Mosley: « Dennis is not so innocent after all »

FIA President Max Mosley believes that Ron Dennis, head of McLaren, was aware of his team’s transgressions in the espionage case that concerned him this year, despite his claims that he knew nothing about it.

Dennis maintained his position that he was unaware that information from Ferrari had spread within his team through chief designer Mike Coughlan. But Mosley is skeptical about these statements.

« We can only say that it is very unlikely that Ron knew nothing. Every time I speak to him, he swears to me that he could never tell a lie, that he has never told a single lie and that he did not lie to us, » he stated to The Guardian newspaper.

Mosley adds that Dennis had answered questions posed to him during both hearings with the same kind of attitude. In the recent letter of apology addressed to the FIA, it was the same, and the team would have preferred a much less severe sanction.

« When Ron learned about the existence of this espionage affair, he simply called Jean Todt of Ferrari and said: ‘Listen, you better know Stepney, we have never heard of him,’ » explained Mosley.

« Then, when they got caught with all the documents, Dennis should have come with everyone in front of the council and said: ‘Look, I am really sorry, a few people have come into contact with this information and I will handle the problem’. »

« There would have been a small fine and perhaps a deduction of a few points at most, and everything could have been resolved very quickly. »

« As the police say, we went where evidence could be found and we had no other choice but to do so. If we had not undertaken this, I believe everyone would have lost faith in our ability to regulate this sport, » added the FIA president.

Mosley continues to deny that he dislikes Dennis, but admits to having issues with the ideas Dennis puts forward about his passion for the sport.

« I’m like him. But I don’t disdain Formula 1. I think that’s the right word. When he says, for example, that he’s passionate about F1, it’s not true. »

He is passionate about McLaren finishing first or second in every race. But that’s not the same as being passionate about F1, he concluded.