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FIA letter puts McLaren drivers in 'spy scandal' spotlight
Here is a new twist on things:
FIA letter puts McLaren drivers in 'spy scandal' spotlight
07 Sep 2007
FIA letter puts McLaren drivers in 'spy scandal' spotlightThe McLaren-Ferrari ‘spy scandal’ took another twist at Monza on Friday when details emerged of a letter sent last week by FIA President Max Mosley to McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa and Lewis Hamilton.
“The FIA has been made aware of an allegation that one or more McLaren drivers may be in possession, or that such drivers have recently been in possession, of written evidence relevant to this investigation,” said the letter, in which Mosley goes on to ask the drivers to produce details of any such documents.
It follows the FIA’s decision earlier this week to stage a fresh hearing into the circumstances surrounding McLaren’s possession of confidential Ferrari data after the emergence of new evidence. McLaren escaped sanction in the original hearing where the World Motor Sport Council decided there was no proof the team had made use of the data.
In his letter, Mosley specifically requests that the McLaren drivers forward details of any electronic communications that mention or involve Ferrari, or the Italian team’s former engineer Nigel Stepney, who has denied allegations that he was the source of the leaked information.
Mosley also stresses that in doing so, the drivers would not face any proceedings under the International Sporting Code or the Formula One regulations, but warns that witholding any information could result in serious consequences.
The nine Formula One teams not directly involved in the case are also understood to have received an official request from the FIA for any pertinent information.
The full FIA letter to the McLaren drivers:
31 August 2007
Dear Mr De La Rosa
As you will be aware, the FIA has recently investigated whether, how and to what extent McLaren was in possession of confidential Ferrari technical information. The FIA has subsequently been made aware of an allegation that one or more McLaren drivers may be in possession, or that such drivers have recently been in possession, of written evidence relevant to this investigation.
In the interests of the sport and the Championship it is important that the FIA as the regulator establishes unequivocally and rapidly whether or not this allegation has any basis in fact.
The FIA therefore formally requests that you produce copies of any relevant documents which may be in your possession or power of procurement and which may be relevant to this case. For these purposes “documents” includes all written materials such as emails, letters, electronic communications, text messages, notes, memoranda, drawings, diagrams, data,. or other material, stored in any physical, “hard copy” or electronic form. In particular (though without limiting the generality of this request), the FIA wishes to receive copies of any electronic communications (howsoever conveyed or stored) which may be relevant to this case and which make reference to Ferrari, Nigel Stepney or any technical or other information coming from or connected with either Ferrari or Mr Stepney. In the event that you are aware of the existence or previous existence of any document falling within the above description but are not in a position to produce it, please describe the content of the document in question, the circumstances under which it came to your knowledge and the reasons why you are unable to produce it. In the event that you are unsure as to whether any document falls within the above description, kindly submit it (or a description of it) and the FIA will assist in making a determination.
You will appreciate that there is a duty on all competitors and Super Licence holders to ensure the fairness and legitimacy of the Formula One World Championship. It is therefore imperative that if you do have any such information, you make it available to us without delay. I can confirm, given the importance of this issue, that any information you may make available in response to this letter will not result in any proceedings against you under the International Sporting Code or the Formula One regulations. However, in the event that it later comes to light that you have withheld any potentially relevant information, serious consequences could follow.
We are sending identical letters to Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Thank you very much for your co-operation.
Interesting that this new action occurs at Ferrais home Grand Prix at the commencement of the practice sessions. And directed straight at the drivers themselves.
The place and timing of this smells ...
To me, the way the FIA and the two teams have handled this whole incident looks very amatuer. One wonders why such letters are in the public domain. If McLaren is cleared of this then I hope that lawsuits are forthcoming for the loss of reputation caused by the rumour and innuendo that has resulted from their publication. Surely this would be better sorted out behind closed doors with proper legal scrutiny and process before the verdict - and all of the facts behind it -are released.
As the process stands now, McLaren and it's employees are severely disadvantaged due to the dstraction caused by the media pressure resulting from this being in the public domain. Surely the FIA is aware of the implications of taking such action as this in Italy at this time in a case involving Ferrari. What do they think the Italian media is going to do? Are they really that naive?
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Vehicle: 1985 500SEC, 1991 190E 2.6 (50k original miles)
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Usually, where there is smoke, there is fire.
I doubt the FIA would send out such letters without a reason.
You seem to loose sight of the fact that McLaren employees were found in possession of confidential Ferrari documents, ...... not Ferrari employees with McLaren documents.
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In the other thread regarding this same subject seems that it states that Alonzo and DelaRosa have turned over to the FIA the emails between themselves in question? Don't know if it is true but one hellava rumor.
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Report: Alonso responds to FIA's request for evidence in Ferrari spy scandal
Report: Alonso responds to FIA's request for evidence in Ferrari spy scandal
MONZA, Italy: Two-time defending world champion Fernando Alonso has reportedly submitted evidence relating to the Ferrari spy scandal to Formula One's governing body, following its request that McLaren's drivers cooperate in the inquiry.
"I did only what had to be done," Alonso was quoted as saying in Saturday's edition of Italian news daily La Repubblica. "The highest body made a request of me."
FIA president Max Mosley sent a letter to Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and test driver Pedro De La Rosa on Aug. 31, saying the sport's regulator had been told that "one or more McLaren drivers may be in possession ... of written evidence relevant to this investigation."
Mosley asked the three drivers to cooperate "in the interests of the sport and the Championship" and offered them amnesty in return. Mosley also wrote that "serious consequences would follow" if they were later found to "have withheld any potentially relevant information."
"I received the letter Aug. 31 and I informed (McLaren team boss) Ron (Dennis). He wasn't happy," Alonso said ahead of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, according to La Repubblica. "I was obliged to respond because I am part of this world."
It was not immediately clear if Hamilton or Del La Rosa had responded to the letter, but Hamilton has said he was "oblivious" to the case.
McLaren and Ferrari are embroiled in a bitter dispute over alleged espionage and attempted sabotage, after technical data about the Italian team's cars turned up in the possession of McLaren's chief designer.
An Italian newspaper said Friday that Dennis could face criminal charges in the case.
The dispute ignited in July when a 780-page technical dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan. Coughlan was later suspended, while Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who allegedly supplied the documents, was fired.
Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday published an e-mail exchange between Alonso and De La Rosa, which suggested the drivers knew confidential information about Ferrari's car designs.
Mosley also wrote a letter to the heads of all F1 teams — with the exception of McLaren and Ferrari — asking them if they had any information about the case, including e-mails, letters, text messages, drawings, and diagrams.
The World Motor Sport Council has scheduled a hearing on the case for Sept. 13 after the FIA said Wednesday that "new evidence" had emerged.
It was not immediately clear if the new evidence included material from the McLaren drivers or from the heads of the other teams.
The council ruled in July that McLaren did possess secret Ferrari documents but did not punish the team because there was insufficient evidence the material was misused.
McLaren has said "we intend to make a strong set of submissions" to the council, but that it will not comment on the case until next week's hearing.
The team, which is based in Woking, England, could face a two-year ban from the F1 championship if found guilty of obtaining the confidential information.
With five races left in the season, rookie Hamilton leads the drivers' standings with 84 points, followed by Alonso with 79. Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Raikkonen are third and fourth with 69 and 68 points.
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If any of these stories are true, this is going to take down Mclaren for a couple of years...........
Alonso had 'moral obligation' to help in McLaren investigation
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Fernando Alonso has revealed the threat of an FIA sanction led to "a moral obligation" to co-operate with their spy investigation.
Alonso claims he had "no choice" but to reveal what he knows, even if that could lead to McLaren being punished when the World Motor Sport Council reconvenes to discuss the matter on Thursday.
The FIA, the sport's world governing body, last week launched an investigation into an allegation "one or more" of McLaren's drivers are, or may have been in possession of material relating to the case.
That led to president Max Mosley writing a letter to all Formula One team principals - as well as Lewis Hamilton, Alonso and McLaren reserve Pedro de la Rosa - urging them to come forward with any details to substantiate the claim.
Mosley promised the drivers they would not be punished should they divulge any details, otherwise "serious consequences" would follow should they later be found to be withholding information.
Alonso told Spanish sports newspaper AS, "I only see one option, and that is to support this investigation and give them what they ask for."
"When the highest authority in a sport asks you to co-operate, there's nothing you can object to. You've no choice."
"I can't race thinking that I didn't act correctly. There are moral reasons that tie me to my sport."
"I can't hide information that could be revealed by others and run the risk the FIA accuses me of hiding information and sanctioning me."
"The only thing I have done is met a moral obligation and responded to what the FIA asked of me. I won't start judging what I've sent them. They should decide this."
The new evidence, reportedly an e-mail exchange between Alonso and de la Rosa, has led to the FIA scrapping a planned hearing of the Court of Appeal, with the 25-man Council to now sit in judgment.
McLaren were found guilty by the Council of fraudulent conduct at the initial hearing on July 26, namely being in possession of unauthorised documents belonging to Ferrari.
However there was not enough evidence to prove a 780-page dossier found at the home of suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan had been used by the Woking-based team, and so they avoided any sanctions, to the outrage of Ferrari.
If the allegations are subsequently proven, it is possible McLaren could be expelled from this year's championship, and that of 2008, which would ruin Hamilton's title hopes.
By Jonathan Noble and Michele Lostia Saturday, September 8th 2007, 09:13 GMT
The FIA has rejected claims that it is engaged in a witch hunt against McLaren boss Ron Dennis over the Formula One spy saga.
Dennis and FIA president Max Mosley are known to have had their differences in the past, and the nature of the latest twist in the investigation - where McLaren's drivers were asked to provide evidence against their own team - has prompted talk of the matter turning personal.
But an FIA spokesman has denied those suggestions, and insisted the FIA was acting solely in the interests of the sport.
"This inquiry was triggered by a letter of complaint from Ferrari which was, in turn, triggered by the extraordinary discovery of 780 pages of their most confidential technical information in the hands of McLaren's chief designer," an FIA spokesman told The Times.
"Under the circumstances, the suggestion that the FIA's ongoing investigation is about anything other than the pursuit of sporting fairness demonstrates a blinding refusal to accept the basic facts."
The one major area of intrigue surrounding the latest 'new evidence' is the identity of the individual who tipped off the FIA about the email exchange between Fernando Alonso and de la Rosa that is now at the centre of the matter.
Paddock gossip has centred about the tip off coming from Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who is known to be interested in luring Alonso back to his team next season.
Briatore was seen visiting the McLaren motorhome twice yesterday, with one of those meetings taking place late into the evening, but he has played down his involvement in the matter.
"I wanted to take a look at their motorhome, as I hadn't yet done that and I would like to build an identical one myself!" he joked to Gazzetta dello Sport.
"The emails? I don't even know how to send them! And besides, I don't even have my mobile phone with me...
"I didn't go to ask for Alonso, I never go asking for anyone. He doesn't like it there? There are many people who don't like where they are, but they must stay where they are anyway."
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