Martin Whitmarsh has singled out Fernando Alonso's acrimonious departure at the end of 2007 as a "massive regret" of his 20-year McLaren career.

Whitmarsh, now team principal, was Ron Dennis' deputy two years ago, when Spaniard Alonso notoriously clashed with Dennis and rookie Lewis Hamilton and fled back to Renault after a single season under Mercedes power.

"A massive regret to me is losing a star like Fernando," Whitmarsh told the German news agency DPA. "He's one of the greatest racing drivers. I regret that we didn't make it work: we failed to manage the situation.

"This a good team, he is a good driver. We could have had more success than we've had."

His praise of double world champion Alonso, 27, is not an immediate bid to woo the driver back to McLaren, given that at Valencia on Friday he said confidently that Alonso is bound for Ferrari in 2010.

Whitmarsh is however running McLaren with a different style to that of his predecessor Dennis, and it seems reuniting with a driver like Alonso cannot now be ruled out.

"Sometimes we've been too arrogant, we have to accept it," he admitted. "I have been always very open in the company, my style is completely open."

I don't know this deserve for new topic or maybe should be posting on another topic (about McLaren or Alonso), but this is for me very interesting information. It's quite unusual that boss of the team said this sort of information about driver who ensured McLaren $100 milion fine.



source: http://www.f1complete.com/content/view/13964/900/

However, no use of crying over spilt milk as all parties have moved on.

He should regret it. Its proven very costly for mclaren and will continue to be for many years.

I know this bulletin board is not exactly a refuge of critical thinking, but I seem to recall McLaren got themselves a 100m fine.

That it wasn't Alonso that ensured a McLaren fine.

Well the team did cheat and all things considered the fine wasn't the worst case scenario since they can afford it. They could not have afforded, as a business, not to compete in F1.

I don't know this deserve new topic or maybe should be posting on another topic (about McLaren or Alonso), but this is for me very interesting information. It's quite unusual that boss of the team said this sort of information about driver who ensured McLaren $100 milion fine.

Well the team did cheat and all things considered the fine wasn't the worst case scenario since they can afford it. They could not have afforded, as a business, not to compete in F1.

I disagree that the team did cheat. That would suggest that there was a concious and collective effort made by the team i.e. planned and executed for a purpose. I will like to remind you and everyone sharing your view that the car was thoroughly inspected and no Ferrari IP was found.

And while there was no Ferrari IP on the car, there certainly was in the system. If that's not cheating either I need a new dictionary or you need new values.

I don't think the penalty should be based on whether you can pay. I said it was preferrable to being kicked out of the championship. They'd have lost a lot more than 100million with a disqualification.

And while there was no Ferrari IP on the car, there certainly was in the system. If that's not cheating either I need a new dictionary or you need new values.

Where were they found in the system?

It wasn't the same, it was different. Whether it is worse or not is another discussion.

What?? Nothing found
I remember Mclaren incoperating Ferrari brake system in their new car and FIA caught them and Mclaren made a Public Sorry to all fans
some of the Mclaren fans live in a denial.

He should regret it. Its proven very costly for mclaren and will continue to be for many years.

ferrari's brake system

This thread is like a time machine.

More like groundhog day.

I get your point guys, it is sometimes difficult to let some unfair comments go by without challenging them.
OK, I quit.

I quit too.

This thread will end up being McLaren/Hamilton v Alonso etc.

I've tired of that fight.

Ah come on Pot, just join me in trolling, with the massive Alonso and Hamilton haters it's easy to enrage

I think you should go back and revisit what was found - if it was actually Ferrari's brake system and you would find that you were wrong.
Mclaren wanted to end the continuing publicity in a case that they could not win under the umbrella of "bring the sport into disrepute" and agreed to memoratarium of one year or something like that. That was the agreement between Ferrari and Mclaren by the way.

FIA: McLaren planned to use Ferrari data
McLaren were poised to use systems on their 2008 car that had been inspired by secret Ferrari information given to them by Nigel Stepney, the FIA's technical report on the matter reveals.

Having conducted a detailed examination of the design of McLaren's 2008 car, to see if any Ferrari intellectual property had been used, the FIA report published on Thursday claims that there was evidence of such activity.

Although what the specific parts and systems are have not been revealed, to keep McLaren's own technical secrets confidential, the report is adamant that some elements of the MP4-23 design was scheduled to include technology inspired by confidential Ferrari information.[b]
[b]
The report states: "The [redacted - confidential] system appears to have been re-investigated and developed by McLaren as a result of the receipt of confidential Ferrari information.

"Despite senior McLaren management imposing a hiatus on development at the time the (Mike) Coughlan activities were revealed, McLaren now intend to use [redcated - confidential] on the 2008 car."

It added: "The [redacted - confidential] mechanism which McLaren has developed since the 3 May 2007 Coughlan meeting is intended to be used on the 2008 car and appears to have been initiated by the receipt of confidential Ferrari information."

Detailed examination of the report shows that one area where McLaren had appeared to utilise the Ferrari information was in the creation of a new brake balance system.

The report states: "It appears on the basis of these documents that the genesis of the idea to incorporate a [redacted - confidential] on the McLaren 2008 car emanated from the emails exchanged on 12 April 2007 concerning Ferrari's [redacted – confidential] system and the meeting called on 3 May 2007 by Coughlan. We have not been presented with a convincing explanation to displace the impression given by the documents."

The report also states that McLaren were ready to consider the use of CO2 gas in their tyres, as Ferrari do. It is believed 'more likely than not' that the idea came to the team from information given by Nigel Stepney.

The report states: "We believe the general investigation by McLaren of the use of [redcated – confidential] established further dissemination of confident Ferrari information to engineers within McLaren which has influenced their work on the 2007 and 2008 cars."

The FIA document also reveals that engineers within the team were aware of a Ferrari 'mole' passing information to them.

One email exchange between engineers on April 13, 2007 discussing steering angles mentioned an exact figure for the Ferrari wheelbase. A response from a senior McLaren engineer was: "Is the Ferrari wheelbase an accurate figure? Did it come from photos or our mole?"

The response was: "You will find it's to the nearest 'mm'."

The report states: "On a natural reading of this exchange and taking into account the suggested explanations for it, we have concluded that both [Senior McLaren Engineer] and [Senior McLaren Engineer] were aware that confidential Ferrari information was being leaked through a mole and were prepared to use that information for McLaren's benefit in the design of the 2007 and 2008 cars."

The report reveals that McLaren indeed decided to follow Ferrari's example and increase the wheelbase of their car for 2008, although it could not prove whether this was because of the secret Ferrari information or because of information that was readily available and in the public domain.

McLaren have apologised to the FIA for not being aware of just how far the Ferrari information obtained by the team had spread within their organisation, and the report reveals that even a 'Senior McLaren management figure' was aware of what was going on.

It states the unidentified senior McLaren management figure advised the team to abandon work on a secret technical development because of the spy case surrounding the team.

The report states that on August 8, a senior McLaren engineer communicated a decision reached by a senior McLaren management figure to junior staff members that they were to abandon their efforts on the development

"I would not change the [redacted – confidential] direction until we have to, i.e., when we eventually run the [redacted – confidential]. We will obviously ask for this again for Turkey but I'm not hopeful that we will run this until the outstanding FIA agro [sic] is resolved."

McLaren have vowed to cease development work on the parts that could have been inspired by Ferrari knowledge, and the FIA stated on Thursday night that it was now willing to bring the matter to a close
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64374

McLaren apologise unreservedly to the FIA

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, December 13th 2007, 16:01 GMT

McLaren have offered to impose a moratorium on developing parts on their 2008 car that could have been inspired by Ferrari intellectual property, after apologising to the FIA over their failure to realise how much data from their rivals had spread within their team.

In a letter sent to FIA president Max Mosley on December 5 and published on McLaren's website today, the team admitted that Ferrari information had been more widely 'disseminated' within the team than they previously thought.

And in light of an inspection of their 2008 car by FIA appointed officials throwing up the suggestions that the deployment of quickshift, fast fill, or the use of CO2 as a tyre gas could have come from the Ferrari information, McLaren have offered to hold back on developing these systems.

A statement issued on McLaren's website said: "To avoid even the possibility of Ferrari information influencing our performance during 2008, McLaren has offered a set of detailed undertakings to the FIA which will impose a moratorium on development in relation to three separate systems.

"During the course of these incidents, McLaren has conducted a thorough review of its policies and procedures regarding the recruitment and management of staff. The proposals arising from this thorough review have been disclosed to the FIA and McLaren has agreed to demonstrate that all of these policies and procedures have been fully implemented.

"McLaren wish to make a public apology to the FIA, Ferrari, the Formula One community and to Formula One fans throughout the world and offer their assurance that changes are now being made which will ensure that nothing comparable to what has taken place will ever happen again. McLaren have also agreed to pay the costs incurred by the FIA for their investigation.

"McLaren now wishes to put these matters behind it and to move forward focusing on the 2008 season."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64369

Renault's offence was the same if not worse.

Good for MW to own up. Whilst I was critical of FA over the way he approached the Hungarian GP of 2007 and its aftermath, I always maintained that the McLaren management (RD included) ****ed up big time. The whole situation was not properly managed and that spoke poorly of the team's top management. However, no use of crying over spilt milk as all parties have moved on.

So it was Alonso ALONE who brought Mclaren 100M$ fine?!!

He should regret it. Its proven very costly for mclaren and will continue to be for many years.

He should regret it. Its proven very costly for mclaren and will continue to be for many years.

Blame

Mac 65%
Ham 25%
FA 10%

Blame

Mac 65%
Ham 25%
FA 10%

Why is Ham to blame for any of it?

He is in F1 for himself, to get the fastest car he can, drive it as fast as he can, and win as many races as he can! And why should he not be?

You may as well also blame Renault for producing a spoiled brat of a driver in that case.

Sometimes people just don't get on, as good a driver as FA is and as good a team as Macca, things just didn't gell. Fire and Ice. Simple as.

Obviously Martin would have handled the situation better if he was in charge at the time. - Ron was the culprit and had to go..

Blame

Mac 50%
Ham
FA 50%