Formula One news

Ferrari boss not worried by Stepney

Ferrari team boss Jean Todt answered the latest developments in the espionage saga that has seen his team file legal complaints against Nigel Stepney.

"Unfortunately, at the moment I am not allowed to make any kind of comment," Todt said after the British Grand Prix. "But it's just a question of time before we have more detail. I wish I could answer and give more detail now, but as it's a court case, I'm simply not allowed to."

Todt did explain how the legal procedures have come about. "The first procedure was that our lawyers together with some independent experts visited the house of one of the top management people from a competitor's team. They decided after that, that they had some facts which allowed them to move forward. And to move forward is to go to the High Court on Tuesday." 

He also confirmed that there is a legal procedure taking place in Italy, believed to be against former employee Nigel Stepney. Todt also confirmed that "we will have to answer to some questions from the FIA in the coming days."

It was pointed out that Stepney had said in the British newspapers on race day morning that he knows where 'the bodies are buried,' referring to processes put in place within Ferrari in the last 10 years that should remain a secret. Was Todt concerned that he could talk about secrets inside Ferrari? Todt replied, "It makes me smile, and it is good sometimes. But after 10 years, or the last 14 years, it is true it is like being in the family. There are so many things that do happen. But we have had over 14 years with the team some good times and some tough times, but nothing that cannot come out. So you know very well in this business that if something has to come out it does not wait 10 years. We have about 900 people employed in the company, so the answer is quite easy."

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