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#174089
Max: I wanted to ban McLaren over Spygate
Sunday 13th December 2009

Max Mosley says he wanted to ban McLaren over the Spygate affair in 2007 but was outvoted by fellow World Motor Sport Council members.

The former FIA president also claims the whole episode led to him be seen a "bully" by many people.

In a tell-all piece in The Sunday Telegraph, Mosley claims he was in favour of banning McLaren after they were found guilty of being in possession of confidential Ferrari information.

'The only safe thing would have been to exclude them from 2007 immediately and also from the 2008 championship. But with little or no income for 18 months and over 1,000 employees, their situation would have been dire. A ban would also have destroyed the great championship battle which was going on between Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.

'I was for a ban. I understood the consequences but I believe in the old legal maxim "hard cases make bad law". But I was outvoted (so much for the accusations of dictatorship) and the council went for a very large ($100 million) fine instead. McLaren did not appeal. No doubt they realised that the ICA would almost certainly substitute a ban for the fine. They also knew no civil court was likely to interfere with a ban in such circumstances and the requirement to make full disclosure under oath during the legal process of discovery might lead to much greater embarrassment.

'Despite the large sum involved, McLaren knew they had got off lightly, particularly after checks on the 2008 car revealed further devastating evidence. One email exchange between engineers responsible for the 2007 and 2008 cars asked whether information had come "from our mole" at Ferrari.

'But for me, personally, "spygate" and its consequences marked a new era. The view that I was too aggressive, too confrontational and perhaps even a bully was peddled non-stop. I was blamed (wrongly as it happens) for the size of the fine


Well with this there's one huge reason why i'm glad the asshole is gone he would of ruined a championship battle, a team and possibly the careers of Lewis and Alonso all because of his petty hatred of Ron Dennis.

He is a Bully and a megalomanic and he needs to go away now and shut up.
#174090
I don't think it would of ruined Alonso or Hamiltons careers. I am sure they would of instantly been snapped up by other teams.

Saying that though 100 Million and 1000 employees, comes out at £100,000 each for 18 months of non production.
#174113
If I were in mosley's position I too would of tried to ban McLAREN after spygate. Max wasn't the greatest but during spygate he was a warrior as he brought justice to Ferrari whom McLAREN committed the crime agaisnt by stealing those documents. Oh well mosley is gone only to replaced by even more convenient than ever Jean Todt. :thumbup:
#174118
If I were in mosley's position I too would of tried to ban McLAREN after spygate. Max wasn't the greatest but during spygate he was a warrior as he brought justice to Ferrari whom McLAREN committed the crime agaisnt by stealing those documents. Oh well mosley is gone only to replaced by even more convenient than ever Jean Todt. :thumbup:

So do you think Renault should of been banned for stealing documents off McLaren?
#174119
I was hoping Vatenan would get in. A fresh face could well have done the sport good, no previous allegiances to any teams etc, but Todt has been in the sport a very long time, knows exactly how it all works etc.


The FIA is more than just F1, Todt has alligence to Peugeot too as he was the founder of Peugeot Talbot Sport.

Ari Vatanen you could say would always side with Ford, Opel, Peugeot, Subaru, BMW or Mitsubishi. He might of even made sure Prodrive got into F1 because David Richards once his co-driver.

I don't think anyone who could be in a position to of been up for election does not have any sort of passed with one team or company.
#174120
So do you think Renault should of been banned for stealing documents off McLaren?


or for being caught cheating racefixing
#174122
If I were in mosley's position I too would of tried to ban McLAREN after spygate. Max wasn't the greatest but during spygate he was a warrior as he brought justice to Ferrari whom McLAREN committed the crime agaisnt by stealing those documents. Oh well mosley is gone only to replaced by even more convenient than ever Jean Todt. :thumbup:


Oh please Renault did the same thing and nothing happened its Max with his pathetic hate for Ron/Mclaren Ferrari have cheated and no doubt spied in the exact same way and nothing happened.

In a sport like F1 your always going to get espionage i mean its openly defend against with the engineers hiding parts of the car where possible on test days.

And with engineers, Mechanics and drivers switching teams its to be expected.

I would not at all be surprised when Alonso brings over his favourite mechanic's from Renault they bring some info with them, that would get looked into and potentially used in the Ferrari if it would help.
#174127
If I were in mosley's position I too would of tried to ban McLAREN after spygate. Max wasn't the greatest but during spygate he was a warrior as he brought justice to Ferrari whom McLAREN committed the crime agaisnt by stealing those documents. Oh well mosley is gone only to replaced by even more convenient than ever Jean Todt. :thumbup:

AKR, what are you trying to tell us when you said "Max wasn't the greatest." Did he not bring his :whip: .

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