McLaren Mercedes fined $100 Million!

[Slummy]

If any one here follows F1 then you are probably familiar with the spy scandal between McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari.

If your not here it is...basically, McLaren Mercedes had in its possession "sensitive technical data" from Ferrari.
Well, this made it way in front of the World Motor Sport Council yesterday.

Here's what they decided for punishment:http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/09/13/mclaren-excluded-from-constructors-championship/

What do you guys and gals think? Too much, Too little?

[nqd]

thats kinda harsh...compared to the patriots getting fined 500k for kinda doing the same thing

[YANGSTER]

I'm sure they can afford $100M.
It was them who took the gamble and they were fully aware of the consequences.
Too bad they got caught this time.

Cant wait to see how they are gonna perform next season.

[Slummy]

I think the fine gets reduced by the amount that would have been earned in the Constructors Championship. So the fine will end up being something like $50 mil.

[redyaris]

If you can't beat em, spy on em.

I've never seen an F1 team so loaded with talent, funding, and technical know-how that accomplishes so little (same goes for Toyota team also).

[YamilR]

F1 is the second money making sport in the world, their anual budget for tv rights is 1 billion so when you deal with that kind of cash 100 million is nothing

[Slummy]

F1 is the second money making sport in the world, their anual budget for tv rights is 1 billion so when you deal with that kind of cash 100 million is nothing

The other part of it is the loss of all their Constructors points. So even if they can make it rain w/ thousand dollar bills, next year they are @ the end of the pit lane, have smaller garages, and not as much space for their Trailer/Office.

[aca72]

Mclaren: If you can't win on track, win it with spies.
Ferrari: If you can't win on track, win it in court.

Current Standings before Belgian GP (09/16)
01 FERRARI 143
02 BMW SAUBER 86
03 RENAULT 38
04 WILLIAMS 25
05 RED BULL 16
06 TOYOTA 12
07 SUPER AGURI 4
08 HONDA 2
Toro Rosso 0
Spyker MF1 0
McLaren 0 (was 166) OUCH!

[kurokoma-kun]

Mclaren: If you can't win on track, win it with spies.
Ferrari: If you can't win on track, win it in court.

:laugh::bow::laugh: take that bitches!

At least the McLaren drivers have not been blamed--they made such a big deal about some emails of Alonso's--so it looks like they get to keep their points.

All I know is, no US GP next year = suck

[static808]

thats kinda harsh...compared to the patriots getting fined 500k for kinda doing the same thing

no comparison. its not stealing defensive signals, what mclaren did was steal the whole damn playbook. its a shame too, cuz the race between alonso and hamilton was real good this year. now this news takes up all the headlines...

--B

[WRBlue]

thats kinda harsh...compared to the patriots getting fined 500k for kinda doing the same thing

Except that the Super Bowl winner doesn't make BILLIONS for winning the super bowl like the constructor's champion does...

I think the fine gets reduced by the amount that would have been earned in the Constructors Championship. So the fine will end up being something like $50 mil.

Last time I read anything about it - cause it usually isn't published, the constructor's champion purse is about $2 billion US. And McLaren all but had it locked up. McLaren's racing budget this year was $402 million.

[Ferret_san]

..., McLaren Mercedes had in its possession "sensitive technical data" from Ferrari....

No...No...No...Silly... That was the old McLaren... Updated model below.

[Slummy]

:laughabove:HaHa....I didnt even notice the new "modification" at first!

[acdaazn]

The other part of it is the loss of all their Constructors points. So even if they can make it rain w/ thousand dollar bills, next year they are @ the end of the pit lane, have smaller garages, and not as much space for their Trailer/Office.

Uh.... No.... The Pits are determined by the number of the cars. If either Alonso or Hamilton wins the WC, then they would have car #1 and #2.