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LONDON (Reuters) - Mike Coughlan has started work at Williams with a heartfelt apology to his former employers McLaren and rivals Ferrari for his involvement in a spying controversy that rocked Formula One in 2007.
The Briton has joined the struggling former world champions as chief engineer and is lined up to take over as technical director when Australian Sam Michael leaves at the end of the season.
Coughlan was sacked by McLaren after he was found to have a 780-page dossier of secret Ferrari information in his possession.
Ferrari dismissed Nigel Stepney, the British engineer accused of passing the information to Coughlan.
The so-called "Spygate" affair saw McLaren suffer a record $100 million fine and the loss of all their constructors' points that year.
"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone who was affected by my conduct and in particular the people at McLaren and Ferrari and the fans of those teams," Coughlan said in a Williams question and answer session on Tuesday after his first day at the Grove factory.
"I sincerely regret my actions and I fully accepted the penalty given to me by the (International Automobile Federation) FIA. I can only hope that I can earn back everyone's respect."
Coughlan, who has been working with Michael Waltrip racing in the U.S. NASCAR series, said the scandal had been life-changing and made him reflect on his actions.
"Leaving a team and a sport that I love, and then seeing the consequences of my actions on the team and its fans was devastating," he said.
"All I can do now is work hard and try to earn my place back in Formula One. This is what I am determined to do with Williams."
Williams, winners of nine constructors' world championships between 1980 and 1997, have not won a race since 2004.
They are currently ninth in the standings with just four points from seven races, all scored by Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. The other driver is Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.
Coughlan said the team had good people who should be achieving far better results.
"So while we will be bringing in a couple of new people, it's also a case of looking at the way we work," he said of the task ahead.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Patrick Johnston; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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The Briton has joined the struggling former world champions as chief engineer and is lined up to take over as technical director when Australian Sam Michael leaves at the end of the season.
Coughlan was sacked by McLaren after he was found to have a 780-page dossier of secret Ferrari information in his possession.
Ferrari dismissed Nigel Stepney, the British engineer accused of passing the information to Coughlan.
The so-called "Spygate" affair saw McLaren suffer a record $100 million fine and the loss of all their constructors' points that year.
"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone who was affected by my conduct and in particular the people at McLaren and Ferrari and the fans of those teams," Coughlan said in a Williams question and answer session on Tuesday after his first day at the Grove factory.
"I sincerely regret my actions and I fully accepted the penalty given to me by the (International Automobile Federation) FIA. I can only hope that I can earn back everyone's respect."
Coughlan, who has been working with Michael Waltrip racing in the U.S. NASCAR series, said the scandal had been life-changing and made him reflect on his actions.
"Leaving a team and a sport that I love, and then seeing the consequences of my actions on the team and its fans was devastating," he said.
"All I can do now is work hard and try to earn my place back in Formula One. This is what I am determined to do with Williams."
Williams, winners of nine constructors' world championships between 1980 and 1997, have not won a race since 2004.
They are currently ninth in the standings with just four points from seven races, all scored by Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. The other driver is Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.
Coughlan said the team had good people who should be achieving far better results.
"So while we will be bringing in a couple of new people, it's also a case of looking at the way we work," he said of the task ahead.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Patrick Johnston; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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