FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

By Biranit Goren Saturday, March 8th 2008, 01:39 GMT

The FIA will take no formal steps against Nigel Stepney but has warned motorsport teams from collaborating with the former Ferrari engineer until the summer of 2009.

Stepney is under police investigation in Italy, on suspicions that he gave confidential Ferrari information to rivals McLaren while he was employed at Maranello.

The affair led the FIA to exclude McLaren from the 2007 constructors' championship and fine the squad with $100 million USD.

The governing body further said its legal department would meet with Stepney and make a decision on his future in motorsport as well.

But after the meeting on Friday, the FIA said it was not in a position to officially ban Stepney from motorsport - only to recommend to teams that they consider carefully whether or not to collaborate with the Briton.

A statement released by the FIA on Friday night said: "In its investigations of last year regarding the unauthorised use of intellectual property within Formula One, the FIA heard allegations that Mr Nigel Stepney, then employed by Ferrari, had passed confidential Ferrari information to an employee of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

"Mr Stepney has admitted this allegation and apologised to the FIA, though he disputes the seriousness and extent of his involvement.

"As Mr Stepney is not a licence-holder of the FIA, no formal action may be taken against him under the International Sporting Code (though the FIA is co-operating with the Italian police, who are investigating Mr. Stepney's actions).

"As a matter of good order, the FIA recommends to its licensees that they do not professionally collaborate with Mr Stepney without conducting appropriate due diligence regarding his suitability for involvement in international motor sport.

"This recommendation stands until 1 July 2009."

Although that it's nice to see the FIA give Stepney a de facto ban, and that he's ruined his career anyway, I was left wondering should there not have been rules against this that would have allowed the FIA to give him a real ban? It seems unfair to me that the main protagonist in the whole spy scandal has been allowed off with a slap on the wrist.

[texasmr2]

I think he should be banned he's a very naughty boy.

[Denthúl]

Just goes to show that the FIA haven't handled any aspect of these spying issues properly, I guess.

[texasmr2]

Just goes to show that the FIA haven't handled any aspect of these spying issues properly, I guess.

You are right bro they have made a mess of thing's and have tarnished the office.

[Stephen]

What did Stepney do again?

Anyway, I thought Stepney had already found work back in motorsport?

[McLaren Fan]

Just goes to show that the FIA haven't handled any aspect of these spying issues properly, I guess.

What we can take from this is that if you have an FIA licence you can be penalised as however Mosley (after talking to Ecclestone and listening to overtures from Ferrari) sees fit. It's astonishing that you are not under the authority of the FIA when you are in such a senior position in the sport. It's also flabbergasting how a team can be penalised as a whole (because it would have a licence) but that the FIA are powerless to take action against a team's individual employee.

The truth be told, the FIA at least need to hold an internal inquiry into how they dealt with the spy scandal. It's been nothing short of a disgrace. Mosley, of course, thinks it has been a brilliant job. As I've said before, the FIA needs a complete overhaul.

[Denthúl]

Just goes to show that the FIA haven't handled any aspect of these spying issues properly, I guess.

What we can take from this is that if you have an FIA licence you can be penalised as however Mosley (after talking to Ecclestone and listening to overtures from Ferrari) sees fit. It's astonishing that you are not under the authority of the FIA when you are in such a senior position in the sport. It's also flabbergasting how a team can be penalised as a whole (because it would have a licence) but that the FIA are powerless to take action against a team's individual employee.

The truth be told, the FIA at least need to hold an internal inquiry into how they dealt with the spy scandal. It's been nothing short of a disgrace. Mosley, of course, thinks it has been a brilliant job. As I've said before, the FIA needs a complete overhaul.

How many Ferraris does he own...? [/kidding]

Yeah. To be honest, I'd like to see a new FIA that fits in with your vision of it, because at least then there's a chance of there being a proper set of standard procedures, lack of biasing and things like that scandal will be handled at least half-decently. Hell, they could put me in charge of the FIA and it'd be better...

[deMuRe]

Just goes to show that the FIA haven't handled any aspect of these spying issues properly, I guess.

What we can take from this is that if you have an FIA licence you can be penalised as however Mosley (after talking to Ecclestone and listening to overtures from Ferrari) sees fit. It's astonishing that you are not under the authority of the FIA when you are in such a senior position in the sport. It's also flabbergasting how a team can be penalised as a whole (because it would have a licence) but that the FIA are powerless to take action against a team's individual employee.

The truth be told, the FIA at least need to hold an internal inquiry into how they dealt with the spy scandal. It's been nothing short of a disgrace. Mosley, of course, thinks it has been a brilliant job. As I've said before, the FIA needs a complete overhaul.

Astonishing? Flabbergasted? This all smells like a big bunch of sour grapes to me...

It's extremely childish and narrow minded to blame the establishment when your team is handed punishment you're still having troubles dealing with.

You've been reading Autosport for too long mate, they'll have you believe the British Teams are the originators of all light and purity in this world.

NEWSFLASH from therealworld.com "MacLaren's sh!t stinks just like every other team in the pitlane."

[AKR]

It seems like virtually every topic here of late has been about the same thing. Just change the heading a bit and then it is still the same in the end. Ie The Spy Scandal. I'm glad that at this time next week, the first race of 2008 will have been finished and we can all concenrate on a brand new season and forget 2007. And hopefully Ferrari dominates 2008 as well and McLaren just stuff up every race.

[Denthúl]

Just goes to show that the FIA haven't handled any aspect of these spying issues properly, I guess.

What we can take from this is that if you have an FIA licence you can be penalised as however Mosley (after talking to Ecclestone and listening to overtures from Ferrari) sees fit. It's astonishing that you are not under the authority of the FIA when you are in such a senior position in the sport. It's also flabbergasting how a team can be penalised as a whole (because it would have a licence) but that the FIA are powerless to take action against a team's individual employee.

The truth be told, the FIA at least need to hold an internal inquiry into how they dealt with the spy scandal. It's been nothing short of a disgrace. Mosley, of course, thinks it has been a brilliant job. As I've said before, the FIA needs a complete overhaul.

Astonishing? Flabbergasted? This all smells like a big bunch of sour grapes to me...

It's extremely childish and narrow minded to blame the establishment when your team is handed punishment you're still having troubles dealing with.

You've been reading Autosport for too long mate, they'll have you believe the British Teams are the originators of all light and purity in this world.

NEWSFLASH from therealworld.com "MacLaren's sh!t stinks just like every other team in the pitlane."

Just remember that that establishment failed to punish two other teams for actually using data they had taken from other teams, something far worse than possessing information but not being proved to have included any of it in their car...

[8-ball]

It seems like virtually every topic here of late has been about the same thing. Just change the heading a bit and then it is still the same in the end. Ie The Spy Scandal. I'm glad that at this time next week, the first race of 2008 will have been finished and we can all concenrate on a brand new season and forget 2007. And hopefully Ferrari dominates 2008 as well and McLaren just stuff up every race.

The Mclaren fans just will not let it go and move on. Every thread turns into bashing the FIA (even though they do have some serious problems). Come on guys/girls lets have a cookie and get on with our lives

[McLaren Fan]

It seems like virtually every topic here of late has been about the same thing. Just change the heading a bit and then it is still the same in the end. Ie The Spy Scandal. I'm glad that at this time next week, the first race of 2008 will have been finished and we can all concenrate on a brand new season and forget 2007. And hopefully Ferrari dominates 2008 as well and McLaren just stuff up every race.

The Mclaren fans just will not let it go and move on. Every thread turns into bashing the FIA (even though they do have some serious problems). Come on guys/girls lets have a cookie and get on with our lives

Astonishing? Flabbergasted? This all smells like a big bunch of sour grapes to me...

It's extremely childish and narrow minded to blame the establishment when your team is handed punishment you're still having troubles dealing with.

You've been reading Autosport for too long mate, they'll have you believe the British Teams are the originators of all light and purity in this world.

NEWSFLASH from therealworld.com "MacLaren's sh!t stinks just like every other team in the pitlane."

What you are talking about, aside from being untrue and which I've explained very well on numerous times before, is a separate issue. Whether McLaren were guilty or not is irrelevant to the fact the FIA were inconsistent, conducted a flawed and biased investigation.

[bud]

stepney's made a statement about this FIA release, he is still denying he had anything to do with the 780 page dossier....

[Jabberwocky]

Perhaps the FIA know that he is a scape goat and that is why they have not banned him. TBH I think that Stepneys career has been damaged and I would not imagine that I you will see him in the top flights of motorsport again. It is strange how the 1st July 2009 date has come about, is that because he will not know any of pertinent Ferrari's information by then

[racechick]

Just goes to show that the FIA haven't handled any aspect of these spying issues properly, I guess.

What we can take from this is that if you have an FIA licence you can be penalised as however Mosley (after talking to Ecclestone and listening to overtures from Ferrari) sees fit. It's astonishing that you are not under the authority of the FIA when you are in such a senior position in the sport. It's also flabbergasting how a team can be penalised as a whole (because it would have a licence) but that the FIA are powerless to take action against a team's individual employee.

The truth be told, the FIA at least need to hold an internal inquiry into how they dealt with the spy scandal. It's been nothing short of a disgrace. Mosley, of course, thinks it has been a brilliant job. As I've said before, the FIA needs a complete overhaul.

Astonishing? Flabbergasted? This all smells like a big bunch of sour grapes to me...

It's extremely childish and narrow minded to blame the establishment when your team is handed punishment you're still having troubles dealing with.

You've been reading Autosport for too long mate, they'll have you believe the British Teams are the originators of all light and purity in this world.

NEWSFLASH from therealworld.com "MacLaren's sh!t stinks just like every other team in the pitlane."

Yes "McLaren's s*** stinks just like every other team in the pitlane"
but every other team in the pitlane don't get fined $100milion dollars when they take a s***.