Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Jan 07, 2008 -- Vodafone McLaren Mercedes today presented the MP4-23, the team’s 2008 Formula 1 car, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board, and Ron Dennis, Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group, welcomed all the guests to the official presentation, with Lewis Hamilton, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, and Heikki Kovalainen joined on stage by Pedro de la Rosa and fellow test driver Gary Paffett to unveil the MP4-23.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23

13.12.2007 -- In the light of McLaren's public apology and undertakings, the FIA President has asked the members of the World Motor Sport Council for their consent to cancel the hearing scheduled for 14 February 2008 and, in the interests of the sport, to consider this matter closed.

In the interests of transparency a redacted copy of the Report by the FIA Technical Department to the World Motor Sport Council is attached to this press statement.

Report by the FIA Technical Department to the World Motor Sport Council - please click here.

Source: FIA

07.12.2007 -- The star-studded FIA Gala in Monaco was a fitting finalé for a dramatic season in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Not since 1986 has the championship hosted a three-way title showdown at the final round, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen taking the title in a thrilling finish.

Raikkonen said: “I am very happy to be here to receive this trophy that comes with winning the World Championship. This has always been my goal and I am particularly pleased to have achieved it in my first year with Ferrari, which is a fantastic team of people who are extraordinary, both professionally and from the human point of view.

13.11.2007 -- Due to the transport strikes that are planned in Paris in the coming days the International Court of Appeal Hearing lodged by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) on behalf of its licence-holder Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been moved from the FIA Headquarters in Paris to an alternative location in London. The date and time remain unchanged.

When
10.00 hrs
Thursday, November 15, 2007

Where
SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP
Woolgate Exchange
25 Basinghall Street
London EC2V 5HA

Source: FIA

08.11.2007 -- Representatives of the Renault F1 Team have been requested to appear before a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on Thursday, December 6, 2007.

The team representatives have been called to answer a charge that between September 2006 and October 2007, in breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, the Renault F1 Team had unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, including, but not limited to the layout and critical dimensions of the McLaren F1 car, together with details of the McLaren fuelling system, gear assembly, oil cooling system, hydraulic control system and a novel suspension component used by the 2006 and 2007 McLaren F1 cars.

Source: FIA

Woking, 2nd November 2007 -- Following a meeting between Fernando Alonso and McLaren, it was agreed that it would be in the best interests of both parties to bring the relationship to an end.

The mutual parting of ways has not been discussed until now, since it was felt that any such discussion could have seriously disrupted the team’s and Fernando’s 2007 Formula 1 World Championship challenge. Both parties believe that this was the right decision.

FERNANDO ALONSO:

Tuesday 23rd October 2007 -- The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team confirms that it has, via its UK governing body, the MSA, filed a notice of appeal to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal against the decision not to exclude cars 09, 10, 16 and 17 from the result of the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix.

23.10.2007 -- The FIA has been informed by the Secretariat of the International Court of Appeal that they have received a Notification of Appeal from the UK National Sporting Authority (RAC MSA) on behalf of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes appeal is against the decision of the Stewards of the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, made at 21.35 hrs on October 21st 2007 (document number 41), that it was inappropriate to impose a penalty on cars 9, 10, 16 and 17.

Source: FIA

Oct. 21, 2007 -- The 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix on the 21st October marked the end of the first season for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes partnership. The partnership was introduced in spectacular style at the team’s launch in Valencia on the 15th January 2007 and since then has been very successful. With all the racing finished for another year it is time to reflect on the numbers that have made up this extraordinary season.

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team has won a total of eight races this season, with Fernando winning in Malaysia, Monaco, Italy and the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring and Lewis winning his first ever Grand Prix in Canada, following that up a week later with a consecutive win at the US Grand Prix and also scoring victories in Hungary and Japan.

Woking, UK, Wednesday 10th October 2007 -- With only one Grand Prix left this season, the 2007 Formula 1 Driver’s World Championship battle is more intense than it has been for a long time with both the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers having been at the top of the point standings since the fourth race of the 2007 season. Consequently there was, and is, competitive tension between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton who are fighting as team mates for the Championship title.