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Sports / Motor Racing
McLaren fined $100 million?and points
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-14 06:06
PARIS - Formula One leaders McLaren have been stripped of all their 2007
constructors' points and fined $100 million in a spying controversy
involving Ferrari information.
However, the governing FIA ruled that the team's championship leader
Lewis Hamilton and Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso could
keep their points in the drivers' contest.
"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," the FIA said.
"Furthermore the team will pay a fine equal to $100 million, less the FOM
income lost as a result of the points deduction."
Points gained by other teams so far this season would also not be
affected, it added in a statement.
McLaren, one-two winners of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza,
were 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, the International
Automobile Federation president Max Mosley answered: "Yes".
The decision effectively ensures Ferrari the constructors' championship
but keeps a thrilling drivers' battle alive.
McLaren were 23 points ahead of Ferrari, who are in turn 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.
PROVIDING EVIDENCE
The FIA said the drivers were not punished because they had been offered
immunity in return for providing evidence.
It was not immediately clear how much the fine would ultimately be, but
it was sure to be the biggest ever handed out in motorsport.
The previous record was $5 million handed out to the Turkish Grand Prix
organisers last year for a podium ceremony controversy.
Team boss Ron Dennis said however that it could ultimately be closer to
$50 million: "We have offset revenues which will probably halve the
actual size of the cheque.
"We are a very strong company."
The FIA said the motor sport council would receive a full technical
report on the 2008 McLaren and will decide in December this year whether
to impose any further sanction.
The statement added that "No McLaren representative will be allowed on
the podium should a McLaren driver win in any of the remaining races of
the 2007 season."
It said full reasons for the decisions reached would be published on
Friday.
McLaren were found guilty at a hearing in July of possession of
unauthorised Ferrari material but escaped sanction after the WMSC ruled,
to outrage in Italy, that there was insufficient evidence they had gained
from it.
However, the team were warned then that they could be kicked out of this
and next year's championship if new evidence was brought to light.
Ferrari said in a statement at the Belgian Grand Prix that they were
"satisfied that the truth has now emerged."
However McLaren's engine partners Mercedes suggested they would appeal,
although Dennis said that was yet to be decided.
"We have to look carefully at the FIA findings before making this
decision," he said.
"The most important thing is that we are going to race this weekend, the
rest of the season and the other seasons."
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