The FIA World Motor Sport Council have found McLaren guilty of
possession of unauthorised Ferrari documents, but with no evidence that
the team had made use of the information, the governing body elected
not to punish McLaren for now.
The WMSC said, however, that if in the future evidence would be
found to show that McLaren had used the information, they will be
called back and face severe penalties, including exclusion from the
world championship.
"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," said the
FIA in a statement.
"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."
Luigi Macaluso, the Italian representative at the WMSC, told Gazzetta dello Sport after the hearing: "There was no proof, nothing more could be done."
The FIA also said it will invite former Ferrari engineer Nigel
Stepney and McLaren’s suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan to explain
their behaviour in the spy case.
Some 780 pages of Ferrari technical data were allegedly found in
Coughlan’s possession, but McLaren have said that nobody other than
Coughlan knew about the leaked information until they were informed by
Ferrari at the start of the month.
"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," the statement added.
My opinion is that the FIA have made the right decision in this hearing. As McLaren have stated – "McLaren accepts the that the FIA World
Motor Sport Council had no alternative other than to find that there
was a purely technical breach by reason of the possession of certain
information by one individual at his home, without McLaren’s knowledge
or authority." Being charged guilty from possession of these documents does not equal punishment as there is no sufficient evidence that McLaren have ‘cheated’, through using the information and benefiting from it. If McLaren, as a team fully aware, stole the Ferrari documents then we may have seen a fine or a constructors points deduction. However, Stepney and Coughlan being the only two responsible persons directly involved with this document means the team do not face punishment.
This was a fair decision by the FIA. Had Kimi been driving for McLaren this year, you can imagine how many fans would be in favour of the FIA’s verdict. However, Kimi is at Ferrari, and as much as he may have benefited from McLaren having points deducted, it would unjustify his achievements so far this year and I can assure fans of Kimi that his career was always clean and fair and always shall be despite being in a team like Ferrari.
Ferrari furious at McLaren reprieve > Of
course they would be, but if McLaren should be charged as they say then
Ferrari should be charged along with McLaren over the irresponsibility
over their employees, as Stepney started this espionage case.
McLaren have NOT cheated; there is no proof to suggest they actually have or even will benefit from these documents as only Coughlan was directly aquainted with Stepney and these documents.
Anyway > 2007 F1 European GP Highlights Video > The race not to be missed! (eventhough Kimi retired)
FUCK ISRAEL 