Fia Draws Line Under F1 Spying Row
Motorsport governing body the FIA has drawn a line under the F1 spying row by cancelling its scheduled hearing on the make-up of the McLaren car for 2008 following the team’s apology and admission of guilt last week.
The FIA’s move came after McLaren admitted leaked Ferrari data was more ‘widely disseminated’ within their camp than previously suspected and said they would freeze any development of their 2008 car derived from Ferrari.
McLaren were fined £50m and lost their constructors’ points in September for possessing a 780-page document of confidential Ferrari technical information.
However last week was the first time they had admitted the data went further into the company than to chief designer Mike Coughlan, and drivers Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa.
In the light of McLaren’s admission, apology and actions, FIA president Max Mosley last week asked the body’s world council ‘for their consent to cancel the hearing scheduled for 14th February 2008 and, in the interests of the sport, to consider this matter closed.’
Mosley’s request to the WMSC has been accepted, meaning McLaren can race next year without fear of additional penalties and the scandal that has rocked F1 is now brought to a close.
