Fergie's Tech Blog

The Technology Behind the Formula One Scandal

Justin Mullins writes in IEEE Spectrum:

In Europe and Asia, Formula One is the undisputed king of motor sports. No other form of motor racing can compete with the glamour, money, and technology that F1 teams draw on. But for much of this racing season, the sport has been engulfed in a spying scandal wherein members of one team allegedly acquired secret details about the technology used by a competitor.

That team, the UK-based McLaren, was recently fined an unprecedented US $100 million. As details of the affair have leaked out, fans have been shocked by the confessions and betrayals behind the scandal, which would seem more at home in an airport thriller than a multibillion-dollar sport.

The technical secrets at issue remain just that—secrets. But enough information has emerged from the scandal's investigation to put together a picture of what happened and what McLaren stood to gain.

posted by Fergie @ 10/08/2007 01:32:00 PM