Statement Max Mosley

Following various media reports over the weekend about the harsh sanction for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team in the espionage scandal, President of the governing body, Max Mosley, has responded as follows:

“Our investigation had nothing to do with questions of personality and everything to do with sporting fairness. The interests of Formula One have not been helped by comments in the press from would-be experts who questioned the motives of the investigation without waiting for the evidence. We will adopt a similar approach to any such matters which are brought to our attention in the future.

“One hundred million dollars is a large sum of money but in such a serious case any fine has to be large enough to deter similar behaviour in the future whilst remaining proportionate to the resources of the team.

“Just over half the money from this fine will go to the competing Formula One teams. Each competing team will move up one place with McLaren now taking 11th position in this year's Championship.

“The World Motor Sport Council will be invited to distribute the remainder to the FIA's national sporting authorities world-wide for them to spend on helping young drivers to progress in circuit racing and rallies. This will be the first time the FIA has had such a budget available.

“The FIA is very disappointed that Fernando Alonso and Pedro De La Rosa have been criticised in the press. They had no choice but to make available the information in their possession. It is up to every team to ensure that the rules of sporting fairness are respected. No driver should be put in the position in which Fernando and Pedro found themselves.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ron Dennis told me on the Sunday of the Hungarian Grand Prix that notwithstanding an exchange with Fernando Alonso there was no information held by anyone within the McLaren team which might cast doubt on the World Motor Sport Council decision of 26th July. He confirmed to me this afternoon that he did indeed say this and I entirely accept that he believed it to be true at that time.”