McLaren steps up ‘Renaultgate’ attack
Quote selected text Published by clive November 23rd, 2007 in Formula 1
McLaren has stepped up the new so-called ‘Renaultgate’ scandal by leaking information to the press about the seriousness of the espionage allegations.
Less than two weeks before Renault faces the World Motor Sport Council, British newspapers have quoted from a briefing that appears to have been provided in a clandestine fashion by Ron Dennis’ team.
The Times branded McLaren’s efforts a “concerted attack” against the Flavio Briatore-led French squad, with the information revealing that up to 18 employees had viewed the McLaren secrets, which were taken to Renault by suspended engineer Phil Mackereth, on 11 separate computers.
The British press was also informed that Renault possessed 33 files of technical information, amounting to more than 780 drawings and the entire blueprints for McLaren’s 2006 and 2007 cars, that were seen by seven officials as senior as chief designer Tim Densham.
McLaren’s solicitors, Baker and McKenzie, said in a written submission to the FIA: “It is clear that McLaren’s confidential design information was knowingly, deliberately and widely disseminated and discussed within the Renault F1 design and engineering team.”
Baker and McKenzie also contends that Renault has responded to the affair so far with a “cavalier attitude”, and that its explanations have been “incomplete”, “misleading” or “incorrect”. Mackereth’s assertion that he kept the McLaren information for “sentimental reasons” was slammed as “absurd” by McLaren.
In September, McLaren was fined $100 million and excluded from the constructors’ championship after chief designer Mike Coughlan was found in possession of 780-pages of secret Ferrari data.
McLaren, Renault and the FIA would not comment.
Bookmark to:
- Montezemolo keeps up attack on McLaren
- Stepney, Ferrari, step up legal attacks
- Ferrari ‘friendlier’ than McLaren - expert
- Britain slams online attack on Hamilton
- Schumacher says new rules will improve F1
McLaren sounds a bit hypocritical here saying Renault benefited with our information, but WE NEVER used Ferrari information to our advantage.
I think the point is that there is more evidence that Renault used its McLaren info than there is for McLaren using Ferrari info, Aracer. If there is a hypocrite involved, it has to be Briatore, who was extremely critical of McLaren when they were being investigated.
I’m having trouble understanding why mclaren are doing this since
the season is over and the results are sealed.
unless its for ron dennis’ ego?
I don’t think you can say that McLaren are doing it. They advised the FIA of the circumstances initially but after that it was the FIA’s duty to show fairness in deciding investigate it. Since Renault didn’t win any prizes this season, it was never going to affect any results - it’s just a matter of what is source for the goose is sauce for the gander.
I also remember when ron dennis complained
of leaked information in the stephneygate
scandal and now he turns around and
does the exact same thing!?
f1 and its politics are getting ridiculous
I say: Good for Ron! You’re right, Clive, about Briatore having it coming. What goes around comes around. I still feel McLaren’s penalty was way over the top. But now the FIA has to be consistent…or look even more politicized that they currently do…even though I’m not sure that’s possible.
I believe if you have information, it has helped you somehow. Either by giving insight at what to try or what not to try.
So Coughlan, de la Rosa and Alonso have been helped by access to the information - no more than that was proved. But Renault have already admitted that 15 of their engineers saw the McLaren info…
I’m sure Renault has done that.
I’m saying knowledge is power. McLaren now knows exactly what the brake bias system looks like whether their unit is similar or not…they know what works in red. They know exactly what gas is in the tires…etc.
The knowledge must have some value.
F1 is supposed to be about making a car from scratch, knowing what others are doing can only help.
You are still assuming that more than the ones I mentioned saw the information, Aracer. There is no proof of that so it remains speculation. But naturally knowledge is power and it helps to know what your competitor is doing - that is why they all have a close look at each other’s cars in the pits. And any knowledge that McLaren have of what Ferrari are doing helps them in one way or another.
But isn’t that what all the engineers have been saying - that every team watches the others and takes what it can from them? They would be fools not to in an environment where small changes can make a difference. Otherwise there’d still be teams who hadn’t copied Tyrrell’s raised nose…
Renault didn’t seem to GAIN anything from McLaren’s info, infact one might consider it RETARDED them !!!!! What I don’t understand is why this
Renault/McLaren issue is going forward. To sluff this off as an FIA project isn’t completely true, read the title of this article, “McLAREN steps up ‘Renaultgate’ attack “….. I think ‘aracerdude’ called it correctly in the first comment….. Ron Dennis contends Renault benefitted from McLaren info but McLaren DID NOT benefit from Ferrari info. Rubbish Mr. Dennis !!! Why is Ron Dennis pushing this? It seems little more than a vendetta against old Flav. “Spying” or personel exchanges are just part of big BUSINESS …… get over it ! Of course the WMSC screwed McLaren for no reason now they have to look like they are being ‘fair’ and will likely screw Renault in some way. Maybe Alonso is awaiting this situation to sort itself before he commits to Renault.
Actually, I don’t believe either of them used the information, Number 38. My point was that the FIA started the whole thing by deciding to investigate McLaren prematurely and then pursuing a vendetta against McLaren. Ron Dennis advised the FIA of the Renault’s possession of their info at the time of the WMSC hearing, presumably to show that espionage goes on in F1, in effect warning them that whatever they did to him, they would have to do to Renault. Max chose to go ahead with it anyway and now must deal with Renault. McLaren are merely providing what info they have - just as Ferrari did against them.
I’m getting ‘mixed signals’ here ……. I think my friend is a McLaren sympathizer, he feels Ron Dennis/McLaren are “merely providing what info they have” but The Times branded McLaren’s efforts a “concerted attack” against Flavio Briatore/Renault. I think a reasonable person can read between the lines, ‘co-operating’ with the FIA to look good but at the same time hoping for maximun impact against an opponnet. I have to admit I’m a ’sympathizer’ also, the $100 mil fine was un-necessary, it was ALSO a vendetta against an opponnet, MadMax vs Ron Dennis. Read the tea leaves, Dennis has to be upset with old Flav, Alonso didn’t work out, the Renault spying is inconsequential but let’s ‘pile-on’ while we can, this is BIG business, it’s expected !!! When will real racing return?
And I think the Times is trying to sell newspapers, Number 38. I am quite sure that McLaren bringing up the Renault business is a matter of hitting back but I don’t think the target is Flavio - it’s Max.
Real racing will return when they get rid of Max, change the structure of the FIA, limit the influence of aerodynamics, free up the regulations, relegate financial considerations to their proper place, etc. Need I go on?