For those just joining us : Nigel Stepney , a former Ferrari formula one team employee has been accused of handing over technical information to the rival McLaren formula one team’s employee Mike Coughlan. The FIA will be launching an enquiry to ascertain if McLaren formula one had taken advantage of the illegal information possessed by their senior employee.  

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has gone on record and has said that McLaren’s points could be deducted if it was found that they had indeed benefited from espionage on Ferrari formula one team. But he was also clear that British rookie Lewis Hamilton would not be docked points in any case. He made it clear that it would be a team violation and would affect only the constructor’s championship.

“The investigators have got to prove that if any information was given by Ferrari, it was used,” Bernie Ecclestone said.

“And if it was used, did it affect in any way the performance of the car, and if so where?

“In that case, they could take away constructors’ points from the team. But there is no way it would affect the driver.”

Lewis Hamilton currently leads the formula one driver’s championship from teammate Fernando Alonso.

Our take : I dont quite understand the rationale behind this, if the driver won, its because the car was good, and if the manufacturer cheated , it means the Driver was a benefactor. In most countries the benefactor is an automatic defendant in legal issues. I guess Bernie didnt want to anger the millions of British F1 supporters who have found a new hero in Lewis Hamilton.