Flashback: Spygate scandal rocks world of Formula One in 2007

The case involved a set of accusations that confidential technical information had been passed between the McLaren, Ferrari and Renault F1 teams.

Ferrari allegations made against a former employee Nigel Stepney, a senior McLaren engineer Mike Coughlan and his wife Trudy Coughlan were the subject of legal action in Italy and a FIA investigation.

A FIA hearing took place on July 26, 2007 but did not result in any penalty for McLaren.

But the story exploded again after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the start of August.

Fernando Alonso, who was two points behind McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the world championship standings, took pole after holding up the British driver in the pits so he could not get out for a final qualifying lap.

The following morning, before the race, Alonso and McLaren team boss Ron Dennis had a huge row. Alonso threatened to reveal potentially incriminating emails to do with the Spygate case.

Dennis phoned FIA president Max Mosley to tell him what Alonso had said and the wheels were put in motion for a hearing that would rock the sport.

The second hearing re-analysed the claim that McLaren had benefited from secret Ferrari technical information to obtain a sporting advantage on their rivals.

McLaren were found guilty, fined a record 100 million dollars (£49.2m) and thrown out of the constructors’ championship.

However, Alonso and Hamilton’s points were not affected and the pair continued to contest the world drivers’ championship, which was eventually won by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

Renault were later found guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute by having McLaren intellectual property in their possession, but no penalty was imposed.

On This Day In Sport

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1891: Wolves’ John Heath scored the first penalty in the Football League, netting against Accrington.

1905: The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT), the oldest surviving motorcar race in the world, was first contested.

1955: Kidderminster Harriers and Brierley Hill Alliance became the first sides to play an FA Cup tie under floodlights.

1963: George Best made his debut for Manchester United in a 1-0 win over West Brom at Old Trafford.

2010: Former Harlequins physiotherapist Steph Brennan was struck off by the Health Professions Council’s conduct and competence committee following his role in the Bloodgate scandal. He successfully appealed in January 2011 and was reinstated.

2015: Former Yorkshire and England captain Brian Close died at the age of 84.

2016: Leicester won their first ever Champions League game 3-0 against Club Brugge, with Riyad Mahrez scoring twice after Marc Albrighton’s opener.