New Evidence Emerges In F1 Spying Row

The spying row that has blighted the F1 season has taken another twist after new
evidence emerged prompting the scheduling of a meeting of the World Motor Sport
Council of the FIA for 13th September.

McLaren were found guilty of fraudulent conduct for possessing confidential
Ferrari documents in the initial hearing on 26th July but were not penalised.

Prompted by Ferrari complaints at the lack of action, a Court of Appeal
hearing had originally been set for 13th September but this now been postponed
until the FIA can review the new evidence.

The original verdict had seen McLaren found guilty of possessing confidential
Ferrari documents, but it was decided the information had not been used to
improve their car.

A statement by the FIA read: ‘Following the receipt of new evidence the WMSC
has been reconvened for a hearing in Paris on 13 September.

‘In accordance with its decision of 26th July, representatives of McLaren
have been invited to attend the hearing. The FIA president Max Mosley’s referral
of the matter to the International Court of Appeal has been withdrawn.’

The latest twist has prompted an angry response from McLaren driver Lewis
Hamilton who stated: ‘Ferrari are being portrayed as the most innocent team. I
do not think that is the case. I do not like what Ferrari are putting our team
through. I know my team, and we are being been unfairly treated.’

The row blew up when McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan was found to have
nearly 800 pages of Ferrari documents in his house. Coughlan has since been
suspended by McLaren. Ferrari believe Coughlan received the documents from their
now-sacked performance director Nigel Stepney, who says he is innocent.