The 2007 ‘Spygate’ scandal was a major controversy that rocked the world of Formula One. The espionage controversy was a massive row where McLaren was accused of using Ferrari’s technical information to gain an advantage on the racing track. At the center of it were Ferrari’s Nigel Stepney and McLaren’s Mike Coughlan and Ron Dennis.
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Although McLaren confirmed that the information leaked was not used, it came to be known that there were indeed conversations between Coughlan and Alonso about the Ferrari documents.
Fernando Alonso’s role in ‘Spygate’
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Ahead of the Hungarian GP, Dennis accused Ferrari of cheating during their win in the 2007 Australian GP. That weekend, however, was where things turned for McLaren. First, Lewis Hamilton disobeyed the team orders. Following this, Alonso’s 20-second pit stop held Hamilton from setting a lap time in Q3, and things heated.
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 18: (LR) Mclaren Mercedes team mates Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Fernando Alonso of Spain appear at the drivers press conference during previews prior to the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Brazil . (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Ron Dennis stated his dissatisfaction with this. Meanwhile, the Spaniard, on the race day, threatened Dennis he would tell the FIA regarding the conversations the team had with the leaked information from Ferrari.
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Racefans.net, however, reports that the McLaren driver revealed the documents to Renault team principal Flavio Briatore two weeks before threatening Dennis. Briatore, in turn, shared this with Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley.
How did Ron Dennis face the wrath of Bernie Ecclestone and Co?
As Dennis went to Max Mosley after Alonso’s threat, the situation erupted, and the FIA investigated it. After the hearings, McLaren paid $100 million as a fine and was excluded from the championship. Ferrari, meanwhile, was stunned at this decision to only place a fine.
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But reports reveal it was indeed Ecclestone who talked down Mosely from a two-year ban to a $100 million fine. The source also reported that, “Mosley joked that it was ‘$5 million for the offense and $95 million for Ron being a twat’.”
Tom Bower’s book on Ecclestone suggests that his hostility towards Dennis cost McLaren in 2007. Furthermore, he was quoted saying, “When Flavio [Briatore] stuck a knife in my back, he charmed me and said, ‘It’s good for you to let out some blood. But when Ron puts the knife in, he wants you to know that he’s in charge and he’s killed you.”
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The $100 million fine is also the highest ever amount a team has paid in the history of F1. To this day, the ‘Spygate’ remains one of F1 and motor sport’s biggest controversies.
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