F1 Secrets available on the internet

[Wizzo]

Highly-sensitive documents that disclosed secret information about the inner workings of the technical strategies adopted by rival Formula One teams were exposed for all to see on the internet.

The FIA diligently published transcripts from the recent 'spy' hearings on its website including a 115-page document released on 13 September.

But, despite blacking out secret information on the PDF transcript before posting it on the internet, the French-based motor sport council failed to realise that a simple copy and paste of the document into any text-based file revealed the hidden data.

After realising their mistake the FIA removed the document from their website immediately. When asked why the FIA had failed to act quickly to prevent rival F1 teams accessing some of the information allegedly exposed to McLaren in the espionage saga, the spokeswoman said the council was unwilling to provide any further comment.

[cosworth151]

Once again, F1 proves it is the master of cutting edge techno!

[Chameleon]

Actually, it's not funny.  These are the cretins running the sport we love, handing out penalties for imagined infractions of the rules and designing the future of motor sport.  It really is time they were kicked out and a fresh start made with the interests of the sport at heart.

[raindancer]

For all the High Tech involved in F1 this really is a huge goof up. Who will now penalise the FIA ? Don't they know how to publish documents securely !

[Alianora La Canta]

I've studied information security as part of my degree. As a result, I think I have a fairly good idea how to prevent this sort of recurrence Do you think the FIA would now have a vacancy for someone like me (as might Ferrari, and if the McLaren/Renault thing proves to have substance, McLaren). And if so, would the FIA give me a relocation budget to move within commuting distance of Paris? Information officer at the FIA could be a fun job - and clearly they need one...

[Chameleon]

But that would spoil our fun, Alianora!   

[johnbull]

So long as she doesn't become a Miss Information officer. They have plenty of those already.

I'm not saying that Max is a Miss ofcourse. I wouldn't say a thing like that.

[Alianora La Canta]

Or a "Diss" Information Officer, which would presumably be an annoyed teenager taking the role...

[Steven Roy]

Presumably anyone who accessed this information owes the FIA $100 million.  That will be every team on the grid then.

Interesting quote from McLaren's barrister.
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19667.html

Ian Mill is a Queen's Counsel, a lawyer appointed to be one of "Her Majesty's Counsel learned in the law". In order to receive such recognition and "take silk" one has to serve as a barrister for at least 10 years and one has to be eminent. Mill is a leading light in commercial litigation, intellectual property, media and entertainment and sports law. A product of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Mill has been a lawyer since he was called to the bar in 1981 and has been a QC since 1999. He has been joint head of Blackstone Chambers since 2004. At 48 he has served as chairman of the Football Association's appeal board and as chairman of the UK Athletics' disciplinary committee. He has also been on panels for the FA Premier League and the International Cricket Council and had experienced in the world of rugby. In short his professional experience is long and distinguished. He was called in to represent McLaren at the FIA World Motor Sport Council and in his summing up of the case he gave the following opinion.

"The question is not: can McLaren prove that it has not used Ferrari’s confidential information, but rather the opposite," he said. "Is it established, to the standard that the president [Max Mosley] himself suggested was appropriate, and that is a very high standard indeed, that we did use the information? Of course not. How can it? We are left with the suspicion that the president has, based on the slightly theatrical run-through of those pages, as he stood up and showed everyone the two files. The suspicion that there is probably something in there. Fine. Then the response is not bring us back here, let alone throw us out of the championships. Rather, you bring in Mr Whiting [F1 race director Charlie Whiting]. We have issued an invitation, and it remains on the table. Do not draw conclusions against us. Tell Charlie Whiting to go into McLaren to go into the organisation and not return until, having checked it from top to bottom, he is satisfied that no use has occurred. That has not happened; I don’t know why.

"I do, however, know that if you convict us today without the FIA having done that, that will be the grossest misjustice in my professional experience."

Legal hyperbole and theatre? Perhaps, but an interesting remark nonetheless.

[raindancer]

I think he has legal point. The key question to be pondered is  What has Mclaren been penalised of ? What is the misdeamnour ?
A lot of water has passed under the bridge and the Concorde agreement prohibits any team from approaching the Civil Courts for redressal.
The Agreement needs to be challenged in a proper court first !

[Alianora La Canta]

Since key elements of the case are already in the Civil Court, I think someone must have driven a coach and horses through the Agreement...

[nightfly56]

So will Ferrari be taking the World Motorsports Council to the cleaners for their indiscretion....................................I think Not
 

[raindancer]

Since key elements of the case are already in the Civil Court, I think someone must have driven a coach and horses through the Agreement...

Yes Ali. The Concorde agreement can be challenged both in its entirety as well as its specific clauses and the judgement will be binding. However this act could be the end of F1 and the start of a rival series.