On 13 September there was a meeting in Paris, the World Council of automobile-the supreme body that can take any decisions until the lifting of the World Cup by the "Formula 1", for example. 26 board members had to take a difficult decision on how to punish the McLaren team for industrial espionage against Ferrari.
This meeting was not in the plans of the royal alien races and the world motorsport since July 26 meeting of the World Council has already taken place. About what events preceded him, Auto.Lenta.Ru told. About what happened at the meeting, too. Then McLaren team was found guilty of illegal possession of confidential information belonging to Ferrari.
However, after six meetings of board members agreed that no immediate punishment "silver arrows" did not incur, since the use of this information in the development of the machine, no one has proved McLaren. But it was imposed so-called deferred punishment-suspension from participation in the world championships in 2007 and 2008. But only in the event that confirmed that the stables of the art manufacturing using commands from Maranello.
7 September, the International Federation of motorsport (FIA) announced the convening of the World Council of unplanned. In an official statement, it was said that "Council shall meet in conjunction with the newly discovered evidence in the case concerning espionage." Later, it became clear that for this circumstance. As it turned out, someone (who is still unknown) "nastuchal" in the FIA that the pilots McLaren knew that a team with sensitive information, and it can be used to their advantage.
In particular, it was argued that the double world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso and his compatriot, test-pilot "silver" Pedro de la Rosa during communicate by e-mail reflected on how to better combine Schumacher chassis and tires BridgeStone based on the data stolen from Ferrari. The fact is that it is more about the compatibility of the chassis and tires represent the greatest value in the 780 pages of documentation, which was found in the house of former chief designer Mike McLaren Koflena.
Later, FIA has the unprecedented step-turned directly to the commands of the pilots Uokinga the proposal "to surrender" his superiors and voluntarily submit to the members of the World Council of their correspondence. Instead, pilots were promised full amnesty. Roadracers benefited from the FIA proposals, as put Fernando Alonso, did not make another left.
Information that the FIA as proof of the guilt of espionage McLaren has something other than copies of the letters of pilots was not. World Council met for nine hours before making a final verdict. Virtually all the major sites avtosportivnye "inspired" from the influx of visitors. In any event, the FIA official site and site Autosport magazine, a leading publication in the world, and auto rickshaws, barely worked.
In the rare seconds when Autosport ozhival, there appear contradictory information. This publication has published news that McLaren dropped from the 2007 world championships and 2008. After that, subscribers and ordinary visitors probitsya it became impossible. When the site is running again, sensational news has been replaced by another, which argued that the World Council meeting continues, and exclusion from the world championships is regarded as one of the options for punishment,
As a result, McLaren was also deprived of all points in the Cup crediting designers and fined 100 million dollars. Based on what has been rendered his sentence, the official FIA press release does not say.
"The McLaren deprived of all the points earned in the course of the season in the Cup crediting designers, in addition, the team must pay a fine of 100 million dollars and this amount does not include the loss of income from television. Because of the exceptional circumstances of the case and guarantees data FIA racer team for providing information, they will not be fined.
In December 2007 the World Council will consider the complete technical documentation relating machines developed by McLaren for next season and will take a decision about sanctions that may be imposed in the 2008 - meters. The statement of the reasons for such a decision will be published on September 14, 2007. The penalty will not affect the points earned by other teams. Representatives are not allowed to McLaren award ceremony, when one of the racing team win any of the remaining racing season, "says an official statement.
Depriving recruited points is quite a common measure in the world, "Formula 1". But the 100 millionth fine in the history of sports on one of the teams placed first. Comment FIA decision, without hands of the same documents, which have members of the World Council, thankless occupation. Therefore, one can only speak of the implications for the entire McLaren and the World Cup in general. Incidentally, the British team left the right to appeal.
For stables Ron Dennis amount of a fine, albeit significant, is not an impossible burden. This is a quarter of the annual budget team. In the end, sponsorship contracts cover fully emerged "punitive" deficit. But given that for a possible victory in the Cup constructors' silver arrows "still not receive nearly 50 million dollars" television laundering, the financial pain suffered by McLaren very strong. One can not compare one single command with a major concern, for which 100-150 million dollars weather did not do.
In addition, suffered a strong blow to the reputation of the business team that actually charged with spying. This means that sponsors earlier vystraivavshiesya to Rhone Dennis bursts could turn. Moreover, the decision of the World Council established a McLaren situation in unequivocal terms the struggle between the pilots team. By now, "zakadychnym" friends of Hamilton and Alonso no need to hide their feelings towards each other. They do not need to fight for designers Cup. For them only significant victory in the championship pilots.
In the four races to finish the world championships Britons and Spaniard shared only three points. In the situation expect from them bitter struggle between a route, perhaps even confrontations and shodov. For the team it is a very unprofitable because pilots Ferrari Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa just slightly behind. But it does quite understand why the team was punished and granted amnesty pilots.
Interest in the "Formula 1" from the beginning of the year grew just enormously. Many companies have expressed their desire to become partners of the World Cup advertising, and Lewis Hamilton has become a new sporting hero, not only in the racing world. Naturally, General royal racing promoter Bernie Ecclestone does not want to bear the huge financial losses that will inevitably follow if the audience will lose opportunities to see duels Hamilton - Alonso. Commercial interests in this case above sports, although McLaren guilt has been proved so far. In fact, McLaren would pay 100 million dollars for the right to World Champions for their riders.
So the fight for championship title will continue as if nothing happened and did not. The closest step-Belgian Grand Prix-will be held as early as this weekend at the legendary Spa in Bedford. It is a pity only that one of the most interesting championship races in the history of royal scandal marred by such loud, which probably could still spring.
And this is already a question for Ferrari, whose President Luca di Montezemolo during a visit to the showroom in Frankfurt said that his team will make championship title at any cost, whether a victory at the route or in court. In the high-tech sport, what is the "Formula 1", the information podsmotrennuyu those of competitors, are using everything, including "Skuderiya from Maranello." This is just before the war, which turned spy scandal, not making one.
