McLaren = Thieves

RocK · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:53 am

At the specially-convened meeting of F1's World Council later this month, the FIA will ask McLaren how long suspended designer Mike Coughlan had in his possession confidential Ferrari information -- and how many colleagues he told.

As the media speculates as to how the powerful governing body will react to the tale of espionage, it has emerged that FIA sources believe Coughlan may have had the 780-pages of sensitive material since the beginning of the season.

Ferrari's Italian lawyers, meanwhile, also believe that McLaren Managing Director Jonathan Neale, who reports to Martin Whitmarsh and Ron Dennis, knew about Coughlan's possession of the dossier, as well as possibly some others.

It would, for example, answer the question as to why McLaren sought clarification on the rules for moveable floors earlier this year -- a perfectly legitimate enquiry that genuinely impacted title rival Ferrari's pace when it had to alter the underbody design of the F2007 racer.

It must be said that such clarifications are often requested by teams during any season. Last year, Renault went through the same process when the FIA decided that its mass-damper system had to be outlawed, a decision which cost the French team in overall speed before other modifications improved its pace.

This year, the FIA hardened its testing process when it was reported that certain teams were using flexible parts on their wings.

It remains however that McLaren's moveable floors question is among about 30 others that the FIA has compiled ahead of the meeting in Paris on July 26. Interestingly, it is believed that the governing body completed its list of questions, probing McLaren's affairs for the period March-July, only after reportedly viewing Coughlan's sworn affidavit outlining his knowledge of the affair.

An FIA spokesman reinforced the seriousness of the looming summit, which could result in hefty penalties for McLaren, including total exclusion from the Wworld Championship.

He said: "We don't call an emergency meeting of the World Motor Sport Council lightly."

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source GMM

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:34 pm

I doubt anything will happen.

RocK · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:19 pm

I think its very serious. For sure it cast a dark shadows for McLaren. Anything they do this year have doubts now.

What u have is a McLaren Chief Designer Mike Coughlan in possession of a rival team 780-pages of the dossier.

Knowing they were not entitled to them, keeping them and copying them, on any view they behaved disgracefully.

Ferrari got tip-off only because of Mike Coughlan wife Trudy Coughlan have taken the 780-page Ferrari document to a photocopying shop for reproduction.

Too bad for them as the photocopying staff is a Ferrari F1 fan.

CRG Asia · **Joined:** Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:35 pm **Posts:** 249

Apparently according the maclaren, its information that is not of relation to F1. And although they will submit whatever information FIA require, they're disappointed about the whole issue. I doubt anything will happen.

RocK · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:19 pm

Mike Coughlan has sworn in his affidavit that he told several fellow McLaren employees about his possession of reams of secret Ferrari material.

Quote:

"It's true," Coughlan reportedly wrote in his sworn statement. "I had all the designs."

"It was my responsibility. I showed those designs to McLaren and not just to (managing director) Jonathan Neale but to others as well."

"Everyone reacted the same way and told me to get rid of them."

Coughlan did not confirm that Ferrari's Nigel Stepney sent him the material, explaining that he received the package from a courier mail service

By admitting this, McLaren is breaching Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

That rule relates to

Quote:

"any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motor sport generally".

RocK · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:40 pm

CRG Asia wrote:

Apparently according the maclaren, its information that is not of relation to F1.

La Gazzetta dello Sport has published more detail about the supposed contents of the package sent by Stepney.

As well as car and component blueprints was Grand Prix data, telemetry as recent as from races this year, and information about the F2007's tyre behaviour, engine management, and much more.

Mikko Nassi wrote:

I doubt anything will happen.

CRG Asia wrote:

I doubt anything will happen.

If they did, its only because Lewis is leading the championship. We all know how the Brits media can be. It will be 1 big outcry..

Mikko Nassi · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:06 am

It would be pretty extreme for example to dock the points so far this season or give them a 2 race ban or something like that. :shock:

I would ruin the season.

CRG Asia · **Joined:** Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:35 pm **Posts:** 249

Yeah it will be a shame. But ferrari has been well known to take ful advantage of any situation that is favourable to them. We all remember the US grand prix don't we? So i think we can be sure that ferrari is not going to let this case rest so easily.

RocK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:09 am

McLaren judgment from FIA's World Motor Sport Council is next Thursday 26th Aug.

I'm sure McLaren didn't use any Ferrari information in the design of the MP4-22 as most team finalize their design mid-end of their last season. McLaren openly ask FIA to review the car anway.

Thats not the issue. What is the issue is whether McLaren benefited from having access to information as the F2007's set-up, its fuel tank size, and most importantly, whether it was the 780 pages of documentation that tipped off the McLaren in regards to the moveable floors on the F2007.

But because what happen with USA & Lewis leading the championship, McLaren should escape sanctions.

Already there a council member already predicting the outcome.
"he is confident the Woking team will escape sanction because it would be difficult to prove the World Championship leaders, even if were aware of the 780 pages of documentation in Mike Coughlan's possession, had used it."

Sad, benefited from having inside information on a rival is still cheating. McLaren saying only Mike Coughlan had data. My problem is his still your Chief Designer. But like the guy said, its difficult to prove.

RocK · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:23 am

World Motor Sport Council – Statement
An extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council was held in Paris on 26 July, 2007. The following decision was taken:

“The WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code.
However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula One World Championship. We therefore impose no penalty.

“But if it is found in the future that the Ferrari information has been used to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to invite Vodafone McLaren Mercedes back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship but also the 2008 championship.

“The WMSC will also invite Mr Stepney and Mr Coughlan to show reason why they should not be banned from international motor sport for a lengthy period and the WMSC has delegated authority to deal with this matter to the legal department of the FIA.”

RocK · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:53 am

Ron Dennis

Quote:

"There is no doubt that the past 24 days have been challenging and the tremendous support we have received from our sponsor partners and the public has been much appreciated,"

"Moving forward McLaren wants to reaffirm our long-standing commitment to honesty and integrity and restate that we believe we have acted correctly throughout.

"Now, we have Formula 1 world championships to win.

"As a result we intend to move on, so as to maintain the focus and commitment required to do exactly that."

Fernando Alonso

Quote:

"Having only been part of McLaren for a few months I know how important today's decision will be for everybody,"

"I am looking forward to an exciting second half of the season and to continue our battle for both world championships."

Lewis Hamilton

Quote:

"Whilst it's only my first season in Formula 1 with the team, I already know and appreciate the commitment and dedication of the people there.

"As a result I am pleased with today's decision and can't wait for the rest of the season."

RocK · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:55 am

Ferrari respond

Quote:

This decision has enraged Ferrari, which believes the guilty verdict should have carried a punishment regardless of whether there was proof that McLaren had benefited from the information.

"Ferrari notes that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been found guilty by the FIA World Council," said a Ferrari statement.

"It therefore finds it incomprehensible that violating the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not have, as a logical and inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction."

The FIA's original summons to McLaren referred only to the team having "unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, including information that could be used to design, engineer, build, check, test, develop and/or run a 2007 Ferrari Formula 1 car."

Ferrari vehemently rejected McLaren's defence that the case related only to a rogue individual rather than the team as a whole.

It claimed that the FIA verdict undermined Formula 1.

"Today's decision legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula 1 and sets a very serious precedent," the statement continued.

"In fact, the decision of the World Council signifies that possession, knowledge at the very highest level and use of highly confidential information acquired in an illicit manner and the acquiring of confidential information over the course of several months, represent violations that do not carry any punishment.

"The fact that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of such information was discovered totally by accident and, but for this, the team would continue to have it.

"This is all the more serious as it has occurred in a sport like Formula 1 in which small details make all the difference.

"Ferrari feels this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport."

The team did not make any comment about whether it would appeal against the FIA's decision, but it will continue to pursue the cases it has brought against Coughlan and its former engineer Nigel Stepney, who is the alleged source of the leak.

"It will continue with the legal action already under way within the Italian criminal justice system and in the civil court in England," Ferrari's statement concluded.

I feel for Ferrari on this case..

HoosierDaddy · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:06 am

I think its interesting that the FIA only found McLaren guilty of having possession of the documents rather than for not reporting it.

That does take the wind out of Ferrari's position that guilty must have a consequence. I mean, if simple possession warranted a penalty, then teams would be mailing trivial secrets to their competition all the time. :wink:

As to why they were not found guilty of something else and why they received no penalty (yet), it may be the FIA's way to show their displeasure with Ferrari for leaking secret depositions to the press. The leaks could have come from Ferrari or Coughlan but Coughlan definetly did not want the contents in public.

If Ferrari leaked the deposition, and they are the most likely party, they are guilty of bringing F1 into disrepute more than McLaren did.

And this is not a slap on the wrist for McLaren. By leaving severe penalties hanging over their heads, the FIA guarantees Mclaren will be their slave in all matters for this season.

This is far from over.......

mym · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:43 am

I wonder what would be the decision if Ferrari is in McLaren shoe.

RocK · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:54 pm

mym wrote:

I wonder what would be the decision if Ferrari is in McLaren shoe.

I'll go 1 step more..
Just wonder what if Lewis Hamilton is driving for Ferrari and leading the championship..

All this just teach F1teams if get caught, just suspend the guy and all will be fine..

Like to quote Ferrari again..

Quote:

"The fact that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of such information was discovered totally by accident and, but for this, the team would continue to have it."

McLaren = Thieves

Who is online