so mclaren finally come clean over the spying scandal?

Question

McLaren have come clean over the ongoing Stepneygate scandal and admitted that Ferrari technical data is "more widely disseminated within" the team than their investigations revealed.

so max was right all a long and it wasn't a witch hunt!

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2967838,00.html

Answer 1

Here's what I put in response to a similar Q yesterday:

"Now at least we know some things (if you can read around the legalese):

1; There WERE items stolen from Ferrari on the 2008 McLaren.
2; The FIA were very generous in giving McLaren until February to change their car before the official inspection.
3; McLaren want to drop this NOW to avoid further damage to their "reputation" (substitute "money making ability" if you wish).
4; McLaren won't appeal as long as the FIA don't stir things up further.
5; They have accepted that the FIA were justified in their punishment and the way they have handled the case.
6; McLaren don't admit full responsibility but do say that they should have been aware of what was going on and as such are legally responsible.

Maybe this will cool off some of the anti-Max Mosley, anti-Ferrari stuff that has been flying about. My answer being only the second in 3 hours since this Q was posted may be an indicator."

And here's my Max&Bernie defence from another Q:

"As to the anti-Max and anti-Bernie mafia, you can't remember what it was like when F1 was the personal dictatorship of Jean-Marie Balestre. THAT was an era where arbitrary decisions and a pro-Ferrari mafia ruled F1. Max and Bernie saved the sport from the infighting which scarred the sport in the 1980s.
Max Mosley was a quite successful F2 driver in the late 1960s, racing for Frank Williams' team. He drove in the race in which Jim Clark died too. He was also a founder of the March team, and was even the chief engineer during the 1977 season. He was also the author of the original Concorde Agreement, which ended the FISA/FOCA war. Pretty experienced really.
Bernie was a minor racing driver (he failed to qualify for his only GP...Monaco 1958) before moving into driver management - Jochen Rindt was one of his drivers. He then bought - and ran successfully - the Brabham team for 15 years before moving up to run F1. Quite a history in the sport too."

And here's what I wrote on Wednesday when everyone was getting upset about the FIA not inspecting McLaren's 2008 car until February:

"If I supported McLaren, I'd be pleased that the FIA have given them 3 months to remove something illegal from their car rather than going public with it now.
They almost certainly have something they nicked off the Ferrari on the 2008 car, and the FIA found it. In the article it says that "McLaren had been made aware of the issues that will be discussed, and suggested that there was plenty of time for them to react to the matter "...so it looks like McLaren are being given the chance to escape all the negative publicity that goes with being a cheat by changing the car before it gets to the official test. Maybe you should thank Mad Max for being so generous instead of criticising him, especially as I don't see any McLaren insiders rushing to the press to complain?"

Answer 2

I think there were 3 points of developement mcLaren has agreed to abandoned, including usage of CO2 in tires.

I believe that those 3 new stuff were on Ferrari's plan, and with the FIA, McLaren had to find a way out of this.

So, I guess they probably agreed that mclaren abandons those parts, admit they were wrong and so preventing any further hearing on the case

Max has said he would request that the case be close for good.

Sounds like it was a deal between them and FIA to end the saga.

Answer 3

How can it be a witch hunt when the FIA have been in Lewis' favor all year? I may be gunned down for this but my take is that RD is a major part of the problem. He didn't handle this whole situation the way a team boss is suppose to.

PLUS the apology letter was written by Martin Whitmarsh, not RD, so I say put Martin on the team boss seat.

But this still hasn't change my perspective that the FIA are idiots.

Answer 4

No, it wasn't a witch hunt and never was, which is what I said from the beginning. I'm glad Max is taking legal action against smart, experienced F1 people who insisted it was witch hunt.

Everyone crying witch hunt from the beginning conveniently ignored or forgot that hearings were made necessary only because the team leading the championships had secret data from their rival team! The FIA didn't just make that up, so it was so unfair for people to accuse them of being out to get anyone.

Undeterred, some people just refuse to understand the situation. The anti-Mosley and anti-FIA theorists are still talking about their lack of credibility, pro-Ferrari rulings and blah blah. Hamilton also got quite a few favorable rulings this year, but conveniently the FIA haters don't say that.

The person/organization that has no credibility left is not the one that caught the cheating; it is the one that was blatantly cheating and dishonest to F1 fans!

Answer 5

I find it interesting - don't forget that the detailed forensic analysis was done before the Second Hearing and there was - according to Mad Max and according to Ferrari - "no trace of any Ferrari IP at McLaren" (see the transcript of the Second Hearing). Quite by chance, after threatening to demolish McLaren's 2008 preparations, suddenly three systems appear to be at issue. Is this guilt or extortion?

Mad Max and the FIA lost their credibility years ago with their cascade of pro-Ferrari rulings (mass dampers etc for Renault, everything imaginable relating to McLaren and their drivers). Prisoners being faced with execution will say almost anything and execution is what Mad Max threatened for McLaren last week.

I'll believe RD any day over Max Mosley and Ferrari International Assistance given their track records and their reputations. Maybe this is the exception - I'll believe that when a responsible, independent party (ie someone whom Mad Max CANNOT threaten) testified to it.

Answer 6

Wondering where the McLaren regulars are...

Val, Marc McLaren ..., its over now.

Great answers Rosbif and Three Putt.

Answer 7

I'm glad they finally have. A lot of controversy have been surrounding McLaren this year- it's good to hear some 'confessions' from the horse's mouth.

Answer 8

The first rule of being caught or being investigated is never to admit to anything. I thought the mclaren guys already knew that.

Answer 9

What McLaren did, was not fair, Ferrari deserved the final victory, they are the best!

Answer 10

They should of just admitted it in the first place they may have faced less sanctions if they had instead they have waited 6 months and are in a lot of trouble because they waited so long to admit it