Racing Team Docked $100M in Spying Flap

McLaren stole data from rival Ferrari to improve own car
By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 13, 2007 6:42 PM CDT
Racing Team Docked $100M in Spying Flap
McLaren F1 team chief Ron Dennis is surrounded by journalists as he leaves the Automobile International Federation (FIA) headquarters, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. Dennis faced the World Motor Sports Council who were meeting to decide whether to sanction the McLaren team in the spy scandal that...   (Associated Press)

Formula One auto-racing team McLaren Mercedes was fined a record $100 million today for using information from rival Ferrari to improve its own cars, the New York Times reported. Though McLaren's drivers—who are at the top of the F1 standings—will keep their points and remain in competition, the team was booted from the constructors championship this year.

McLaren will have to prove its cars aren't benefiting from Ferrari technology before it's allowed to compete in 2008. The Italian carmaker said it "is satisfied that the truth has now emerged;" a McLaren executive said the company will appeal the decision. Ferrari initiated a criminal investigation in Italy, which is still under way. (More Formula One stories.)

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