On December 6th, the Renault team will face a World Motor Sport Council hearing in Monaco due to the inappropriate possession of restricted information which belongs to McLaren. Part of the dossier’s information which is in the hands of FIA we can mention: 18 statements from Renault employees’ admitting they viewed confidential technical information belonging to McLaren on a total of 11 Renault computers; 33 files of confidential technical information belonging to McLaren were copied on to 11 floppy disks, which were loaded on to Renault F1's computer system in 2006.



The dossier states the 33 files contain more than 780 individual drawings outlining the entire technical blueprint of the McLaren F1 cars for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Additionally, those files uploaded to the Renault computers were discussed by Renault personnel including senior engineering chiefs and heads of department within Renault.

The Renault team sent a statement indicating that the matter came to light when it emerged that Phil Mackereth, an engineer who joined Renault from McLaren in September 2006, had taken with him Intel property of McLaren which was contained on floppy disks.

McLaren's representative, Baker McKenzie, stated that: "It is clear that McLaren's confidential design information was knowingly, deliberately and widely disseminated and discussed within the Renault F1 design and engineering team, thereby providing them [the Renault F1 design and engineering team] with a clear benefit and unfair advantage."

On the other hand, a Renault spokesman said: "We will be making no further comment until the hearing of December 6."

After the stipulated hearing where Renault will face McLaren’s allegations and if the team is found guilty, Renault could face a punishment to the £50 million fine meted out to McLaren in September when they were found to be in possession of technical information belonging to Ferrari.