McLaren was hit today with a $100 MILLION DOLLAR fine for stealing the trade secrets of rival Ferrari. The fine was handed down by the World Motorsports Council of the FIA.
Additionally, McLaren has been stripped of all its Constructor's points for the 2007 Season. They will also have to submit their 2008 car for inspection by the FIA and may be excluded from the championship next year.
Most importantly for the Driver's Championship, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton get to keep their points towards the World Driver's Championship, and can continue to accrue points.
The fine is certainly unprecedented, but McLaren's drivers can still win the championship. And everyone remembers the World Driving Champion, and only F1 geeks like me know who wins the Constructor's Championship. So while the penalty is harsh, in practical terms McLaren gets off without losing everything. If they indeed stole Ferrari's data, then they should get bounced completely. But we all know that ain't gonna happen.
Ron Dennis was visibly shaken by the verdict, as it implies that McLaren is cheating. Ron is many things, but I sincerely doubt he knew of Mike Coughlin's possession of the Ferrari data.
McLaren may appeal the ruling.
What remains to be seen is the reaction of Mercedes-Benz to today's ruling. As a majority owner of the team, Mercedes is guilty by association. This can't help the already poor relations between McLaren and Mercedes, especially after the failure of the Mercedes-McLaren SLR sports-car program. Mercedes has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into McLaren in terms of engine development and other technical assistance, and they have to be furious about the sanction.
What of McLaren's drivers? Alonso and Hamilton are both under long-term contracts, but I imagine that at least Alonso has a clause that would let him out of the deal if McLaren is excluded next season. I'm sure his lawyers are working overtime looking for a possible out for Fernando. As is Ferarri, who are desperate to turn around their fortunes, and are looking to replace Massa and/or Raikkonen with a more consistent driver.
The McLaren team will be under siege at Spa, and the world motorsports press will be hounding Ron Dennis without mercy. He's always been a bit arrogant, and for many in the press, this is a comeuppance he truly deserves.
Additionally, McLaren has been stripped of all its Constructor's points for the 2007 Season. They will also have to submit their 2008 car for inspection by the FIA and may be excluded from the championship next year.
Most importantly for the Driver's Championship, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton get to keep their points towards the World Driver's Championship, and can continue to accrue points.
The fine is certainly unprecedented, but McLaren's drivers can still win the championship. And everyone remembers the World Driving Champion, and only F1 geeks like me know who wins the Constructor's Championship. So while the penalty is harsh, in practical terms McLaren gets off without losing everything. If they indeed stole Ferrari's data, then they should get bounced completely. But we all know that ain't gonna happen.
Ron Dennis was visibly shaken by the verdict, as it implies that McLaren is cheating. Ron is many things, but I sincerely doubt he knew of Mike Coughlin's possession of the Ferrari data.
McLaren may appeal the ruling.
What remains to be seen is the reaction of Mercedes-Benz to today's ruling. As a majority owner of the team, Mercedes is guilty by association. This can't help the already poor relations between McLaren and Mercedes, especially after the failure of the Mercedes-McLaren SLR sports-car program. Mercedes has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into McLaren in terms of engine development and other technical assistance, and they have to be furious about the sanction.
What of McLaren's drivers? Alonso and Hamilton are both under long-term contracts, but I imagine that at least Alonso has a clause that would let him out of the deal if McLaren is excluded next season. I'm sure his lawyers are working overtime looking for a possible out for Fernando. As is Ferarri, who are desperate to turn around their fortunes, and are looking to replace Massa and/or Raikkonen with a more consistent driver.
The McLaren team will be under siege at Spa, and the world motorsports press will be hounding Ron Dennis without mercy. He's always been a bit arrogant, and for many in the press, this is a comeuppance he truly deserves.
4 comments:
Questions:
1) Where would the F1 people have the authority to impose such a fine?
2) Would that kind of money not bankrupt McLaren?
Gunnar:
1) The FIA has the right to fine Mclaren as part of the Concorde Agreement and its licensing of the Formula One World Championship.
2) It won't bankrupt Mclaren. They are a multinational organization doing not only F1, but also building cars for Mercedes (the SLR), engineering work for automakers, notably Mercedes, again, and they have huge corparate sponsors (Vodaphone).
This is ceratinly a huge hit, about 40% fo their annual budget, but they have deep pockets in Mercedes and their other owners, Ron Dennis and Mansour Ojieh. they can survuve this, but it will definitely hurt them. As it should.
So who will get this $100 million? And exactly what did they do to deserve that sum?
And you are completely correct about the inequity of MB's guilt by association. That result is grossly unfair.
Maxxm:
The FIA gets the money. Think of it as a contribution to the Max Moseley Retirement Trust.
I agree, Mercedes will be unfarily tarnished; but when you lie with dogs, you're gonna get fleas.
One point of correction. of the $100MM fine, roughly $30MM will be paid by McLaren forfeiting this year's share of their TV money from F1. So it's really only $70MM out of pocket. Chump change, really.
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