F1’s McLaren to be Stripped of Constructor’s Points, Fined $100 Million
Admitting Thursday that they had indeed broken FIA regulations with regard to possession of technical data belonging to longstanding Formula One rival Ferrari, Team McLaren Mercedes has been stripped of all championship points and been handed a $100 million fine.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council’s decision practically ensures that Ferrari will walk away with the constructor’s championship this season... a championship that was headed McLaren's direction until now.
McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso (currently one and two respectively in the driver’s championship) will not be penalized, and may continue their quest for victory with four races to go.
After initially clearing McLaren of charges in July, the FIA reported that new evidence had surfaced (the details of which have not yet been made available) pointing to the guilt of the racing team.
No report yet as to whether or not McLaren will appeal the decision.
+ Formula1.com: McLaren fined and stripped of constructors’ points
(Click on the jump below to read the FIA's full statement)
In an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council was held in Paris on the 12th of September 2007, The following decision was taken:
"The WMSC has stripped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes of all constructors' points in the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship and the team can score no point for the remainder of the season *.
"Furthermore, the team will pay a fine equal to 100 million dollar, less the FOM income lost as a result of the points deduction.
"However, due to the exceptional circumstances in which the FIA gave the team's drivers an immunity in return for providing evidence, there is no penalty in regards to drivers' points **.
"The WMSC will receive a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car and will take a decision at its December 2007 meeting as to what sanction, if any, will be imposed on the team for the 2008 season."
The full reasons for this decision will be issued on the 14th September 2007.
* Points gained by other teams so far this season will not be affected.
** No McLaren representative will be allowed on the podium should a McLaren driver win in any of the remaining races of the 2007 season.
Comments
Don
Oh, whew...glad it's only $100 million!
MRX19
Great...Another $100 mil into Bernies pocket - yawn. Here's a better idea to eliminate the hi tech espionage - trash can the entire series. Rediculous cars racing on rediculous tracks by electronically controlled drivers. Have all the F1 teams dump their entire engineering data bases and start over. No wings, no electronic controls no glorified carting tracks. Mechanical grip, brave drivers and challenging tarcks will get me interested again.
smokyburnout
@MRX:
thats kinda the direction Max Mosely seems to want to take f1 after 2009 or so (standard aerodynamic parts so that cars can actually drive close enough to each other to pass, no traction control, turbochagers...) but, of course, there's a lot of resistance from the teams, as well as some fans...
personally, that would get me to wake up for f1 more often...
ferrarilover2
They deserve it, they had stolen info! McLaren might as well call their 2008 car the F2007 LOL
Ducati Minor
Too bad I have no interest in F1...
Jonathan Fung [Gotakon]
$100 mil...probably more money than I'll earn in my entire lifetime...gone like that.
Steve
It was a well deserved penalty. It's terrible to have had it happen, though... Such a great season!! Can't wait for the race tomorrow...
Manvessel
So let me get this right. Ferrari employee(s) gives Ferrari documents to McLaren employee(s)[by the way nothing was mentioned about Ferrari possibly getting McLaren documents]. Both Ferrari & McLaren employee(s)are fired (dismissed, laid-off, whatever they call it in Europe). McLaren is stripped of constructor points and fined 100mil. Ferrari keeps constructor points and no fine. Bernie, Max, Stepney and Todt split the $$$ which ends up in numbered accounts in Monte Carlo banks. Now I know what the "F" in F1 stands for "Federation Formulates Fixes For Ferrari to Finish First...Forever". Glad they aren't coming back to the US. They might fine us Yanks for passing notes in the stands.
Tony D
a 100 million dollar fine has to be some kind of record in the sports world. Wow.
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