> McLaren won’t appeal spygate verdict

McLaren has confirmed that it will not appeal the penalty handed to it by the World Motor Sport Council over the espionage case.

The Woking squad was fined $100 million and thrown out of the 2007 constructors’ world championship after being found guilty of possessing confidential Ferrari data, in breach of Article 151c of Formula 1’s International Sporting Code.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis had signalled at the Belgian Grand Prix that he intended to draw a line under the episode in the interests of the team and F1 as a whole.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, McLaren confirmed that it will not challenge the verdict.

“McLaren Racing has notified the FIA of its intention not to appeal the verdict of the World Motor Sport Council, as announced on 13th September 2007,” the statement said.

“Having now had time to study the judgement of the World Motor Sport Council with its lawyers and shareholders, McLaren thinks it is in the best interests of the sport, and its goal of winning races and world championships, not to appeal.

“It is clear from the full judgement that the World Motor Sport Council concluded that the charge that a McLaren employee had ‘unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information’ was proven.

“Despite the existence of no evidence that the information was applied, tested or shared with the engineering team (which it was not), this possession constitutes a breach of the Code.

“To our regret and embarrassment, the content of the previously unknown emails demonstrated possession not being limited to a single person, albeit unsanctioned in any way by the team.

“For this breach of Article 151c, a very heavy penalty has been imposed on the team.”

While it will not seek to overturn the penalty, McLaren says its reputation for integrity continues to rest on the fact that it did not use or gain advantage from information belonging to a rival team.

It did concede, however, that it needs to tighten up its internal procedures to prevent any recurrence of the situation.

“The major principle of the issue for McLaren is: this information was not used to gain advantage on its cars,” the statement continued.

“Moving forwards, and in consultation with our shareholders, we will now review and further strengthen our internal compliance structures and processes.”

McLaren's decision not to appeal means that Ferrari has now won this year's constructors' world championship.

Source :itv-f1

Ferrari clinches constructors' title

Ferrari has clinched the 2007 constructors’ title following McLaren’s decision not to appeal the penalty imposed on it in the espionage case.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council threw the British team out of the constructors’ contest in its September 13 ruling, a sentence which McLaren has now accepted.

Ferrari has acknowledged the decision and vowed to focus all its efforts on winning the drivers’ title.

“Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has won the 2007 Formula 1 constructors’ world championship, taking its tally in this competition to 15, seven of them in the last nine years,” the Italian squad said in a statement.

“Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has actually chosen not to appeal against the decision of the FIA World Council taken on September 13, thus accepting the sentence handed out for violation of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

“Ferrari will now invest all its efforts over the final three races of this championship in trying to also win the drivers’ world title.”

Ferrari has only an outside chance of achieving a title double.

Kimi Raikkonen currently trails McLaren’s championship leader Lewis Hamilton by 17 points with thee races remaining and 30 points still up for grabs.

Felipe Massa is a further seven points adrift.

Dennis: Time to move on from spy saga

McLaren boss Ron Dennis says the team will now put the espionage controversy firmly behind it and focus on winning the remaining races and the drivers’ world championship.

The Woking-based squad confirmed on Friday that it would not appeal the World Motor Sport Council’s decision to exclude it from the 2007 constructors’ championship and fine it $100 million.

Dennis said at the Belgian Grand Prix that he would seek “closure” on the episode, and by deciding not to take it to an appeal court he believes he has done that.

“We believe the time has come to put this huge distraction behind us,” he said.

“McLaren wants to win races and world championships.

“We are fortunate to have, and continue to receive, unwavering support from our employees, sponsor partners and Formula 1 fans across the world – all of whom are equally keen that we totally focus on winning this year’s drivers’ championship and the remaining three races of the season.”

Source: itv-f1