 The 2007 Formula One season was dominated by Ferrari 's accusations that the McLaren team had made illegal use of their intellectual property , leading to legal cases in the United Kingdom and Italy . Unlike previous cases , such as the Toyota team 's illegal use of Ferrari intellectual property in 2004 that had been handled by German police , the FIA investigated . They initially found McLaren innocent ; unable to find enough evidence to suggest that anyone other than designer Mike Coughlan had seen the information or that the team had used it . Ron Dennis , team principal of McLaren , was unaware at this point that Mosley had been sent personal e @-@ mails from Fernando Alonso , stating that the data had been used and seen by others in the team . When Italian police uncovered a series of text messages between McLaren and their spy at Ferrari , the team was hauled in front of the World Motor Sports Council ( WMSC ) once more . This time they were found guilty and eventually fined a gross $ 100M and excluded from the 2007 constructors ' championship . Later in the year , the Renault team was found guilty by the FIA of possessing McLaren 's intellectual property , but was not punished , as the " FIA 's WMSC decided there was not enough evidence to show the championship had been affected . " In relation to McLaren , triple world champion Jackie Stewart criticised Mosley and stated that other teams did not back McLaren for " fear of repercussions " . TV commentator and newspaper columnist Martin Brundle , a former driver , was among those who criticised the FIA and Mosley for inconsistency and questioned the " energetic manner " in which he felt McLaren was being pursued , suggesting that there was a " witch hunt " against the team . Brundle and The Sunday Times subsequently received a writ for libel before the paper printed a correction . Mosley went on to defend himself of the charges made by Brundle , highlighting that the WMSC originally acquitted McLaren of any wrongdoing , stating : " Concrete evidence of use by McLaren of the Ferrari information was simply not there . " It was only later in the year when " e @-@ mails emerged which showed others inside McLaren were indeed aware of the Ferrari information " , that the FIA found the team guilty . 
 The 2007 Formula One season was dominated by Ferrari <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>accusations that the McLaren team <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> made illegal use of their intellectual property , leading to legal cases in the United Kingdom and Italy . Unlike previous cases , such as the Toyota team <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>illegal use of Ferrari intellectual property in 2004 <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> been handled by German police , the FIA investigated . They initially found McLaren innocent ; unable to find enough evidence to suggest that anyone other than designer Mike Coughlan <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> seen the information or that the team <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>had</mark></a> used it . Ron Dennis , team principal of McLaren , was unaware at this point <a href='null_relcl' title='8'><mark>that</mark></a>Mosley <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>had</mark></a> been sent personal e @-@ mails from Fernando Alonso , stating that the data <a href='been_done' title='10'><mark>had</mark></a> been used and seen by others in the team . When Italian police uncovered a series of text messages between McLaren and their spy at Ferrari , the team was hauled in front of the World Motor Sports Council ( WMSC ) once more . This time they <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> found guilty and eventually fined a gross $ 100M and excluded from the 2007 constructors <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'</mark></a>championship . Later in the year , the Renault team was found guilty by the FIA of possessing McLaren <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'s</mark></a>intellectual property , but was not punished , as the " FIA <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'s</mark></a>WMSC decided <a href='dey_it' title='15'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='16'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='17'><mark>not</mark></a>enough evidence to show the championship <a href='been_done' title='18'><mark>had</mark></a> been affected . " In relation to McLaren , triple world champion Jackie Stewart criticised Mosley and stated that other teams did not back McLaren for " <a href='negative_concord' title='19'><mark>fear</mark></a> of repercussions " . TV commentator and newspaper columnist Martin Brundle , a former driver , was among those <a href='null_relcl' title='20'><mark>who</mark></a>criticised the FIA and Mosley for inconsistency and questioned the " energetic manner " in which he felt McLaren was being pursued , suggesting that <a href='dey_it' title='21'><mark>there</mark></a> was a " witch hunt " against the team . Brundle and The Sunday Times subsequently received a writ for libel before the paper printed a correction . Mosley went on to defend himself of the charges made by Brundle , highlighting that the WMSC originally acquitted McLaren of any wrongdoing , stating : " Concrete evidence of use by McLaren of the Ferrari information <a href='negative_concord' title='22'><mark>was</mark></a> simply <a href='negative_concord' title='23'><mark>not</mark></a>there . " It was only later in the year when " e @-@ mails emerged which showed others inside McLaren <a href='uninflect' title='24'><mark>were</mark></a> indeed aware of the Ferrari information " , that the FIA found the team guilty . 
Da 2007 Formula One season was dominated by Ferrari  accusations that tdaMcLaren team done made illegal use of their intellectual property , leading to legal cases in the United Kingdom and Italy . Unlike previous cases , such as thdaoyota team  illegal use of Ferrari intellectual property in 2004 done been handled by German police , thedaA investigated . They initially found McLaren innocent ; unable to find enough evidence to suggest dat anyone other den designer Mike Coughlan done seen the information or tdatthe team done used it . Ron Dennis , team principal of McLaren , was unaware at this point Mosley done been sent personal e @-@ mails from Fernando Alonso , stating that the daa done been used and seen by others in the team . When Italian police uncovered a series of text messages between McLaren and their spy at Ferrari , the team was hauled in front of the Wdad Motor Sports Council ( WMSC ) once more . This time they was found guilty and eventually fined a gross $ 100M and excluded from the 2007 constructors  championship . Later in the year , the Renault team was found guilty by the FIdaf possessing McLaren  intellectual property , but was not punished , as the " FIA  WMSC decided it ain't enough evidence to show the championship done been affected . " In relation to McLaren , triple world champion Jackie Stewart criticised Mosley and stated thdatther teams did not back McLaren fir " no fear of repercussions " . TV commentator and newspaper columnist Martin Brundle , a former driver , was among those criticised the FIA and Mosley for inconsistency and questioned the " energetic manner " in which he felt McLaren was bein pursued , suggesting thadat was a " witch hunt " against the teada Brundle and The Sunday Times subsequently received a writ fa libel before the paper printed a correction . Mosley went on to defend hisself of the charda made by Brundle , highlighting thatdat WMSC originally acquitted McLaren of any wrongdoing , stating : " Concrete evidence of use by McLaren of the Ferrari information ain't simply there . " It was only later in the year when " e @-@ mails emerged which showed others inside McLaren was indeed aware of the Ferrari information " , that the FIA found the team dalty .