McLaren Handed Record Fine In Spying Row

McLaren have been hit with a record £49.2m fine and stripped of all their points
in the constructors’ championship as a result of the second hearing by the World
Motor Sport Council into the F1 ‘spying’ row.

While the team’s drivers – Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso – have been
allowed to retain their points in the F1 drivers’ championship, McLaren must
prove that there is no Ferrari ‘intellectual property’ in their cars next year
before they will be allowed to race.

The size of the fine effectively wipes out any money from broadcast rights
and sponsorship that McLaren would have gleaned from this season.

McLaren have yet to decide whether they will appeal against the decision –
the full reason behind the verdict of which was revealed by the FIA after the
verdict.

According to the govnering body, McLaren received a systematic flow of
information from a spy within rivals Ferrari for nearly three months this year.

The data McLaren received over the three-month period concerned the Ferrari
car’s brakes, weight distribution and aerodynamic balance tyre inflation.

In a 16-page document, the FIA said e-mails showed that test driver Pedro De
la Rosa and reigning world champion Alonso had been aware of the Ferrari data.

An initial hearing by the FIA could not find any evidence linking the details
within the stolen 750-page document to amendments to the McLaren car but, after
new evidence in the case came to light, the World Motor Sport Council ordered a
second hearing which has led to the record fine.

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis was defiant in his response to the news: ‘I do
not accept that we deserve to be penalised or our reputation damaged in this
way.

‘We did not use any leaked information to gain a competitive advantage. We
have got the best drivers and have got the best car and we intend to win the
world championship.

‘The World Motor Sport Council received statements from our drivers, Fernando
Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Pedro de la Rosa, stating categorically that no
Ferrari information had been used by McLaren.

‘We have never denied that this information from Ferrari was in the personal
possession of one of our employee at his home.

‘The issue is, was this information used by McLaren. This is not the case and
has not been proved.’