Ferrari accuses technician of attempted sabotage

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http://www.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/10233932
Associated Press
MARANELLO, Italy -- Ferrari filed a criminal complaint accusing a British team member of attempted sabotage before the Monaco Grand Prix.

Nigel Stepney, a technician who is responsible for team performance, was cited in the deposition in a Modena court, Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni said Friday.

A mysterious powder was found on the gas tanks of Felipe Massa's and Kimi Raikkonen's cars on May 21, six days before the Monaco race, the Gazzetta dello Sport and the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The parts were replaced before the race and the powder was sent to the police to be examined.

ANSA reported Stepney was disappointed that he was not promoted to technical director when Ross Brawn left the team after last season. Stepney criticized Ferrari in an interview with a British newspaper and the team responded by not sending him to races anymore.

Ferrari said it has also started an internal investigation against Stepney, but that he is still employed by the team. It would not provide information on his whereabouts.
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Interesting...
 
Or is this a lame attempt by Ferrari to find a scapegoat for their lack of pace?? :p

Bizarre story, will be interesting indeed to see how this pans out...

(another article here...)
 
Yeah,a lot of stories has come up since the Canadian GP and the U.S. GP.But still,all of this hype is not going to help Ferrari win races (let alone firing one of their technicians).I still don't understand why the news came out a month later.They should just tell this before the Canadian GP.....
 
mnm_bmx
Yeah,a lot of stories has come up since the Canadian GP and the U.S. GP.But still,all of this hype is not going to help Ferrari win races (let alone firing one of their technicians).I still don't understand why the news came out a month later.They should just tell this before the Canadian GP.....
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I’m pretty sure he’s not been fired, but I believe he was demoted at the end of 2006 with all the personnel changes.
 
As expected, Nigel Stepney has hit back, suggesting that he is the victim of a 'dirty tricks campaign'... Article
 
Could someone blackmailed Nigel Stepney?If the rumors about the white powder is true,he could be in serous trouble.But the fact that he said he was innocent and Ferrari ain't saying anything about the case,there is something (or someone) who just can't tolerate Stepney's demand for a raise and want to ruin his career at Ferrari.Is this making sense to all of you or am i just confusing myself? :confused:
 
Nah, makes perfect sense to me. Does anyone seriously think a man earning £750,000 a year would be stupid enough to do something so blatantly obvious?

I mean, who if not the head of team performance development at Ferrari would know that these cars get stripped down and thoroughly tested and examined all the time?? It doesn't make any sense to suggest that Stepney would think he could get away with a stunt like this. I definitely smell a rat.
 
Touring Mars
Nah, makes perfect sense to me. Does anyone seriously think a man earning £750,000 a year would be stupid enough to do something so blatantly obvious?

I mean, who if not the head of team performance development at Ferrari would know that these cars get stripped down and thoroughly tested and examined all the time?? It doesn't make any sense to suggest that Stepney would think he could get away with a stunt like this. I definitely smell a rat.
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rat2.jpg
 
I guess this'll help team morale!

What troubles me is that this begs the question, is Ferrari using their influence to get rid of a troublemaker (in their eyes)? Or was their a genuine act of sabotage? Either way it's going to pull Ferrari through the mud. Maybe by the French GP there'll be more information. As Blackadder would say, "I smell something fishy, and I'm not talking about the contents of Baldricks apple crumble"!
 
Intresting.
However they must have other 'suspects' if they havent suspended him or even sacked him.

As another member said i also thought he was highly rated there, and why would he try to wreck his own teams race?
 
Carroll Shelby did it...Revenge for the canceled 1964 FIA Sports-car season, you know.

Did anybody at FIAT contact the manufacturer of the fuel cells, or was that too much of a stretch for the squabblers-at-large at the Prancing Horse?
 
I don't get the last post...?
the powder coulda been a complete accident too, a little spill of creamer, or maybe someone uses flour on their hands, but no one realizes it, what would white powder do if its sitting on top of the gas tank anyways O_o?
 
The plot thickens. bbc.co.uk
Ferrari have sacked their head of performance development Nigel Stepney following an internal investigation.

Last month the Englishman said the team were waging a "dirty tricks campaign" against him.

Italian police are investigating him after Ferrari filed a formal complaint with the Modena district attorney, although no charges have been brought.

Ferrari are reported to believe Stepney stole parts and sold those and technical information to other teams.

Ferrari have not revealed any more information, and have not said which other teams they believe to be involved.
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McLaren have given a statement however -
But on Tuesday their title rivals McLaren released a statement saying one of their staff was implicated in the Italian team's investigation.

The 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."
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Now who would that be?
 
ExigeExcel
But where's the motive?

Cash? Settling an old score? Love triangle?

I've watched too much CSI.
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Add those to what has happened and you have the makings of a great movie... ok, probably just a decent movie... or most likely a really crappy movie with some really cool props.
 
Milliethemutt
Crikey. Mclaren admitting one of their employees was involved. The whole thing is very dodgy.
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Bloody hell, this is a worrying development. Does this mean that Lewis might not get his BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award now? :(

I always thought that Mike and the mechanics were a dodgy bunch of geezers...
 
Touring Mars
Bloody hell, this is a worrying development. Does this mean that Lewis might not get his BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award now? :(

I always thought that Mike and the mechanics were a dodgy bunch of geezers...
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I quite liked Mike and the Mechanics...well their first album anyway:)
I doubt this goes too far up the chain of command at McLaren but I guess it's an embarrassment all the same. Will Ferrari pursue this further and will McLaren have to prove their innocence? Interesting F1 programme this Saturday...
 
Their latest statement...

"Following our statement of 3rd July 2007, 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."
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