Coughlan of F1 Spygate fame apologizes, gets back to work at Williams

Mike Coughlan hit a pretty nasty bump in his Formula One career. Coughlan was the chief designer for the McLaren F1 team from 2002 through 2007, but it was that last year with McLaren for which Coughlan is remembered, when he was caught possessing technical documents from rival Ferrari. The F1 affair became known as Spygate, and Mike Coughlan was suspended from the sport for two years. McLaren took a major hit as well, when it was stripped of all that season's constructors points and fined $100,000,000.

The designer and engineer has served his time, and now he is ready to get back to work, with Williams hiring Coughlan to become its chief engineer. According to CNN, Coughlan is determined to put his past transgressions behind him, and has issued an apology to everyone wronged by his actions. That apology includes not just the Ferrari and McLaren racing teams, but the entire Formula One world and all of its fans.

"I sincerely regret my actions and I fully accepted the penalty given to me by the FIA. I can only hope that I can earn back everyone's respect."

Williams is currently racing in the back of the F1 pack, so Coughlan already has his work cut out for him.