FIA proof reveals driver ’spy’ emails
09/14/07 (GMM) Emails between Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa were central to the evidence that led to the disqualification and $100m fine imposed on McLaren.
The FIA revealed a 15-page dossier of the evidence to the media at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, which showed that the confidential Ferrari information sent by Nigel Stepney to Mike Coughlan had indeed been used by the Woking based team.
"All the information from Ferrari is very reliable," test driver de la Rosa wrote in one email to world champion Alonso.
"It comes from Nigel Stepney. He's the same person who told us in Australia that Kimi (Raikkonen) was stopping on lap 18."
In another email, this time to chief designer Mike Coughlan, de la Rosa write: "Hi Mike, do you know the Red Car's weight distribution? It would be important for us to know so that we could try it in the simulator. Thanks in advance, Pedro."
Coughlan replied to the email with a text message, and de la Rosa forwarded the information to Alonso, who emailed: "(The weight distribution) surprises me; I don't know if it's 100 per cent reliable, but at least it draws attention."
The evidence also reveals that the drivers discussed Ferrari's flexible wings, aero balance, tire gas, braking system and strategies.
The FIA said Coughlan and Stepney sent 288 text messages to each other and talked on the telephone at least 35 times.
Rumors are swirling in the Spa paddock that Alonso, unhappy at McLaren this year and reportedly keen to break his contract, threatened to take the emails to the FIA before Ron Dennis pre-empted him.