Renault consider McLaren legal action

The French car manufacturer are facing the court in Monaco today to answer claims that they had intellectual property in their hands that belonged to McLaren.

The matter revolves around a number of floppy disks that former McLaren engineer Phil Mackereth took with him when he joined Renault in late 2006.

And in the wake of a press briefing given by McLaren a few weeks ago, which contained factual errors that the Woking-based team had to correct in a statement last night, Briatore has made no secret of the fact that he is ready to pursue the matter further.

Speaking to British newspaper The Daily Express, Briatore said: "A lot of very bad things have been said about us by McLaren in the last few weeks, very damaging.

"We will be cleared and once the verdict is announced we will consider legal action. Our reputation has been defamed."

The McLaren press briefing contained comments from the team's solicitors that made it clear they felt Renault had gained an unfair advantage by using the information at the centre of the case.

The solicitors said: "It is clear that McLaren's confidential design information was knowingly, deliberately and widely disseminated and discussed within the Renault F1 design and engineering team, thereby providing them [the Renault F1 design and engineering team] with a clear benefit and unfair advantage."

McLaren were fined $100 million (USD) and thrown out of the 2007 constructors' championship after the FIA found them guilty of having in their possession Ferrari intellectual property earlier this year.

Interest in Renault's case has increased because the outcome of the matter could play a decisive role in whether or not former world champion Fernando Alonso rejoins the team after a tumultuous 2007 campaign with McLaren.