It has been reported that Nigel Stepney tipped McLaren’s chief designer off about Ferrari’s movable floor design via email. The new allegation has come just before McLaren are due to face a meeting before the FIA World Motor Sport Council next week over charges of ‘fraudulent conduct’.

Originally, the charges were related to a 780 page Ferrari documents containing top-secret Ferrari technical data which is claimed were in Coughlan’s possession from March to July this year. However it appears that Nigel Stepney, formerly of Ferrari, sent an email to Coughlan revealing Ferrari’s floor design and hinting that McLaren could possibly take action over it.

At the first race of the season in Australia, McLaren requested a rule clarification from the FIA over movable floors – it is unclear as to whether this was an independent observation or whether Coughlan passed Stepney’s information onto some of his colleagues. McLaren’s actions prompted the FIA to change the way in conducted the floor test and Ferrari were forced to change their design to comply with the more stringent rules – a change which some have partially attributed to their lack of form in the following races.

The movable floor design actions are predicted to play a large part in the FIA Motor Sport Council meeting next week as the sport’s governing body attempt to decide whether McLaren breached any rules or not.

Subscribe and have the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox - free!