No penalty for Renault in second F1 spying scandal

Flavio Briatore - Renault F1 Managing Director.

Monte Carlo, Monaco  - The World Motor Sport Council found the Renault Formula One team in breach of F1 regulations, for having McLaren data in its possession, but the team was given no penalty.

“They were found to be in breach of article 151c, but there is no penalty,” said an International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokesman.

The ruling, which will be published in detail on Friday, opens the way for Renault to resign two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso to drive in 2008. The French manufacturer is one of three teams interested in having the Spaniard drive next season.

Renault was accused of spying when it was found that their computers had McLaren chassis and engine data files. The team admitted that former McLaren employee Phil Mackereth had loaded some McLaren team information onto its F1 file system “without the knowledge of anyone in authority in the team”.

Interestingly, earlier in the year McLaren was fined $100 million and thrown out of the constructors championship after they were found to have received, and used, data from a Ferrari employee.

Had Renault received a similar penalty, there were questions as to whether they could continue to compete in 2008.

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