Ron Dennis Summoned by Italian Magistrate
Discussion
Whats this all about then?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula...
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Prosecutors summon McLaren boss
Dennis will have to face more questions over 'spygate'
McLaren boss Ron Dennis is to be quizzed by an Italian magistrate over last season's Formula One spy row.
McLaren were caught with technical data belonging to Ferrari, who have taken legal action despite F1's governing body drawing a line under the matter.
The magistrate handling investigations is to meet Dennis from 18 February.
McLaren confirmed on Thursday their lawyers "had received some papers from the Modena authorities which are currently being reviewed".
McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh, chief designer Mike Coughlan and engineering director Paddy Lowe have also been summoned.
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Does more trouble lay ahead?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula...
---
Prosecutors summon McLaren boss
Dennis will have to face more questions over 'spygate'
McLaren boss Ron Dennis is to be quizzed by an Italian magistrate over last season's Formula One spy row.
McLaren were caught with technical data belonging to Ferrari, who have taken legal action despite F1's governing body drawing a line under the matter.
The magistrate handling investigations is to meet Dennis from 18 February.
McLaren confirmed on Thursday their lawyers "had received some papers from the Modena authorities which are currently being reviewed".
McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh, chief designer Mike Coughlan and engineering director Paddy Lowe have also been summoned.
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Does more trouble lay ahead?
The team were slapped on the wrist by the FIA. However, the Italian authorities were already investigating the situation, so that investigation is still ongoing. Hence the reason the top bods at McLaren are being summoned to answer questions.
Although, after getting what they wanted via the FIA, you'd have thought Ferrari would have had the other investigation halted. Perhaps it's just being done to but McLaren off balance as the season gets underway?
Although, after getting what they wanted via the FIA, you'd have thought Ferrari would have had the other investigation halted. Perhaps it's just being done to but McLaren off balance as the season gets underway?
Racefan_uk said:
The team were slapped on the wrist by the FIA. However, the Italian authorities were already investigating the situation, so that investigation is still ongoing. Hence the reason the top bods at McLaren are being summoned to answer questions.
Although, after getting what they wanted via the FIA, you'd have thought Ferrari would have had the other investigation halted.
Ferrari got what they wanted for '07, and to a lesser degree for '08. But think how happy Ferrari would be if they could manage to get their main rival further damaged for '08, and maybe for '09 too. In fact, why not a permanent ban?Although, after getting what they wanted via the FIA, you'd have thought Ferrari would have had the other investigation halted.
Can't be double jeopardy as they have not been tried for this at all in the Italian courts. This is a civil (or is it criminal?) case is it not? Anyway, it's nothing to do with the FIA and their fine which was in the wholly different context of sporting regulations.
As stated already, this investigation was underway before/at the same time as the FIAs.
Would be gracious of Ferrari to stop the proceedings continuing if it's within their power to do so IMO as the situation has already been dealt with.
As stated already, this investigation was underway before/at the same time as the FIAs.
Would be gracious of Ferrari to stop the proceedings continuing if it's within their power to do so IMO as the situation has already been dealt with.
Fidgits said:
TonyHetherington said:
This is getting very tedious!
especially as Renault were let off without charge.
Racefan_uk said:
Fidgits said:
TonyHetherington said:
This is getting very tedious!
especially as Renault were let off without charge.
and I read an interesting article in the Motorsport magazine about the Renault hearing, apparantly the evidence was more damning than the second lot that gave McLaren the huge fine!
DrTre said:
Can't be double jeopardy as they have not been tried for this at all in the Italian courts. This is a civil (or is it criminal?) case is it not? Anyway, it's nothing to do with the FIA and their fine which was in the wholly different context of sporting regulations.
As stated already, this investigation was underway before/at the same time as the FIAs.
Yes, but it's an investigation and, potentially, a punishment for the selfsame offence and outcome.As stated already, this investigation was underway before/at the same time as the FIAs.
If Ferrari were, for example, to have a mole at McLaren who embezzled a hundred million dollars and redirected that into Ferrari's coffers, then there would be grounds for both a criminal proceeding on the basis of depriving McLaren of the value of its property and a sporting enquiry on the basis that some of that money had influenced the competition.
In this case, the only thing that might have happened (except for the fact that it didn't) was that Ferrari might have been unfairly disadvantaged in the competition. That was addressed by the FIA, so that should be the end of it.
It's not as if McLaren purloined Nigel Stepney's description of the Ferrari illegal floor and flogged it on eBay.
DrTre said:
Would be gracious of Ferrari...
Might be possible in another life, but in this one the concept is an oxymoron.Racefan_uk said:
Fidgits said:
TonyHetherington said:
This is getting very tedious!
especially as Renault were let off without charge.
The CPS in Britain did not evince an iota of interest in whether Renault had taken and abused McLaren IP. They rightly recognised that this issue was a sporting matter governed by a regulator that was more than adequate (in terms of power, if not in terms of integrity) to handle it.
In Italy, on the other hand, the home of operatic drama queens, the prosecutors started an investigation into alleged offences against their national team as soon as it was humanly possible to do so.
They were able to launch their investigation because they had nothing better to do: life in Italy is otherwise crime-free, everyone pays their taxes, and tales of the mafia are an unfounded defamation on the character of the nation.
flemke said:
Quite so, and a good illustration of the double standard.
The CPS in Britain did not evince an iota of interest in whether Renault had taken and abused McLaren IP. They rightly recognised that this issue was a sporting matter governed by a regulator that was more than adequate (in terms of power, if not in terms of integrity) to handle it.
In Italy, on the other hand, the home of operatic drama queens, the prosecutors started an investigation into alleged offences against their national team as soon as it was humanly possible to do so.
They were able to launch their investigation because they had nothing better to do: life in Italy is otherwise crime-free, everyone pays their taxes, and tales of the mafia are an unfounded defamation on the character of the nation.
On the other hand, there was no suggestion that Renault was working a mole within McLaren. I think it's a mistake to pretend the two cases are identical.The CPS in Britain did not evince an iota of interest in whether Renault had taken and abused McLaren IP. They rightly recognised that this issue was a sporting matter governed by a regulator that was more than adequate (in terms of power, if not in terms of integrity) to handle it.
In Italy, on the other hand, the home of operatic drama queens, the prosecutors started an investigation into alleged offences against their national team as soon as it was humanly possible to do so.
They were able to launch their investigation because they had nothing better to do: life in Italy is otherwise crime-free, everyone pays their taxes, and tales of the mafia are an unfounded defamation on the character of the nation.
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