Alonso Happy to Help the FIA in the 2007 Spy-Gate

Although he admitted he doesn't hold any regret over the period of time he spent at McLaren Mercedes, Spanish driver Fernando Alonso revealed there is certainly one thing that he's not ashamed of doing while driving the silver arrows. And that's helping the International Automobile Federation (FIA) get to the bottom of the spying saga between McLaren and Ferrari.

Known as the spy-gate, the aforementioned scandal led to McLaren Mercedes receiving the biggest fine in the history of the sport ($100 million) and all their points being scrapped off the 2007 Manufacturers' standings. Talking about his role in the saga, Alonso insisted he was not the one to blame for what happened to McLaren and Ron Dennis.

“With the spy history I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I was very happy to help the FIA discover everything,” said the 2-time world champion in an interview with British newspaper The Guardian.

Back in 2007, the spy-gate took off during the same period of time in which the relationship between Alonso and McLaren's boss Ron Dennis was starting to fall apart. Several media in the UK suggested that the Spaniard conditioned his “silence” in the FIA investigation to the No 1 role within McLaren Mercedes.

Of course, these rumors were quickly denied by Alonso, who eventually drew the entire McLaren team against him by the end of the season. Following the season ending Brazilian Grand Prix, Alonso had to settle for 3rd place, behind rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton.

“2007 was very difficult but I learnt a lot personally. (...) Now I am much more prepared for everything in formula one – and in life as well,” added Alonso when referring to his McLaren experience.