McLaren escape punishment in spying row
Thursday, 26 Jul 2007 23:00
The McLaren-Mercedes team can now focus on the season ahead
The McLaren-Mercedes formula one team have avoided any punishment in the row over alleged industrial espionage against rivals Ferrari because of "insufficient evidence".
At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) held in Paris today, McLaren officials were told there would be no points penalty for them or the drivers – reigning champion Fernando Alonso and current championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
However, the Woking-based team were told they were indeed in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code (ISC) because the WMSC was satisfied that McLaren were "in possession of confidential Ferrari information".
Article 151c of the ISC states it is an offence to engage in "fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally".
The WMSC's statement continued: "However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the F1 World Championship. We therefore impose no penalty."
Speaking after the verdict was handed down, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said: "Moving forward McLaren wants to re-affirm our long-standing commitment to honesty and integrity and re-state that we believe we have acted correctly throughout."
Despite the decision not to punish McLaren, the team were informed that there could be implications from this judgment in the future.
If the British outfit are found to have gained any ground over Ferrari in the World Championship as a result of the breach of the rules, the council reserves the right to exclude them from this year's, and possibly even next year's, competition.
The WMSC also said they would invite former Ferrari employee Nigel Stepney and McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan "to show reason why they should not be banned from international motor sport for a lengthy period".
Today's decision means the World Championship is likely to be decided on the track, as opposed to in a courtroom or at a disciplinary hearing, which should please the majority of F1 fans.
It also means Hamilton and Alonso, who are currently first and second in the drivers' championship, can be fully focused on the upcoming race in Hungary next weekend without fear of being deducted points.