Jean Todt : McLaren used our Designs to limit our Development
In what will come as a shocker to most fans, it seems McLaren was well aware of the information in possession of Mike and Trudy Coughlan. The Stepneygate scandal got another twist when Jean Todt claimed that during the hearing McLaren bosses accepted the fact that they had the secret Ferrari classified documents since March 2007 and the company knew about it.
They had used the information to stall Ferrari’s development by asking for clarifications about certain Ferrari formula one car’s features after studying the Ferrari blueprints. These clarifications were directly aimed at Ferrari after studying the classified documents. If this is true, it means that McLaren did try and take advantage of the blueprints in their possession.
He also said that McLaren had admitted that the documents were infact handed over by none other than Nigel Stepney. Stepney has so far pleaded innocence in the whole matter.
Jean Todt said :
“I am bitter about it, On the one hand a verdict of guilt was handed down and on the other, no sanctions were imposed. I cannot understand it.
“During Thursday’s meeting, the McLaren bosses, with no exceptions, admitted that their chief designer had obtained since back in March, prior to the Australian GP, documents from Nigel Stepney.
“Some of this data was used to prepare a clarification request submitted to the FIA, aimed clearly at us, given that throughout the Melbourne weekend, McLaren team principal and his closest colleagues made statements in which they threw doubt over “some cars.”
“Therefore, such information was in fact used to obtain an advantage over us: not through an improvement in their performance, but instead through limiting ours.
“It should be noted that usually, an informant or whistleblower goes to the competent authority to denounce something, whereas in this case he went to Ferrari’s main rival who, and it is not us who say this but the FIA, took great care not to mention that the information was obtained in this way.
“In Ferrari’s opinion, it is like playing a hand of poker with a rival who already knows what cards you are holding.”
“Since that time and even earlier, McLaren was perfectly aware, not only of the e-mails sent by their informer within our company, but also of the fact that their chief designer had stayed in contact with him and had received and continued to be in possession of a significant amount of technical information that belonged to us,” he explained.
“So, on the one hand, they had come to say “let us trust one another,” and on the other they were hiding serious facts such as those just stated above, but making no effort to inform us as would have been in the spirit and to the letter of our agreement.”
“The decision remains very disappointing and surprising.
“For our part, we will press on with the legal actions currently taking place in Italy and in England and we do not rule out taking further action.”
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 and is filed under F1, F1 Controversies, F1 News, Ferrari, formula 1, formula one, mclaren.You can follow any responses to this entry through the Comments Feed. You can Leave A Comment, or A Trackback.
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July 31st, 2007 23:25
It’s a carefully worded statement. Note that Todt says: “During Thursday’s meeting, the McLaren bosses, with no exceptions, admitted that their chief designer had obtained since back in March, prior to the Australian GP, documents from Nigel Stepney.”
The date is questionable but, apart from that, he is saying no more no more than we already knew – that Coughlan had the documents. But then Todt goes on to add a whole raft of accusations to make it sound as if McLaren admitted to them all. They did not, as Mosley’s letter to Macaluso makes clear. The WMSC ruled according to the facts presented to them and none of Todt’s charges were put before them. They could hardly deliver a verdict on them therefore.
Ferrari will get their day in court – let’s wait and see what comes out then.
August 1st, 2007 13:18
Hi Clive
Yeah its true, Ferrari will now be given a chance to put forward their own case and show if they have any evidence.
He further says that McLaren admitted receiving the documents from Nigel Stepney, does that mean that Coughlan actually admitted Nigel Stepney is the spy ?
August 1st, 2007 13:32
Good question. There may be some substance (not a white powder, I hope
) in McLaren having stated that the documents came from Stepney – I’ve seen a few reports that seem to imply this. But, if McLaren knew as little as they claim about what was going on, how would they know who sent or handed the documents to Coughlan?
I think that’s merely a case of both parties making an assumption because it hurts neither of them. Stepney is strenuously denying having sent the documents so, obviously, it’s not yet an open-and-shut case on that score. Once again, something that we’ll probably have to wait for the court cases before we find out the truth.
The whole thing is very damaging to the image of F1 but I must admit it’s fascinating too, trying to work out what really went on. Brings out the amateur detective in all of us.
August 5th, 2007 14:50
Mclaren admitted that Mike Coughlan had received documents from Stepeny, therefore if they were aware of such conduct, i think that they shold not be allowed to take part this season.Not doing so will hamper the reputation of the sport and will encourage such illegal activity.
There must be strict action taken against Mclaren as if any illegal activity conducted by any employee within the jurisdiction of the company, makes the company equally liable to the fraud, and this certainly falls within its jurisdiction.
This is time for the FIA to punish Mclaren severly so as to show that F1 is to be played in the true spirit of competition.
August 5th, 2007 17:15
McLaren and Ferrari say that Stepney gave the documents to Coughlan; Stepney says no, he didn’t, there was someone else at Ferrari who did that. Unless one of the parties produces proof of their assertion, the matter remains unknown until a court is able to extract sufficient proof from the case to decide one way or the other.
To decide upon any punishment for anyone at this stage would be to contravene the legal principle that innocence be assumed until guilt is proved. I think we would be well advised to wait until the various courts reach their verdict before jumping in with our own prescriptions based purely upon hearsay and opinion.