It was FOM who paid Ferrari, not the FIA. Although inherently related to one another, FOM and the FIA exist as separate entities. In other words, it was Benie Ecclestone who paid Ferrari, not Max Mosely.
I remember way back at Spa I drew parallels between spygate and a polie investigation. McLaren were found guilty of having Ferrari's technical documents, and arned that massive fine. Because they've been proven guilty once, the FIA are more likely to look at them first if something comes up involving them, much the same way as police will look at repeat offenders if a crime similar to the original one has been committed.
Yeah, but to suggest that the FIA is actually the 'Ferrari Interests Authority' and that all of its members - the important ones at least - are in Maranello's pocket is a kick in the pants. There's no way Ferrari could consistently bribe dozens of people and keep it secret for years; all it would take is one conscience and the whole thing falls to pieces. Not only that, but the sport would be destoryed, possibly forever.
It's much easier to believe that maybe Lewis Hamilton keeps making mistakes. Despite what James Allen and Lewisteria rammed down out throats these past two years, he is not a God among men. In fact, he's jut six months older than I am, and I know from experince that twenty-three year olds do make mistakes because of their inexperience. If people like Barrichello, Fisichella, Heidfeld and Raikkonen can make mistakes, Lewis Hamilton sure as hell can, too.
Besides, the FIA has no motive for being biased against Hamilton.
Well, that just relates back to the idea of repeat offenders. There's an interview with Sebastian Vettel over at Formula1.com where they talk about his penalty for speeding in pit lane early in his career - six seconds after he left the garage for the first time; he was filling in for the injued Kubica - and he remarks that the second time he did it, the FIA doubled the fine.
