British GP, 2007, Ron Dennis, I quote:
'I live and breathe this team. There is no way anything incorrect would ever happen in our team. My personal integrity is very important to me and my company's integrity is even more important to me. We are working closely with the FIA and closely with Ferrari. This matter does not involve our company.'
'I am absolutely confident that with the passing of time, the world will understand that McLaren's position is one that is reflective of our statements. We have never, to my knowledge, ever used other people's intellectual property. It is not on our car. I am sure the FIA will confirm.'
Those words came back to haunt Ron, in December he issued a grovelling apology which revealed the full extent of the Ferrari information infiltration. Not only on the car that won 8 races in 2007, but the MP-23, the car that was being constructed for 2008.
This is from a team that was noted for it's immaculate and unimpeachable image, it's integrity was ripped apart.
Either Dennis knew about it or it was a display of poor administrative control by Dennis, Whitmarsh and Neale. How could the right hand be so unaware of what the left hand was doing?
Most think the FIA's pummeling of McLaren was merciless, this apology showed the FIA were completely justified in their actions.
McLaren did once have a proud record in formula one however the spy scandal completely destroyed their reputation as a team and brought the entire sport into disrepute.
The fact you can still support Ron Dennis with such passion is beyond words, he is both deceptive and incompetent beyond all measure...
Ron Dennis was wrong, but not dishonest. It's not dishonest if you do not know, which he didn't. The McLaren Group is a big organisation with many different subgroups, of which McLaren Racing is only one. To handle such a company, responsibilities are devolved to certain groups and people throughout it. Similar things happen in other companies. If one of the foot soldiers are rogue, how the hell is the general going know? Put simply, he can't. Jonathan Neale, one of the sergeants, if you like, carrying on the military metaphor, thought he had the problem with Coughlan solved. He did not, however, for Coughlan went behind McLaren's back.
Perhaps you need reminded of the findings of the FIA's report on the spy scandal. As I've told you before, the FIA found there was no Ferrari intellectual data on the MP4-22, although two components possibly found their way onto the MP4-23. That doesn't seem to have permeated into your thick head as yet.
Never mind McLaren bringing Formula One into disrepute, the FIA do that themselves, with their cosy relations with Ferrari, bungling one rule change after another, allowing a Nazi for a President (who's breaking his own two-term limit legislation) to stay, their nefarious practices to ensure title battles go to the last race of the season, and completely screwing-up sorting out the spy scandal.
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988,
1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998,
1999, 2007McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
typical) But I think Pat Symmons also has absolute integrity and I also think FW would have. I know the other guy MT less well but have no reason to believe otherwise of him. I think the thing that is annoying is that RD has his integrity questioned and that infuriates people and makes them respond aggresively.
