McLaren Team Disqualified From 2007 Formula One Season; Fined $100 Million

The FIA World Motor Sport Council fined the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team $100 million -- the largest fine ever given by the FIA -- and excluded it from the 2007 constructors' championship after a hearing in Paris yesterday regarding McLaren's part in the Ferrari industrial espionage scandal. The fine includes the team's share of the Formula One Management revenue that will be forfeited as a result of the loss of points.

From AutoWeek

The FIA World Motor Sport Council fined the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team $100 million — the largest fine ever given by the FIA — and excluded it from the 2007 constructors’ championship after a hearing in Paris yesterday regarding McLaren’s part in the Ferrari industrial espionage scandal. The fine includes the team’s share of the Formula One Management revenue that will be forfeited as a result of the loss of points.

Furthermore, the WMSC said it would decide at its next scheduled meeting — in Monaco during the first week of December — whether to impose any further sanctions on McLaren for the 2008 season.

The WMSC ruled that the points gained by the other constructors so far in 2007 will be unaffected. Its decision effectively hands the title to Ferrari, which leads BMW Sauber by 57 points with four races remaining.

Two weeks ago, FIA president Max Mosley promised McLaren’s race and test drivers immunity from punishment in return for providing evidence, and all did so. The WMSC stood by Mosley’s pledge and punished only the team, meaning Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton will continue their battle for this year’s world championship, beginning this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Hamilton leads Alonso 92-89, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa with 74 and 69 points, respectively.

The reasons behind the WMSC’s decision will not be officially revealed until later today, but it is believed that this latest hearing came after a tip-off about email and mobile phone text exchanges between Alonso and test driver Pedro de la Rosa. It is not yet clear whether these exchanges suggested that the development of the McLaren MP4-22 was somehow influenced by the extensive Ferrari F2007 documentation that was found in the possession of Mike Coughlan, McLaren’s now-suspended chief designer.

The WMSC also ruled that no McLaren representative will be allowed on the podium should either Alonso or Hamilton win any of the remaining races this season. In addition, it demanded a detailed technical report on the 2008 McLaren ahead of next season.

The WMSC’s decision is final in terms of FIA processes. Before the hearing, Ferrari and McLaren each indicated that, if the decision went against it, it would take the case to a civil court. However, McLaren boss Ron Dennis hinted that his team would take no further action in the following statement.

Ferrari said, "We acknowledge the decision of the FIA to sanction McLaren-Mercedes for its breach of Article 151C of the International Sporting Code. In light of new evidence, facts and behavior of an extremely serious nature and grossly prejudicial to the interest of the sport have been further demonstrated. Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged."