McLaren kicked out of this year's F1 championship, fined $100M

[Memnoch]

Amazing stuff.

McLaren loses spy game From Julien Pretot in Paris September 14, 2007 LEADING Formula One team McLaren Mercedes has been kicked out of the 2007 constructors' title race and fined $US100 million ($119 million), as a result of the spying controversy involving Ferrari information. The world governing body of motor sports, FIA, ruled, however, that team drievrs Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso would keep their points to keep alive the drivers' championship. "The WMSC (World Motor Sports Council) has stripped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes of all constructors points in the 2007 FIA Formula One world championship, and the team can score no points for the remainder of the season," FIA said in a statement. "Furthermore, the team will pay a fine equal to $US100 million, less the ... income lost as a result of the points deduction." Points gained by other teams so far this season would not be affected, FIA said. McLaren, which had Alonso and Hamilton record a one-two finish in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last weekend, stood accused of having benefited from a dossier of Ferrari data found in the possession of now suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan. Asked by reporters whether justice had been done, FIA president Max Mosley said: "Yes". The decision effectively ensures Ferrari the constructors' championship while keeping alive the drivers' battle. McLaren was 23 points ahead of Ferrari, which in turn was 57 clear of BMW Sauber. Hamilton, the 22-year-old rookie sensation of the season, leads double world champion Alonso by three points with four races remaining. "For the drivers we have made an exception because they have supplied evidence," Mosley was quoted later as saying by Italy's ANSA news service. The previous record fine in motor sports history was the $5 million tag handed out to the Turkish Grand Prix organisers last year for a podium ceremony controversy. FIA said the motor sports council would receive a full technical report on the 2008 McLaren car, and it would decide in December this year whether to impose any further sanction for that season. "No McLaren representative will be allowed on the podium should a McLaren driver win in any of the remaining races of the 2007 season," FIA said. FIA said full reasons for the decisions reached would be published later today. McLaren was found guilty, at a hearing in July, of possession of unauthorised Ferrari material, but it escaped sanction after the WMSC ruled, to outrage in Italy, that there was insufficient evidence to suggest the team had benefited from the data. The team was warned, however, that it could be kicked out of the 2007 and 2008 championships if new evidence wwere brought to light. Ferrari said in a statement at the Belgian Grand Prix that it was "satisfied that the truth has now emerged". But McLaren's engine partner, Mercedes, voiced dismay at the verdict and suggested it would appeal. "This judgment comes as an extreme shock for all team members and, as demonstrated by the reactions of large parts of the public, the media and Formula One viewers, is a shock for large segments of the public as well," Mercedes motor sports head Norbert Haug said. "We will now fight with all our resolve in order to give a proper response on the circuit, as we last did in Monza, and to get justice before the court." Reuters http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23770,00.html

[Sever]

Ooh! Scandal! No wonder the McLaren cars suddenly had the boogie to take it to Ferrari..

[NagaSaki]

Absolute bollocks. They decide to strip them of their Constructors points because they were won with Ferrari parts, but leave the driver standings alone? This is just a botched attempt of a ruling. They obviously want to make it look like they're taking the hard line but they're too scared to fix the driver championship because it'll ruin it for the fans.
If both McClaren driver are out including the new 'wonderboy' Hamilton then i'm sure rating will drop by loads. So its a moral right decision, vs a whats best for the sport decision- and they chose the cop out decision- just like formula 1. great.

[Vaskez]

^^sounds about right, but it'd be extremely hard to bring themselves to bury the sport for the rest of the season by killing the driver championship

[Havock]

Originally Posted by NagaSaki Absolute bollocks. They decide to strip them of their Constructors points because they were won with Ferrari parts, but leave the driver standings alone? This is just a botched attempt of a ruling. They obviously want to make it look like they're taking the hard line but they're too scared to fix the driver championship because it'll ruin it for the fans. If both McClaren driver are out including the new 'wonderboy' Hamilton then i'm sure rating will drop by loads. So its a moral right decision, vs a whats best for the sport decision- and they chose the cop out decision- just like formula 1. great.

Why penalize the drivers? They didn't do anything except drive realy fast in a circle. How are they supposed to know whats under the hood?

[NagaSaki]

Originally Posted by Havock Why penalize the drivers? They didn't do anything except drive realy fast in a circle. How are they supposed to know whats under the hood?

Because even if they didn't know what they were driving, and Fernando Alonso actually did, then they still have an unfair advantage over the other drivers. Thats why they're a 'Team' they should all pay for the mistakes.
But ye Vaskez hit the nail on the head right there.

[wellard]

That's the biggest fine I have ever heard of in sport, can they "make" them pay it all? and is it a genuine fine or 100,000 now and the rest if you are naughty again?

[Vaskez]

lol @ "naughty again"

100mill seems a "bit" on the steep side, do McLaren even make that much profit? *has no idea*