F1 mess - McLaren's Chief Designer accused of industrial spying with proof

[Kaotik]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6264904.stm

McLaren caught in Ferrari spy row

McLaren are embroiled in a spying row following claims one of their leading staff
illegally received information from arch-rivals Ferrari.


McLaren suspended a "senior member" of their design team after learning he had "personally received technical information from a Ferrari employee".
The man in question is understood to be chief designer Mike Coughlan.
The move came after Ferrari sacked former team manager Nigel Stepney following an internal investigation.
Ferrari believe Stepney stole parts and gave technical information to rivals. Italian police are investigating Stepney after Ferrari filed a formal complaint with the Modena district attorney, although no charges have been brought.

"We have proof that Stepney had been supplying technical information to a McLaren employee," a Ferrari spokesman said.

"A search was carried out of the (McLaren) engineer's house, where we found this information," he added.
"This is a very serious situation. We are talking about a lot of information being given to a prominent McLaren engineer. We are not talking about rumours or speculation."

A McLaren statement said: "McLaren became aware on the 3 July 2007 that a senior member of its technical organisation was the subject of a Ferrari investigation regarding the receipt of technical information.

"The team has learnt that this individual had personally received a package of technical information from a Ferrari employee at the end of April. "While McLaren has no involvement in the matter and condemns such actions it will fully co-operate with any investigation. The individual has in the meantime been suspended by the company pending a full and proper investigation of the matter."

Coughlan and Stepney worked together at the Benetton team in the early 1990s and later at Ferrari's old UK design studio, which was based in Surrey until 1997.

Stepney has said Ferrari are waging a "dirty tricks campaign" against him.
His lawyer said last month: "Nigel wishes to make clear that he has nothing to do with this and is not guilty of anything."
The development is highly embarrassing for McLaren, whose boss Ron Dennis periodically makes a point of pointing out the nefariousness of rivals who he claims have been caught trying to spy on the team.

McLaren and Ferrari have a long and difficult relationship, and there is an atmosphere of mutual distrust between the two outfits.
The situation may also prove a distraction from McLaren's attempt to win the British Grand Prix this weekend and strengthen their lead in the world championship over Ferrari.
McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton is 14 points clear of team-mate Fernando Alonso in the title chase, with Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen three and five points behind the Spaniard.

Stepney joined Ferrari from Benetton in 1992 as chief mechanic, rising to the post of race and test technical manager during the team's period of domination between 2000 and 2004. He moved to a factory-based role earlier this year after voicing his dissatisfaction over the direction of the team following Michael Schumacher's retirement and Ross Brawn stepping down as technical director.

This is not good, not good at all; If McLaren is found guilty in using the data their chief designer retrieved, it could mean as bad as completely banning Mercedes from all FIA series's, and could be a serious blow, even deadly, to F1, considering the status McLaren has in there (luckily, FIA would lose such a huge amount of money that it's unlikely to happen)


http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/07/04/fia_to_investigate_espionage_affair/

Keen to clear its name, McLaren invited the FIA to examine its cars and the sport's governing body has duly accepted.

Today's statement from McLaren read: "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.

"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."

Whilst investigating the suspect actions of Nigel Stepney, Ferrari's findings prompted the authorities in Britain to search the home of a McLaren employee on Tuesday. The search confirmed that Ferrari technical information had been passed onto the McLaren technical person and McLaren suspended its employee immediately. The FIA will now look into the matter itself.

A statement from the FIA read: "With the full cooperation of both teams, the FIA has initiated an investigation into matters involving Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro and Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes. The remit of this investigation will focus solely on the requirements of the International Sporting Code and the Formula One Regulations."

 

[Dave Baumann]

Given the car have no basis in similarity, other than the tyres used, I suspect that there is very little that could be derived from the data that would have any relevance to McLarens car.

 

[sif]

Given the car have no basis in similarity, other than the tyres used, I suspect that there is very little that could be derived from the data that would have any relevance to McLarens car.

I think certain innovations can be wholesale transferred or at at least be derived from another car, just look at the third profile on the front wings that Renault introduced in 2005(?) or the sidepod shields on the 2005 Honda, now every one has them or is adopting them.

Of course 'copying' occurs in the aero domain very often, seeing as it is very different to conceal the bodywork but what if the data passed was of an internal nature and was about stuff buried deep in the car? Of course proof of 'inspiration' would need to be proved (which IMO won't be easy), but then what happens to McLaren.

The worst that will happen is McLaren are kicked out of this year's championship and perhaps even a civil case from Ferrari. Even though I might be a tifosi, none of the above would be good for the championship or the sport in general. Let's just hope McLaren aren't found to have done any wrong.