step down.”