Ferrari Mailing List: "Stepney-gate"

[LtWacko (LtWacko]

The _Ferrari_ (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39016/#)  team 
has reacted angrily to Thursdayâs decision by  the FIAâs World Motorsport 
Council that McLaren-Mercedes deserved no punishment  for being in possession 
of 
unauthorized Ferrari data. In a statement, the team  termed the decision as â
incomprehensibleâ and indicated it would pursue legal  action in the matter. 

The FIA said after the Paris hearing that there  was insufficient evidence to 
prove McLaren had benefited from leaked Ferrari  data found at the home of 
its chief designer Mike Coughlan. The governing body  acknowledged, however, 
that McLaren was guilty of having breached article 151c  of the International 
Sporting Code _(click  here for story)_ 
(http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39009/) .

âFerrari notes that Vodafone McLaren _Mercedes_ 
(http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39016/#)  has been found 
guilty by the FIA World Council,â 
 Ferrariâs statement read. âIt therefore finds it incomprehensible that 
violating  the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not have, as a 
logical and  inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction. Todayâs 
decision  legitimizes dishonest behavior in Formula 1 and sets a very serious  
precedent.

âIn fact, the decision of the World Council signifies that  possession, 
knowledge at the very highest level and use of highly confidential  information 
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.

âThe fact that 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.

âFerrari feels this is highly prejudicial to the credibility  of the sport. 
It will continue with the legal action already under way within  the Italian 
criminal justice system and in the civil court in  England.â

In a McLaren statement, team principal Ron Dennis said, âMoving  forward, 
McLaren wants to reaffirm our long-standing commitment to honesty and  
integrity 
and restate that we believe we have acted correctly throughout. Now,  we have 
Formula 1 World Championships to win. As a result we intend to move on,  so as 
to maintain the focus and commitment required to do exactly that.â 



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