Formula 1 News

WMSC cancels McLaren’s February hearing 

The World Motor Sport Council has officially decided to end the McLaren spy case that has shaked Formula One this year by cancelling next February’s hearing into the Woking-based team’s 2008 car design.

The hearing scheduled for February 14, 2008 was due to discuss whether or not Ferrari intellectual property had inspired parts on McLaren’s 2008 car, the MP4-23. If it was proven that devices on the car had come from Ferrari, then McLaren risked facing further sanctions heading into the 2008 campaign.

However, the FIA published a statement earlier this morning, saying that the scheduled hearing was now cancelled, meaning McLaren were now free to prepare for 2008 without the threat of penalties from the governing body. The statement said: “Further to the proposal of the FIA President, the World Motor Sport Council has agreed to cancel the hearing scheduled for February 14, 2008.”