FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

By Jonathan Noble Friday, July 11th 2008, 10:40 GMT

Ferrari and McLaren have agreed to bring closure to the spy controversy that marred last year's fight for the Formula One world championship after settling any remaining differences they had over the matter.

McLaren were fined $100 million and thrown out of last year's constructors' championship after they were found guilty in the spy saga when a dossier of secret Ferrari information was found to be in possession of one of their employees.

Although the matter was brought to a formal close by the FIA last December, when McLaren publicly apologised for their behaviour, there remained some unresolved issues between the Woking-based team and their Maranello rivals.

However, in separate statements issued by McLaren and Ferrari on Friday morning, the teams confirmed that they had sorted out all outstanding issues in a bid to allow both of them and F1 to move on.

"In light of the formal closure in December 2007 of the FIA and FIA World Motor Sport Council proceedings against McLaren, and of McLaren's public apology to Ferrari which we have reiterated, Ferrari and McLaren have agreed to bring the various disputes between them in relation to this matter to a final conclusion," said a statement from McLaren.

"McLaren have also agreed to the reimbursement of Ferrari's costs and expenses relating to these matters and a concluding payment."

Ferrari welcomed McLaren's actions and said they would donate the money they received from their rivals to good causes.

"Ferrari acknowledges McLaren's reiterated apology for the well known events which occurred during the 2007 F1 Championship and, in the best interests of Formula One and taking into account the formal closure in December 2007 of the FIA and FIA World Motor Sport Council proceedings against McLaren, it confirms that it has accepted to put an end to all outstanding controversies between the two teams," said a statement issued by Ferrari. "Ferrari will donate to charity the concluding payment received from McLaren."

Although legal action against McLaren has begun in Italy regarding the matter, the fact that Ferrari have now settled their differences means there is unlikely to be an impetus to push forward on this front.

However, Ferrari have made it clear that they will continue their claims against former chief mechanic Nigel Stepney over the matter. Stepney is alleged to have handed over the 780-page dossier of information to McLaren's former chief designer Mike Coughlan.

The Ferrari statement added: "Ferrari will pursue its claims against Nigel Stepney in connection with the matter."

Stepneygate was a sham and I still feel bitter about a lot of things, but 2008 and beyond is the focus for McLaren now, it's good to see the matter is over, certainly in terms of Formula One, given that Stepney is out of racing and virtually banned for severals from taking part in it.

[bud]

I'm still interested in the whole bernie and todt not meant to be on the wmsc saga. but this seems nothing will arise from that front

[McLaren Fan]

I'm still interested in the whole bernie and todt not meant to be on the wmsc saga. but this seems nothing will arise from that front

It will be swept under the carpet. People are too scared of Mosley to raise the issue. Even if some people were to, Mosley has shown he can surf on a tidal wave, so it will be another controversy he will survive. I'm also not sure that they could retrospectively change the result of the championship given that so long has passed. Nor would it benefit McLaren anyway, for the biased stewarding decisions would not be taken into account. It would also reopen old wounds anyway. McLaren and Mercedes seem to have got themselves together. McLaren are settled into the new Technology Centre, Mercedes have their interests in Ilmor sorted and the team has two great drivers for the future. McLaren should look ahead and show the FIA the two fingers.

[8-ball]

Mclaren have sorted the issue out and a line has been drawn under it.

[Stealthgate007]

You remember McLaren made some development consessions this year, foregoing some chasis design. I really thought they would not be competative. Since the regulations change next year, they should be exempt of any moretoriums on development. Right?

[McLaren Fan]

You remember McLaren made some development consessions this year, foregoing some chasis design. I really thought they would not be competative. Since the regulations change next year, they should be exempt of any moretoriums on development. Right?

I think that they were only in place for this season anyway. There will be nobody from the FIA looking at the car next season either. 2009 should be business as normal for McLaren.

[KyrosV]

have they actually been inspecting the car all this year, or has it been thrown out of the window just like how they let them have the 5th garage?

[bud]

have they actually been inspecting the car all this year, or has it been thrown out of the window just like how they let them have the 5th garage?

they inspect every car.... its called scrutineering

[McLaren Fan]

have they actually been inspecting the car all this year, or has it been thrown out of the window just like how they let them have the 5th garage?

What you're talking about is a separate issue. As bud said, all the cars are inspected as part of normal racing scrutineering. What was happening to McLaren as part of their punishment was that the FIA would inspect the car's designs etc. to ensure that there was nothing even resembling Ferrari intellectual property.

[KyrosV]

have they actually been inspecting the car all this year, or has it been thrown out of the window just like how they let them have the 5th garage?

What you're talking about is a separate issue. As bud said, all the cars are inspected as part of normal racing scrutineering. What was happening to McLaren as part of their punishment was that the FIA would inspect the car's designs etc. to ensure that there was nothing even resembling Ferrari intellectual property.

would they still be doing it now with upgrades?

[McLaren Fan]

have they actually been inspecting the car all this year, or has it been thrown out of the window just like how they let them have the 5th garage?

What you're talking about is a separate issue. As bud said, all the cars are inspected as part of normal racing scrutineering. What was happening to McLaren as part of their punishment was that the FIA would inspect the car's designs etc. to ensure that there was nothing even resembling Ferrari intellectual property.

would they still be doing it now with upgrades?

I'm not entirely sure. The language the FIA used seemed to suggest that the MP4-23 would be inspected before it hit the track, but I don't think that there was a any mention of inspecting it throughout the season. I'm sure the FIA would at least be doing some spot checks and keeping an eye on in scrutineering for anything to be really honest.

[bud]

they "froze" development on two components if they show up to a GP weekend with advancements on those components then the scrutineerers would know they broke that freeze wouldnt you say eh

[KyrosV]

would make sence to. as they could of turned up at the second race with a completly different car. I know they do scrutineering but thats only for general abnormalities. What they should of done is tell mclaren to freeze there car development for 2008 cos they were lucky to be in it all. But I guess in the softness of the FIA and in pleasing the general puplic they couldnt do this. Im glad its all over now. but im sure in few years time it will pop back up again and the truth revealed.

[McLaren Fan]

KyrosV, how are Renault finding McLaren's information this season, for instance, the J-Damper?

[bud]

KyrosV, how are Renault finding McLaren's J-Damper this season?

i hate hearing these armchair experts proclaim McLaren were lucky to be in it at all...

as for not allowing them to make developments that is the most obsurd thing i have heard on this forum and thats a forum where we have mikep and texasmr2 commenting on



just teasing mike and gregg