Ferrari & McLaren - the saga continues
Filed Under: F1 News
Ferrari have confirmed that they have instigated legal action against McLaren’s chief designer Mike Coughlan over the “theft of technical information.” Earlier this week, Ferrari dismissed Nigel Stepney suspected sabotage and espionage’ Today, McLaren have confirmed that they have suspended a senior member of staff after finding that he had illegally obtained technical material belonging to Ferrari.
Ferrari released a statement saying, “Ferrari announces it has recently presented a case against Nigel Stepney and an engineer from the Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes team with the Modena Tribunal, concerning the theft of technical information. Furthermore, legal action has been instigated in England and a search warrant has been issued concerning the engineer. This produced a positive outcome.
“Ferrari reserves the right to consider all implications, be they criminal, civil or of any other nature, according to the applicable laws.”
Mike Coughlan joined McLaren in August 2002 as chief designer after spending four years at Arrows F1 where he worked initially as chief designer before being promoted to technical director. Coughlan had previously worked for Benetton, Ferrari Design and Development and Tyrrell.
The FIA have confirmed they are monitoring the saga saying, “We have received information on this matter which we are examining at the moment.”
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Diane Stark | Jul 4, 2007 | Reply
I’m only sorry for Kimi and Massa because they were deserving of their complete team to be with them not against them. I was concerned why Kimi wasn’t finishing better this year. This must be a great disappointment to him as the ‘new’ Ferrari member. It will be interesting to see how the FIA handles any penalty regarding points for the McLaren team.
Sam sanelli | Jul 6, 2007 | Reply
I’m more than alittle shocked to read that an employee of mcLaren has been receiving sensative technical info from a ferrari emloyee. This kind of thing in this day and age is unbelievable and i hope both teams, despite their obvious but healthy rivalry, impose the harshest punishment possible to the people in question. Having said that god forbid McLaren used in any way the information to gain any kind of an advantage over ferrari, Because if this is indeed the case they shuld be booted out of F1 for at least two seasons and the people at the top not be allowed to run a formula 1 team in a competative situation again and branded as cheats.That would be a shame because like Ferrari, the McLaren marque is very much part of F1 and has to be there, and given the new outstanding driver line-up at Mclaren, it would be grossly unfair to them.
ONWARD –Ferrari………..