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Craven Morehead · 07-04-2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

McLaren had earlier insisted that "no Ferrari intellectual property" had been used for the design of its current MP4-22 single seater, and "invited the FIA to conduct a full review of its cars" to verify this claim.

I read that earlier today. I'm glad of that.
McLaren could be in dire straits without a chief of design overseeing next year's chassis. With Silverstone coming up this will be a huge story on race weekend.

Keeps getting deeper and deeper. Ferrari vs McLaren in the championship. :woot:

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/motorspo...ticle_continue

Quote:

'Hundreds of drawings' at McLaren man's home

Alan Henry and Tom Kington in Rome
Thursday July 5, 2007

Guardian

The McLaren formula one team moved quickly yesterday in an effort to defuse the row over what sources described as hundreds of drawings relating to this year's Ferrari which were allegedly found in the home of the British team's chief designer, Mike Coughlan.
McLaren attempted to reassure Ferrari that they had not used any of the data in the development of their MP4-22 challenger. The team, who lead the world championship through Lewis Hamilton, for whom this is an unwelcome distraction going into his home grand prix at Silverstone on Sunday, have also volunteered to submit their MP4-22 car to full scrutiny by motor racing's governing body, the FIA, to prove they have not incorporated any Ferrari designs.

"McLaren has completed a thorough investigation and can confirm that no Ferrari intellectual property has been passed to any other members of the team or incorporated into its cars," the Woking-based team said.

"McLaren has in the meanwhile openly disclosed these matters to the FIA and Ferrari and sought to satisfy any concerns that have arisen from this matter. In order to address some of the speculation McLaren has 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."

A source close to Max Mosley, the FIA president, praised the promptness with which McLaren had reacted to the situation. "McLaren have done the right thing," he said. Another insider added: "It may well be that McLaren will be vindicated in this and the whole business be put down to a couple of renegades."

The FIA emphasised that it had begun an investigation, which will focus exclusively on the requirements of formula one's regulations, leaving legal aspects aside. There is no precedent for the ruling body to act in such a matter. However, it could in theory suspend any team for infringing the requirement of owning its own intellectual property rights, or for bringing the sport into disrepute.

That is unlikely, though. Formula one's chief, Bernie Ecclestone, said taking constructors' points from McLaren would be an option if the team were found guilty of breaching regulations but he does not envisage Hamilton losing points or being thrown out. "I don't see that ... There is no way it would affect the driver. It is nothing to do with the driver," he said.

The Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney, who is alleged to have supplied the data to Coughlan and who was sacked on Tuesday, is due back in Italy after a holiday and will meet his lawyer today. He may face criminal charges for industrial espionage after Ferrari said they had reported him to a Modena magistrate for allegedly handing over confidential documents to Coughlan and for an earlier incident in which he was suspected of sabotaging the Ferraris' fuel tanks with powder. Stepney has protested his innocence and says he will be totally absolved if he comes to trial. Coughlan, who was suspended from his job yesterday, was not available for comment.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007