Moderators: cmlean, Ed, The Qualiflyer, The Heretic
Perhaps there was a bundle of McLaren data alongside the Ferrari documents,gkaytaz wrote:There may be more to the story than we get to read about... I feel like watching an average soap opera.Julian Mayo wrote:Kapel wrote:Any news on the spy saga..wasnt the hearing today?I just find it strange that no-one has actually been charged with anything yet
...which Honda tried to use when Toyota was watching. As a result the combined points total of both amounts to less than that of RedBullJulian Mayo wrote:Perhaps there was a bundle of McLaren data alongside the Ferrari documents,gkaytaz wrote:There may be more to the story than we get to read about... I feel like watching an average soap opera.Julian Mayo wrote:
Or the other way round???gkaytaz wrote:...which Honda tried to use when Toyota was watching. As a result the combined points total of both amounts to less than that of RedBullJulian Mayo wrote:Perhaps there was a bundle of McLaren data alongside the Ferrari documents,gkaytaz wrote:
There may be more to the story than we get to read about... I feel like watching an average soap opera.
Ralf ain't that smart.Julian Mayo wrote:Or the other way round???gkaytaz wrote:...which Honda tried to use when Toyota was watching. As a result the combined points total of both amounts to less than that of RedBullJulian Mayo wrote:
Perhaps there was a bundle of McLaren data alongside the Ferrari documents,
Either they are responsible for their workforce (particularly senior staff) and were in possession and are guilty or they are not. They can't only be guilty if they actually use the material to improve their performance?! Surely this is a whitewash (no offense to those of you who are white ).
In other words the FIA reserves the right to alter the outcome of the WDC and WCC as it pleases...Ed wrote:McLaren escape penalty provisionally!
The World Motor Sport Council met today (Thursday) and released the following 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.”
But there is no way to effectively prove that the information has been used. Unless the McLaren guys are total idiots they will have altered the info before using it.Ed wrote:Ferrari slam the decision labelling it as 'incomprehensible' and setting a very serious precedent.
Ferrari's statement following the decision:
Based on today’s decision of the FIA World Council:
• The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team has been found to be in breach of article 151c of the F1 Sporting Regulations and to have therefore behaved in “a fraudulent manner and therefore in a manner prejudicial to the interests of competition or motor sport in general,”
• The World Council has nevertheless decided that, in the absence of any definite proof that information that is the property of Ferrari has been effectively used on the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car competing in the current championship, it can impose no sanction without further evidence. Ferrari notes that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been found guilty by the FIA World Council. 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. Today’s decision legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula 1 and sets a very serious precedent.
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. It will continue with the legal action already under way within the Italian criminal justice system and in the civil court in England.
