Ferrari Mailing List: F1: McLaren Avoids Penalties

[LtWacko (LtWacko]

In something of a split-decision, the FIAâs World Motor Sport Council found  
against the McLaren-Mercedes team in todayâs hearing over the question of  
whether it had illegally obtained technical information from _Ferrari_ 
(http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39009/#) . However, it chose 
not to 
issue any penalties  against the World Championship-leading team.

The WMSC found McLaren  guilty of possession of unauthorized documents from 
Ferrari, but also concluded  that there was no evidence that the team had made 
use of the information, so it  elected not to punish the team â at least for 
now. However, the Council reserved  the right to call McLaren back should it be 
determined that the team had  actually made use of the information, in which 
the penalties could still be  severe.

âThe WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren _Mercedes_ 
(http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39009/#)  was in possession of 
confidential 
Ferrari  information and is therefore in breach of article 151c of the 
International 
 Sporting Code,â said the Council in its verdict. âHowever, there is 
insufficient  evidence that this information was used in such a way as to 
interfere 
improperly  with the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. We therefore impose no  
penalty.

âBut if it is found in the future that the Ferrari information  has been used 
to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to  invite 
Vodafone _McLaren Mercedes_ 
(http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39009/#) 
 back in front of the WMSC, where it will  face the possibility of exclusion 
from not only the 2007 championship but also  the 2008 championship.â




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