Mclaren gets fined $100 million for spying..
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jersey fresh
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Mclaren gets fined $100 million for spying..
this is unbelievable....
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2007/...rmula-one.html
The McLaren team was fined $100 million US and stripped of all of its points in the constructors' standings Thursday in the spy scandal that has rocked Formula One.
Team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are currently 1-2 in the championship standings, were not punished and can continue to compete for the season title.
Ron Dennis of McLaren, middle, is mobbed by the media on Thursday.
(Christophe Ena/Associated Press) McLaren could still be penalized for the 2008 championship, FIA, the sport's governing body, said in a statement after a hearing.
McLaren, which leads the current drivers' and constructors' standings, was punished by the World Motor Sports Council for allegedly using leaked secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari.
"Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged," the Italian team said in a statement.
McLaren can appeal.
Team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are currently 1-2 in the championship standings, were not punished and can continue to compete for the season title.
Ron Dennis of McLaren, middle, is mobbed by the media on Thursday.
(Christophe Ena/Associated Press) McLaren could still be penalized for the 2008 championship, FIA, the sport's governing body, said in a statement after a hearing.
McLaren, which leads the current drivers' and constructors' standings, was punished by the World Motor Sports Council for allegedly using leaked secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari.
"Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged," the Italian team said in a statement.
McLaren can appeal.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2007/...rmula-one.html
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jersey fresh
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here's more...
The case broke open in July when a 780-page technical dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren's chief designer, Mike Coughlan, who was later suspended.
Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who allegedly supplied the documents, was fired.
Under Thursday's ruling, McLaren loses all its constructors' points and is ineligible from scoring any more in the final races of the season.
The penalty includes McLaren's expected loss of income.
McLaren escaped the harshest possible penalty, as FIA could have kicked the team and its drivers out of the 2007 and 2008 championships.
In December, FIA will decide on any possible sanctions against McLaren for the 2008 season
Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who allegedly supplied the documents, was fired.
Under Thursday's ruling, McLaren loses all its constructors' points and is ineligible from scoring any more in the final races of the season.
The penalty includes McLaren's expected loss of income.
McLaren escaped the harshest possible penalty, as FIA could have kicked the team and its drivers out of the 2007 and 2008 championships.
In December, FIA will decide on any possible sanctions against McLaren for the 2008 season
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Ferrari better make sure all the McLaren manuals are put away!
If these guys are like American racers, anything goes. If you want to be on the top, you do anything. Ferrari was on the top a long time.
If these guys are like American racers, anything goes. If you want to be on the top, you do anything. Ferrari was on the top a long time.
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and just last week in italy before Italy race began, MClaren had papers served to them. this sunday should be very interesting race. btw Hamilton FTW 
Last edited by alfy28; Sep 13, 2007 at 10:52 PM.
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I like the decision. I also like the fact the drivers won't be penalized. I'd love to see history made but Hamilton needs to pay his dues. That team has screwed with Alonso's head so much that I am pulling for Alonso to teach the entire McLaren team a lesson. Stop worrying about history being made in F1 because history is going to be made in the US when we have either the first woman or the first black president ever.
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I dissagree with that decision. While the drivers weren't associated with the espionage, they did benefit from it. I would think some points should have been pulled from the drivers this year.
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The fine seems huge to me but the amount of money these teams have in R&D, testing, and development, maybe millions might make them think again about stealing. I just can't get over that figure, maybe we can have them send the money to Mazda? 
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I see your point. It's obvious they want to benefit as much as possible from the renewed interest in F1 thanks to the cutthroat competition between Alonso and Hamilton after the retirement of Schumacher.
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McLaren is due to receive $68 million from TV funds from points received so far, so the out of pocket expence for them will be a little over $30 million. But, it is still a $100 million loss of funds for them.
Reasons for the finding are due to be published later today (09/14).
Also in the news. Renault is now said to have spied on McLaren. (no joke)
http://formula-1.updatesport.com/new...-row/view.html
Reasons for the finding are due to be published later today (09/14).
Also in the news. Renault is now said to have spied on McLaren. (no joke)
http://formula-1.updatesport.com/new...-row/view.html
Last edited by alnielsen; Sep 14, 2007 at 01:22 AM.
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They might as well have said " there is no fine just no testing, building or R&D for next season" $100,000,000 is quite a bit but appropiate for cheating in the worlds most expensive sport. I also think the drives should have been penalized too.
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They are up now.
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=32766
Pretty convincing argument in there.
Also, Peter Windsor was saying this morning that the big rumor (supposedly from good sources) is that Alonso tried to blackmail the team to get Hamilton sent to test driver status (replaced by De La Rosa) or Alonso would reveal the damning evidence.
Regardless of how true this is, Alonso and De La Rosa did reveal the evidence....
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=32766
Pretty convincing argument in there.
Also, Peter Windsor was saying this morning that the big rumor (supposedly from good sources) is that Alonso tried to blackmail the team to get Hamilton sent to test driver status (replaced by De La Rosa) or Alonso would reveal the damning evidence.
Regardless of how true this is, Alonso and De La Rosa did reveal the evidence....
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What a stupid ruling. How can you fine McLaren, and allow the drivers to hold onto the points that they won in a car that may have benefitted from stolen technology?
There's no more logic in F1.
There's no more logic in F1.