E14: Spygate
Tracy takes Jen and Dave into her own sports fandom and the byzantine world of Formula 1. In 2007, a disgruntled Ferrari employee is alleged to have circulated a dossier of top secret technical information to rival McLaren. It then gets strange.
Sources and Further Reading
Baldwin, A. (2007a, August 4). Hamilton baffled by Alonso’s hold-up. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-baffled-by-alonsos-hold-up-4412928/4412928/
Baldwin, A. (2007b, August 5). Hamilton says Alonso not talking to him. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-says-alonso-not-talking-to-him-4412857/4412857/
Baldwin, A. (2007c, August 24). Dennis says no problems between drivers. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/dennis-says-no-problems-between-drivers-4412566/4412566/
Baldwin, A. (2007d, September 5). FIA says has new evidence in spy case. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-says-has-new-evidence-in-spy-case-4412200/4412200/
Besley, C. (2023). Driven to crime: True stories of wrongdoing in motor racing. Evro Publishing. https://www.evropublishing.com/products/driven-to-crime-true-stories-of-wrongdoing-in-motor-racing
Briatore would welcome Alonso back. (2007, August 28). Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/briatore-would-welcome-alonso-back-4412401/4412401/
Cooper, A. (2007, July 3). Analysis: The remarkable Stepneygate saga. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/analysis-the-remarkable-stepneygate-saga-4411755/4411755/
Elizalde, P. (2007a, July 26). McLaren say decision “balanced and fair.” Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclaren-say-decision-balanced-and-fair-4411059/4411059/
Elizalde, P. (2007b, August 5). Alonso philosophical over “funny” penalty. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alonso-philosophical-over-funny-penalty-4412888/4412888/
Elizalde, P. (2007c, August 9). Hamilton says not at war with Alonso. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-says-not-at-war-with-alonso-4412808/4412808/
FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (2025, November 15). FIA Karting. https://www.fiakarting.com/gallery/fia-karting-arrive-and-drive-world-cup-kuala-lumpur-malaysia
FORMULA 1. (2023, March 3). Beginner’s guide to F1 [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-jjZMMxbZs
FORMULA 1. (2024, February 29). Everything you need to know about Formula One: Race, rules and details—F1 Explained [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYpKWBXhcik
Glendenning, M., & Goren, B. (2007, August 4). Dennis: Hamilton triggered incident. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/dennis-hamilton-triggered-incident-4412893/4412893/
Goren, B. (2007, August 1). McLaren hit out at Ferrari. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclaren-hit-out-at-ferrari-4413005/4413005/
Goren, B., & Lostia, M. (2007, July 27). Briatore baffled by FIA verdict. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/briatore-baffled-by-fia-verdict-4411043/4411043/
Goren, B., & Noble, J. (2007, July 10). Spy case court hearing adjourned. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/spy-case-court-hearing-adjourned-4411536/4411536/
Lostia, M., & Elizalde, P. (2007, August 3). Stepney says he didn’t tip off McLaren. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/stepney-says-he-didnt-tip-off-mclaren-4412990/4412990/
Maher, T. (2023, June 25). The eight largest fines in F1 history: Which team has paid the biggest amount? PlanetF1. https://www.planetf1.com/features/largest-fines-in-formula-1-history
Meadows, M. (2007, July 27). Italy fumes over spy verdict. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/italy-fumes-over-spy-verdict-4411044/4411044/
Noble, J. (2007a, July 5). Dennis: McLaren have done nothing wrong. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/dennis-mclaren-have-done-nothing-wrong-4411717/4411717/
Noble, J. (2007b, August 13). Jones: McLaren need to control drivers. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/jones-mclaren-need-to-control-drivers-4412757/4412757/
Noble, J. (2007c, September 14). FIA reveals evidence that led to penalty. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-reveals-evidence-that-led-to-penalty-4413936/4413936/
Noble, J., & Elizalde, P. (2007, August 25). Alonso “happy” to stay at McLaren. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alonso-happy-to-stay-at-mclaren-4412484/4412484/
Noble, J., & Goren, B. (2007, June 21). Ferrari’s Stepney faces criminal enquiry. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ferraris-stepney-faces-criminal-enquiry-4410180/4410180/
Noble, J., & Lostia, M. (2007, September 8). Alonso denies trying to harm team. Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alonso-denies-trying-to-harm-team-4412116/4412116/
Raiford, T. (2014, May 15). The 10 biggest fines in the history of sports. Worthly. https://worthly.com/news/10-biggest-fines-history-sports/
The full decision by the FIA’s WMSC. (2007, September 14). Autosport. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-full-decision-by-the-fias-wmsc-4413938/4413938/