Ferrari are furious at the outcome of the meeting McLaren had with the FIA which saw McLaren escape with no penalties. The FIA felt that there was insufficient evidence to show that McLaren benefited from the data found at chief designer Mike Coughlan s home, however they did feel that McLaren were guilty of breaching article 151c of the International Sporting Code.
“Ferrari notes that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have been found guilty by the FIA World Council,†a statement by Ferrari read. “It therefore finds it incomprehensible that violating the fundamental principle of sporting honest does not have, as logical and inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction. Today s decision legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula 1 and sets a very serious precedent.
“In fact, the decision of the World Council signifies that possession, knowledge at the very highest level and use of highly confidential acquired in an illicit manner and the acquiring of confidential information over the course of several months, represent violations that do not carry any punishment. The fact Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of such information was discovered totally by accident and, but for this, the team would continue to have it. This is all the more serious as it has occurred in a sport like Formula 1 in which small details make all the difference.
“Ferrari feels this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport. It will continue with the legal action already underway within the Italian criminal justice system and in the civil court in England.â€
