Ferrari fume as McLaren escape in spy row

FERRARI have launched a scathing attack on the World Motor Sport Council, claiming their failure to penalise McLaren “legitimises dishonest behaviour.”

The furious Maranello team feel the WMSC have set “a very serious precedent,” and find it “incomprehensible” McLaren have not been punished for ‘fraudulent conduct’.

Following an extraordinary meeting of the WMSC in Paris, McLaren were found guilty of being in possession of confidential documents belonging to Ferrari, yet due to “insufficient evidence” no sanction was imposed.

That has left Ferrari officials raging, and within two hours they issued a damning statement, condemning the WMSC and their bitter rivals.

It read: “Ferrari find it incomprehensible that violating the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not have, as a logical and inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction.

“Today’s decision legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula One and sets a very serious precedent.

“This is all the more serious as it has occurred in a sport like Formula One in which small details make all the difference. Ferrari feel this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport.

“We will continue with the legal action under way within the Italian criminal justice system, and in the civil court in England.”

Ferrari’s argument is McLaren did not simply have details relating to the design of the car, but also fundamental basics such as tyre pressures, fuel loads, budgets – all relevant to running a team.

The door is at least open for Ferrari to find evidence that would fully implicate McLaren and potentially see the Woking-based team thrown out of the championship, this year and next.

But that is hardly of consequence now to Ferrari, who will find many allies to claim the WMSC have whitewashed the affair.

It is clear McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan had 780 pages of Ferrari technical data in his possession.

However, it is up to the Maranello marque to prove it was used to McLaren’s benefit if this matter is to rumble on.

For now, McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are free to fight for the title, with the duo separated by just two points.

Despite the verdict, McLaren team principal Ron Dennis declared himself “not completely comfortable” with the decision.

Nevertheless, the 60-year-old must be happy McLaren’s honesty and integrity — characteristics he has long insisted are the backbone of his team – effectively remain intact.

Dennis entered the hearing by stating: “I’m here for the truth.”

Following a six-hour meeting, he exited it by stating: “The process has been long and detailed. Although I’m not completely comfortable with the outcome, the punishment fits the crime.”

That is effectively the first time

Dennis has openly admitted any wrongdoing, although it is Coughlan conclusively the guilty party.

The WMSC are to turn their attention to Coughlan and Nigel Stepney, the two men who have brought this matter firmly into the public spotlight.

Following a search of his home by High Court appointed officials, Coughlan was found to have a Ferrari technical dossier stored on computer disc. It is believed Coughlan received the information from Stepney, sacked earlier this month by Ferrari from his role as the team’s head of performance development.