Renault 'did not use McLaren info'
Renault have stressed no McLaren technical information was used in the design of their cars, as the team seek to defend themselves in the latest "spying" row to hit Formula One.
Yesterday, the team revealed they had suspended an engineer after an investigation into how confidential details belonging to a Formula One rival had been found in their camp.
However, Renault categorically state no information has been used to gain any advantage.
“On September 6 it came to our attention that an engineer (Phil Mackereth) who joined the team from McLaren in September 2006 had brought with him some information that was considered to be proprietary to McLaren,” said a team statement.
“This information was contained on old-style floppy discs and included copies of some McLaren engineering drawings and some technical spreadsheets.
“Our formal investigation showed that early in his employment with Renault Mr Mackereth made some of our engineers aware of parts of this information in the form of a few reduced-scale engineering drawings.
“Witness statements from the engineers involved have categorically stated that - having been briefly shown these drawings - none of this information was used to influence design decisions relating to the Renault car.”
Renault stress they have been fully open with the FIA and McLaren and will continue to do so before their hearing in Monaco with the World Motor Sport Council on December 6, to answer a charge in relation to a breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code.
As soon as the situation was brought to the attention of the team’s technical management, they launched an investigation and took the necessary steps to ensure the details could not be used.
“The information was completely cleansed from the team’s computer systems. We promptly informed McLaren of the situation and immediately after(wards) the FIA,” added the statement.
“Since then we have constantly and regularly kept McLaren and the FIA informed on all relevant findings.
“Mr Mackereth was immediately suspended from his position. The original floppy discs were impounded and sent to our solicitors for return to McLaren.”
Such is Renault’s desire to be seen to be clean, they have offered to open up their premises for scrutiny by their rivals
“The team has invited McLaren’s independent experts to come and assess the team’s computer systems and inspect the cars and the design records, to demonstrate that this unfortunate incident has not in any way influenced the design of the cars,” they added.
“ING Renault F1 Team have acted with complete transparency towards McLaren and the FIA, being proactive in solving this matter, and we are fully confident in the judgment of the World Council.”
Renault’s charge is the second "spying" row to hit the sport this year after McLaren were given a record €67m fine, having been found guilty of a similar charge in September.
They were also thrown out of the constructors’ championship, after they were found to be in possession of technical information belonging to Ferrari.
