Italian Authorities Reveal Spygate Fines

The Italian justice has finally put an end to the legal actions against the McLaren Mercedes members involved in the famous Spygate less than 2 years ago. According to several media reports in Italy, four McLaren officials have been handed fines between 150,000 and 180,000 Euros for their involvement in the aforementioned affair.

Ex-McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, plus senior McLaren engineers Paddy Lowe, Jonathan Neale and Rob Taylor have all decided not to contest the accusations from the Modena district attorney – copyright infringement – in exchange of the drop in charges.

Therefore, Lowe, Neale and Taylor will each have to pay 150,000 Euros for their wrongdoings in the spy-scandal. As reported by autosport.com, it is believed that the Woking-based team will likely pay the fines for their 3 employees from their own pocket. Coughlan, on the other hand, was fined some 30,000 Euros more.

“The proceedings in Italy were merely the officialising of what had been proposed long before, namely the 'nolo contendere' agreement. A line has finally been drawn under this matter,” said a McLaren spokesperson, according to the aforementioned source.

The official end of the legal actions by the Italian authorities comes only weeks away from FIA's decision to lift all restrictions on both Coughlan's and Nigel Stepney's right to work in Formula 1. The international body took that decision following a request made out by one of their attorneys.

Stepney, the other major official involved in the scandal, is yet to find out a decision by the Italian authorities.