McLaren escape punishement, for now
July 27th 2007 01:40
The investigation was to determine whether the Ferrari documents discovered in the possession of McLaren’s suspended chief designer, Mike Coughlan in June, were used by the team in order to gain an unfair advantage.
The WMSC declared McLaren guilty of possession of confidential information, but was unable to determine if the team had gained any sporting advantage.
“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,” read the FIA statement.
However, despite evading penalty this time, the WMSC warned the Woking based outfit that if evidence did come to light in the future, exclusion from the 2007, and also 2008 championship was a possibility.
McLaren Team Principal, Ron Dennis seemed unsatisfied as he exited from the FIA headquarters, despite his team being let off the hook, for now.
“The process has been long and detailed," he said, "Although I'm not completely comfortable with the outcome, the punishment fits the crime."
The Stepneygate saga that has gripped F1 however, is still not over, with the WMSC inviting ex-Ferrari man Nigel Stepney and Mike Coughlan, the men at the heart of the controversy, to face the FIA to save themselves from a ban from international motorsport.
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