FIA says has new evidence in spy case

[www.autosport.com]

Formula One's governing body said on Wednesday that it had received new evidence relating to a spying controversy involving McLaren and Ferrari and an appeal hearing scheduled for next week had been withdrawn.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that its World Motor Sport Council had instead been reconvened for a hearing in Paris on September 13, the date scheduled for the appeal.

It added that representatives of championship leaders McLaren, who could face exclusion from the championship, had been invited to attend.

"Following receipt of new evidence, the World Motor Sport Council has been reconvened for a hearing in Paris on September 13," it said.

Asked about the new information, an FIA spokesman said the world body was "not in a position to make any comment at this stage."

The World Motor Sport Council decided in July not to impose any penalty on Mercedes-powered McLaren because of insufficient evidence that they had benefited from Ferrari data in the possession of their suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan.

However the governing body said at the time that the matter was not closed.

"If it is found in the future that the Ferrari information has been used to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to invite...McLaren back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship but also the 2008 championship," it said .

Ferrari, McLaren's title rivals, were incensed by the original council verdict and FIA president Max Mosley sent the decision to the body's International Court of Appeal.

"The FIA President's referral of the matter to the International Court of Appeal has been withdrawn," the FIA said on Wednesday.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton leads double world champion teammate Fernando Alonso by five points going into Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari's home race, at Monza.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa is 15 points behind Hamilton with teammate Kimi Raikkonen one point further adrift with five races remaining.

Knowing that the court of appeal is unlikely to take the commercial side of the "sport" into consideration Mosley wants to have a hearing on his own terms. </cynic>

Anyone up for an egg dance?

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2007 09:45PM by tripleM.

Ooo new evidence hey? Wonder what that could be and will we ever know?

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Well I suppose if McLaren do actually get DQ'd over this new evidence, at least they can sell the car and drivers to Prodrive

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Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)

Ridiculous. I seriously hope that nothing will happen and the championship will continue normally. Otherwise, I'll support Kimi as hard as hell to win it.

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&quot;I'm an artist, the track is my canvas, and the car is my brush.&quot;

well if mclaren got disq. i am sure kimi will win it u don't have to be hard as
hell...lol


speed freak

nah Mclaren will be fine, this will be the end of F1 if Mclaren get banned from 2007 or 2008. (NOT mclaren fan btw)

Why would it be 'the end of f1' if they(McLaren) are proven to be guilty and then penalized???

Razorsedge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why would it be 'the end of f1' if they(McLaren)
> are proven to be guilty and then penalized???


Exactly. McLaren is part of F1 history but anyway its just 1 team like Lotus, Benetton, Tyrrel and many many other teams. Also end of those teams didnt mean end of F1.

Personally I think punishment wud destroy totally both this year worldchampion titles. But if looking also to future it would be really good on reputation of FIA and F1. It would show clearly that there is (still) some rules left and that somebody is taking care of fair competition.


I know that nobody in here agrees but atleast I said (again) my opinion.

Kimi, so, Massa Fernando Sebastian is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?

Razorsedge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why would it be 'the end of f1' if they(McLaren)
> are proven to be guilty and then penalized???

It depends very much on the reasoning behind their outcome. If McLaren are banned simply because ONE employee did something stupid, and dragged the WHOLE team down, then it would be a stupid decision and would undermine the very foundations upon which F1's reputation is built.

If, however, the unlikely verdict is reached that McLaren (the team) actively supported the espionage and profited from the documents obtained by Mike Coughlan, then any verdict handed out could be considered fair and just.

I hope they get it right...

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Locke Cole Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Razorsedge Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why would it be 'the end of f1' if
> they(McLaren)
> > are proven to be guilty and then penalized???
>
> It depends very much on the reasoning behind their
> outcome. If McLaren are banned simply because ONE
> employee did something stupid, and dragged the
> WHOLE team down, then it would be a stupid
> decision and would undermine the very foundations
> upon which F1's reputation is built.
>
> If, however, the unlikely verdict is reached that
> McLaren (the team) actively supported the
> espionage and profited from the documents obtained
> by Mike Coughlan, then any verdict handed out
> could be considered fair and just.
>
> I hope they get it right...


I guess not many of you have checked it out, but in the articles that MacLaren are under investigation for, it specifically states, that the WHOLE team can be held responsible for the actions of a SINGLE employee that did something stupid.


IWE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Razorsedge Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why would it be 'the end of f1' if
> they(McLaren)
> > are proven to be guilty and then penalized???
>
>
> Exactly. McLaren is part of F1 history but anyway
> its just 1 team like Lotus, Benetton, Tyrrel and
> many many other teams. Also end of those teams
> didnt mean end of F1.
>
> Personally I think punishment wud destroy totally
> both this year worldchampion titles. But if
> looking also to future it would be really good on
> reputation of FIA and F1. It would show clearly
> that there is (still) some rules left and that
> somebody is taking care of fair competition.
>
>
> I know that nobody in here agrees but atleast I
> said (again) my opinion.


I agree.

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It's only after we've lost everything, that we are free to do anything.

Well this is no longer a re try it to hear the new evedence so it must be something big.

I think its the end of mclaren for this year and next but we will see.

About the pro drive thing. If mclaren are banned they will not be able to make a car for them if u read into things and I bet that is why prodrive have not anounced the deal yet.

if McLaren are punished for teh action of one employee, then so should ferrari as well.

any sort of DQ for McLaren will make a mockery of the sport. it's on its last legs as it is, this would be teh final nail in teh coffin imo.

Sim

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"I'd love to know what goes on in that crazy head of yours sometimes, Sim..." - Locke Cole

tbh its hardly on its last legs though.
sure alot of the current fans do not like what has gone on, but latley f1 has aquired alot of newer fans... all of us here have at least some good knowledge of f1's history and how it was probably better, but to alot of fans who have watched f1 for 2 or so years, this season is probably the best thing they've seen!

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"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

And most new fans are watching Lewis, that includes the USA as well.

But if they have done wrong they do need to be punished but in the past other teams have also done things and got away with it and not just ferrari.

this is really bad I feel I think McLaren is in serious problems now...this is really bad for them.

If McLaren get found guilty is that it or are they going to be able appeal the decision ? and vice versa if they get found innocent will Ferrari be able to appeal ?

Sort of on-topic I suppose - Basically more problems for McLaren - I bet Ron is crying in his office Source: Autosport.com

McLaren under investigation by stewards.

McLaren are under investigation by the race stewards at the Italian Grand Prix over their running of a new lightweight gearbox in Hungary that had not been crash tested, autosport.com can reveal.

Paddock sources have confirmed that discussions are currently taking place at Monza to decide whether anything needs to be done about McLaren's actions in Hungary.

It is understood that the Woking-based team ran their new lightweight gearbox at the race at Hungaroring without a new crash test taking place prior to the event.

Although the new gearbox did not require an altered crash structure from the one already approved by the FIA to be put in place, it is understood McLaren's actions could have breached article 16.1.2 of Formula One's technical regulations.

The rules state: "Any significant modification introduced into any of the structures tested shall require that part to pass a further test."

The issue of the gearbox only came to light after the Turkish Grand Prix, when McLaren passed a crash test with the new version - with the team having reverted to their older unit at the Istanbul Park event.

Sources have made it clear that McLaren did not deliberately try and hide the fact that they had raced with the lightweight gearbox in Hungary.

It is not clear whether the matter will result in action being taken. And should McLaren be found to be in breach of the rules, it is hard to predict what punishment could be handed out.

Previous precedents, like the fuel controversy involving the Williams and Benetton teams at the 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix, resulted in the team losing their constructors' championship points.

But the Hungary matter is complicated by the fact that McLaren have already lost their constructors' championship points from that event because of the qualifying controversy between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

well punishment could be taht they also lose drivers points..

I only see McLaren digging a bigger hole for them to fall into as each day passes.