Go Back   Sports Car Forum - MotorWorld.net > General Discussion > Motorsport News And Discussion



Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-03-2007, 09:30 PM   #1
blue8
Regular User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,327
Default Stepneygate: McLaren stripped of all points, fined $100M

Analysis: the remarkable Stepneygate saga (Autosport F1)

By Adam Cooper Tuesday, July 3rd 2007, 23:03 GMT

'Stepneygate' has sent shock waves through Formula One in recent days, and Tuesday's news that a senior McLaren employee is involved in obtaining stolen documents belonging to Ferrari has added yet another dimension to the story.

Ferrari and McLaren have had a highly charged rivalry for three decades now, but this latest episode is perhaps the strangest yet.

The 'Dream Team' Disbanded

Nigel Stepney at the 2006 Japanese Grand PrixNigel Stepney began his motorsport career in the 1970s, when he worked for the Broadspeed touring car team, before moving through stints at Shadow and Lotus - where he worked with Ayrton Senna.

From 1988 to 1992 he was at Benetton as chief mechanic. He earned a reputation as a good organiser who paid attention to detail and kept the troops in line. That was just what Ferrari needed when he was head-hunted by former Benetton colleague John Barnard in 1993, shortly before Jean Todt joined the Italian team.

He knew Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne in his time at Benetton, so when they came to Maranello in 1996 and 1997, it was a reuniting of the old gang.

Through the Schumacher glory years, Stepney received a lot of the credit for getting the team on track, especially in terms of reliability and improved preparation. He also became better known after Schumacher ran him over during a pitstop in the 2000 Spanish Grand Prix; after that incident, he gave the lollipop job to someone else...

His job title changed from that of chief mechanic to that of race technical manager. He was clearly a key part of the 'Dream Team', and indeed on occasion he went on to the podium to represent Ferrari and pick up the constructors' trophy.

There was no reason to suspect he was anything but very happy at Ferrari until some time last year, when in conversation he casually mentioned that he was hoping to switch to a factory-based job in 2008.

Schumacher was about to announce his retirement, and Brawn was going on a sabbatical. Like them, Stepney used up a lot of energy through those championship-chasing years, and presumably he quite liked the idea of slowing down, thinking about new challenges.

But he also made it clear that with Schumacher not driving, and even more importantly with Brawn gone, the team would no longer be the same. In essence, he wasn't too happy about being involved in something that potentially was going to go downhill with a new regime in charge.

In fact, Stepney had quite a colourful way of expressing his feeling at the time, and his candour was quite surprising.

Then, during the winter, Stepney made his feeling publicly known in an interview with Autosport magazine, much to Ferrari's displeasure.

House Search at Casa Stepney

By the time Formula One arrived at Melbourne for the opening race of the season, there was no sign of Stepney, whose new factory role was head of team performance development.

This followed by rumours that Stepney was contemplating a move to Honda - entirely logical, considering he is a Briton who presumably always fancied moving back home (throughout his Ferrari years, Brawn always maintained a double life, with a house in the UK). With Brawn's name also linked to Honda, it seemed plausible that both men could end up there.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, came the bombshell news that Stepney was under criminal investigation in Italy, following action taken by Ferrari, and that he had 'disappeared' abroad.

All sorts of mixed messages came out in the days that followed. Key among them was talk of a white powder being found in or around the Ferrari F2007 fuel tank before the Monaco Grand Prix, and the suggestion therefore Stepney tried to sabotage the cars.

The police duly raided the Briton's house in Italy, and it was reported that they had taken away a canister, which we could only presume was related to the aforementioned white powder.

Things took a different turn on June 24, when the Sunday Times reported Stepney's view. Journalist Jane Nottage, who knows Stepney well and has written an officially sanctioned book about the inner workings of Ferrari, called him in the Philippines, where he was holidaying with his girlfriend and their child.

"I have confidence that I'll be cleared by the legal process that is now taking place," he told her. "It is just part of a dirty tricks campaign and everything is in the hands of my lawyer, so we'll wait and see what happens.

"I am on a planned holiday with Ash and our baby. Why would anyone say I am not contactable? I booked the flights through the Ferrari travel office. They know where I am."

In a further twist, a Ferrari spokesman told autosport.com at Magny-Cours last weekend that this last statement was not true, and indeed, Stepney was not even on an official leave.

Meanwhile, the rumours continued to fly around, and bits of information come out in dribs and drabs. I've been told that the police officers who visited Casa Nigel didn't just recover that canister, but other items of interest, reportedly including a couple of steering wheels that should not have been there.

Sources have also suggested that Stepney was allegedly seen behaving suspiciously around the cars in the factory at a time when he thought he was alone, and/or that there is incriminating CCTV footage.

In addition to the white powder business, there were also rumours of some form of industrial espionage.

It seemed obvious to assume that any such behaviour might involve a potential future employer such as Honda, but there was a whisper last weekend that McLaren were the recipient.

Sabotaging the cars, helping McLaren by passing on secrets... The story got weirder and weirder. What was Stepney supposedly up to?

The only conclusion a casual observer could make was that some internal strife at Maranello, possibly involving Stepney not being allowed contractually to make his move to Honda, had caused him to extract some sort or revenge.

House Search at Fort Coughlan

Mike CoughlanHowever, the story took another serious turn on Tuesday morning when Ferrari revealed that Stepney had been sacked.

And, that afternoon brought the stunning news that McLaren were indeed in the loop a statement from the Woking outfit revealing "senior member of [McLaren's] technical organisation was subject of a Ferrari investigation regarding the receipt of technical information."

McLaren's statement further revealed that this senior staff member " had personally received a package of technical information from a Ferrari employee at the end of April."

McLaren concluded by saying the individual has been suspended by the company, pending a full investigation.

Inevitably there was considerable interest in just who might be involved at Woking, and logic suggested it was someone at McLaren who has worked with Stepney in the past. There was certainly more than one high profile name that fitted that bill.

After that came a statement from Ferrari, which confirmed they have instigated legal proceedings against Stepney and a McLaren employee, in both Italy and England.

It didn't take long for it to emerge that the McLaren man under investigation was chief designer Mike Coughlan.

He worked with Stepney at Benetton and, from 1993 to 1998, at Ferrari - although Coughlan was mostly at John Barnard's Surrey base rather than in Maranello.

On Tuesday, Coughlan's house was visited by the UK police, and apparently Ferrari documents were found there.

Clearly the saga has caused some disruption at Ferrari, but the fact that this affair has now spread to McLaren as well must be big relief to the Maranello team, as some of the negative attention has been diverted.

If, as must now be considered possible, Coughlan does not return to work once the investigation is complete, he will leave a hole in McLaren's staff that has to be filled.

McLaren may have strength in depth, but losing the chief designer in the middle of a title campaign - and just as serious work gets going on the 2008 car - is not exactly ideal.

Inevitably, too, some would also be very happy for the fans to draw the conclusion that McLaren's turnaround in form after Spain was in some way related to the information that was passed on, although clearly there is no evidence that this is the case.

Indeed, it remains unknown if the alleged information was actually used by Coughlan in an attempt to benefit McLaren, or if indeed it was of any value to a team running a completely different car.

The other possibility is that the information pertained to something that Ferrari were doing that was of potential interest to McLaren - advanced wing design and flexing bodywork, for example.

The Gathering Storm

Ferrari interestingly made a point of ending their statement on Tuesday by saying the team "reserve the right to consider all implications, be they criminal, civil or of any other nature, according to the applicable laws." (emphasis added)

The last time Ferrari made a similar threat was in 2003, after the FIA found the tread width of Michelin tyres to be outside the legal width - following a protest by Ferrari. Back then, Ferrari also "reserved the right" to challenge race results after the season was over, should they deem it necessary.

Ferrari never pursued legal action in 2003 - the team, after all, won both titles that season - but Maranello's suggestion that some teams may not have won fairly was made very clear.

This time around, McLaren were unequivocal in their Tuesday statement that 'Stepneygate' involves one individual inthe team, and not McLaren.

"Whilst McLaren has no involvement in the matter and condemns such actions, we will fully cooperate with any investigation," the team said, and there is no reason to question this. For all his shortcomings, Ron Dennis's integrity has never been at doubt.

Either way, though, this really is a sorry saga that will overshadow the British team's widely anticipated homecoming Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend.

It's also unclear how all this affects Ross Brawn and any plans he has to return to Maranello.

The former technical direct is very close to Stepney, but on the other hand he is a Ferrari man to the core, and if there has been any wrongdoing, one presumes he will side with the team.

So now we wait to find out not only what Stepney has to say when he returns to Europe, but also what happens at McLaren.

It remains to be seen what the FIA, too, will do - if at all - in this affair, and what are the legal implications for Stepney, Coughlan, Ferrari and McLaren.

Recently, two former Ferrari employees were found guilty of stealing Ferrari secrets and taking them to Toyota.

And, considering that that affair took four years to reach its court resolution, it's safe to say that 'Stepneygate' has only just begun.

Additional reporting by Biranit Goren
__________________

blue8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2007, 09:58 PM   #2
graywolf624
Regular User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hellaware USA
Posts: 3,865
Default

It certainly is getting interesting. Time will tell where it goes.
__________________
Common Sense- so rare it's a super power.
graywolf624 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2007, 05:04 AM   #3
nejcdolinsek
Regular User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: UK, Slovenia, Poland
Posts: 1,124
Default

Its sad how the behind the scenes action in F1 is more exciting than the racing itself :roll:
__________________
Perfection comes in the form of any Ferrari
nejcdolinsek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2007, 11:40 AM   #4
blue8
Regular User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,327
Default

McLaren charged over Stepneygate

McLaren bosses have been summoned by world motorsport's governing body, the FIA, to account for their actions in the ongoing Stepneygate scandal.

In a statement, the FIA confirmed: 'Representatives of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have been requested to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA world motor sport council in Paris on July 26.

'The team representatives have been called to answer a charge that between March and July 2007, in breach of Article 151c of the international sporting code, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes had unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, including information that could be used to design, engineer, build, check, test, develop and/or run a 2007 Ferrari formula one car.'

Despite confirming that they had suspended a 'senior technical member of its technical organisation', now known to be designer Mike Coughlan, after 'this individual had personally received a package of technical information from a Ferrari employee at the end of April', McLaren have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing in the scandal.

"There is no intellectual property of another grand prix team on our cars, nor will there be, nor has there ever been," Ron Dennis declared at Silverstone.

"My own integrity is woven into the fabric of our company and I am now, having supervised a very detailed investigation within our own organisation, able to say that with absolute certainty that as this unfolds over the next few days, people will clearly understand all the facts behind what has been a difficult experience for McLaren."

In a statement released last week, the team announced that 'a thorough investigation' had found that 'no Ferrari intellectual property has been passed to any other members of the team or incorporated into its cars.'

Such was their confidence in their innocence, McLaren 'invited the FIA to conduct a full review of its cars to satisfy itself that the team has not benefited from any intellectual property of another competitor.'

Whilst the court summons would apparently indicate that the FIA have accepted that invitation, it is thought that the focus of their enquiry will be the question of when - and how - Jonathan Neale, their managing director, first became aware that Coughlan had the Ferrari documents in his possession.

Should the team be found guilty of breaching the sporting code, a whole host of potential punishments are at the FIA's disposal - including stringent points penalties that could wreck the World Championship ambitions of both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

Coughlan himself has refused to comment publicly on the crisis, but, after a court hearing in London this week, agreed to provide a sworn statements revealing how he obtained 780 pages of Ferrari technical information.
__________________

blue8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 10:40 AM   #5
blue8
Regular User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,327
Default

McLaren have escaped being penalised by the FIA after Thursday's hearing ruled that there was insufficient evidence to suggest the team made use of stolen Ferrari secrets.

McLaren appeared before the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Thursday having been charged with 'fraudulent conduct' and having 'unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.'

And although the World Motor Sport Council found the Woking team guilty of possession of unauthorised Ferrari documents, they said there was no evidence that McLaren had used that information.

The team therefore escaped penalty but were warned that should further information come to light they could be charged again and would face severe penalties, including exclusion from the World Championship.

"The WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code," said the FIA in a statement.

"However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula One World Championship. We therefore impose no penalty.

"But if it is found in the future that the Ferrari information has been used to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to invite Vodafone McLaren Mercedes back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 Championship but also the 2008 Championship."
__________________

blue8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 11:46 AM   #6
bmagni
Regular User
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mexico
Posts: 3,544
Default

total BS. though they leave the case open for a penalty if they find more evidence, this is BS. You break the rules you go out unpunished, I'm so sick of that. I just hope Ferrari beats McL on track.
bmagni is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 12:36 PM   #7
RC45
Regular User
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 15,413
Default

waa waa waa - typcal Ferrari whining. Goes on year in and year out.
RC45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 01:00 PM   #8
bmagni
Regular User
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mexico
Posts: 3,544
Default

Originally Posted by RC45
waa waa waa - typcal Ferrari whining. Goes on year in and year out.
lol. its not whinning... i wonder what would you say if Ferrari had papers that belonged to GM, you've already started commenting about the delphi suspension :roll:
bmagni is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 02:00 PM   #9
RC45
Regular User
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 15,413
Default

Originally Posted by bmagni
Originally Posted by RC45
waa waa waa - typcal Ferrari whining. Goes on year in and year out.
lol. its not whinning... i wonder what would you say if Ferrari had papers that belonged to GM, you've already started commenting about the delphi suspension :roll:
waa waa waaaaa - Ferrari has only ever been competitive in racing where the FIA has changed the rules based on Ferrari begging and whining.

waaa waaaaaa waaaaaa

If criminal courts and civil courts have not awarded fines, prison sentences or judgements then it is all whining and crying

waaaa waaaaa waaaa
RC45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 02:55 PM   #10
pagani
Regular User
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pagani Productions HQ
Posts: 6,237
Default

Originally Posted by RC45
waa waa waa - typcal Ferrari whining. Goes on year in and year out.
Maby thats the real reason i never will support the ferrari f1 team.
pagani is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 08:32 PM   #11
bmagni
Regular User
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mexico
Posts: 3,544
Default

Originally Posted by RC45
Originally Posted by bmagni
Originally Posted by RC45
waa waa waa - typcal Ferrari whining. Goes on year in and year out.
lol. its not whinning... i wonder what would you say if Ferrari had papers that belonged to GM, you've already started commenting about the delphi suspension :roll:
waa waa waaaaa - Ferrari has only ever been competitive in racing where the FIA has changed the rules based on Ferrari begging and whining.
or all anti-Ferrari are the ones who whine...


Originally Posted by RC45
If criminal courts and civil courts have not awarded fines, prison sentences or judgements then it is all whining and crying

waaaa waaaaa waaaa
you'd better think again and rephrase that, cause if you think like that in this you apply it for everything...
bmagni is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2007, 10:56 PM   #12
Mattk
Regular User
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 6,610
Default

waa waa waa - typcal Ferrari whining. Goes on year in and year out.
If indeed, Stepney did give McLaren some Ferrari secrets, then that is a serious breach of trust and very unethical behaviour. This could get nasty.
__________________
One stumble does not constitute total failure;
One victory does not constitute total success.
Mattk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2007, 12:00 AM   #13
bmagni
Regular User
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mexico
Posts: 3,544
Default

Originally Posted by Mattk
waa waa waa - typcal Ferrari whining. Goes on year in and year out.
If indeed, Stepney did give McLaren some Ferrari secrets, then that is a serious breach of trust and very unethical behaviour. This could get nasty.
hmmm, the resolution was given today, McLooter Mercedes is guilty of breaching article 151c of the International Sporting Code, but apparently thats not enough to punish them...
bmagni is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2007, 03:03 PM   #14
blue8
Regular User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,327
Default

^and Ferrari is REALLY pissed about it. I'm afraid this is only the start. We're sure to hear more about this. I'm obviously a Ferrari fan but personally I think that the possession of top-secret documents by a rival team, whether it was used or not, is unlawful. However, I don't want McLaren expelled from the season nor do I want it to affect the current Championship standings. Even if a McLaren punishment seems like the only way Ferrari could win this year(given their poor reliability), I'd rather not have it.
__________________

blue8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2007, 09:20 PM   #15
blue8
Regular User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,327
Default

Max Mosley re-opens the McLaren spy case:
FIA President Max Mosley on Tuesday agreed to send the espionage case against McLaren to the governing body's Court of Appeal.

Following the written request of Ferrari's national sanctioning organisation, the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), Mosley said it was right to further investigate the case because Ferrari had not been allowed to present evidence in last Thursday's hearing of the World Motor Sport Council.

McLaren in Paris was found to be in breach of clause 151c of the International Sporting Code but was not penalised, which in ACI president Luigi Macaluso's view is 'quite difficult to justify'.

He claimed that 'several top team representatives' of McLaren knew about chief designer Mike Coughlan's espionage activities over several months, but that Ferrari had been unable to counter McLaren's defence that no employee besides Coughlan knew about the 780-pages of secret information.


In a written reply to Macaluso, who after the Paris hearing had also verbally questioned the FIA's decision, Mosley said probing the matter further was also important for 'public confidence in the outcome'.

He wrote: "I will send this matter to the FIA Court of Appeal ... with a request that the Court hear both Ferrari and McLaren and any other Championship competitor who so requests and determine whether the decision of the WMSC was appropriate and, if not substitute such other decision as may be just."
__________________

blue8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump