Yes I will be Moe. Which one do you guys wanna be? BTW ... still waiting for you to update your profile and while your at it, 285ferrari runs a 355 regestry in the 355 section of F-chat. Get yours on there. I love looking at all the 355 pics.
So basically the FIA will use this fiasco to make the sport more thrilling and competitive. F1 is so like Nascar.
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk !!! Soitinly !!! Yeah Sen, let's see a pic of your 355, I'm sure you are quite proud of your achievement.
Thanks Pete for the clarification - I don't know how many times it's been posted by myself, you, Kyle and others that facts are needed before a decision is to be made. Everyone knows or should know that you never believe everything written by the journalists/press. It's amazing to read some of the posts, I really feel sorry for a couple of the posters on here who have become obsessed with all the personal digs towards others (they know who they are, no need to mention names) - it's really silly to give control of your life to FerrariChat and this thread. There's so much more to life . . . I too agree this thread should be closed - it's become nothing but same-old same-old over and over again. Carol
Why close it? I love reading Senna3xWC's posts, they are basically full of nothing but personal attacks and insults to other members here, especially when he can not have things his way. Sure am glad that not all Senna fans are like him, otherwise, Senna would be rolling in his grave. His handle is a disgrace to the late Aryton Senna's good name.
Was Stepney paid for Ferrari secrets? Posted 17 July 2007 at 17:45 GMT The criminal case against alleged Formula One conspirator Nigel Stepney has continued to exacerbate. Reports now suggest that Italian prosecutors, investigating Michael Schumacher's sacked former mechanic for espionage and sabotage, believe that Stepney may have received payments from McLaren for the nearly 800-pages of secret Ferrari material. Britain's Daily Mail reported on Monday that Italian police "were trawling through (Stepney's) bank accounts" in Italy and the UK. Previously, it was understood that Stepney had sent the reams of sensitive information to McLaren's Mike Coughlan because they were attempting to bolster their knowledge before defecting to Honda. Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport has published more detail about the supposed contents of the package sent by Stepney. As well as car and component blueprints was grand prix data, telemetry as recent as from races this year, and information about the F2007's tyre behaviour, engine management, and much more. End of Article... The plot thickens.
McLaren: Only Coughlan knew of Ferrari documents Tuesday 17th July 2007 Fantasy F1 - Win a trip to Monaco! It's not too late, point scoring starts at the Bahrain GP. Click here. McLaren have hit out at "erroneous speculation" about the ongoing Formula One 'spy' scandal, insisting that nobody except Mike Coughlan had ever been in possession of official Ferrari documents. Coughlan, McLaren's chief designer who has been suspended, is the subject of a legal investigation initiated by the Maranello team who suspect him and Nigel Stepney - a former Ferrari employee - of sabotage and espionage. McLaren have been summoned by the FIA, Formula One's governing body, to an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council to explain how Coughlan came to be in possession of a 780-page document relating to Ferrari's 2007 car, but more worryingly for them reports have emerged that suggest other high-ranking officials knew about the existence of the document. But McLaren, for whom Briton Lewis Hamilton is currently leading the world championship, have reacted swiftly and decisively to deny such reports. A statement said: "McLaren is concerned that erroneous speculation has arisen from inaccurate and misleading reference to the contents of confidential legal papers filed at court in response to Ferrari's UK action to recover its intellectual property. "This is unfortunate and is prejudicial to a fair interpretation of these matters. "McLaren can confirm from its own investigation that no Ferrari materials or data are or have ever been in the possession of any McLaren employee other than the individual sued by Ferrari. "The fact that he held at his home unsolicited materials from Ferrari was not known to any other member of the team prior to the 3rd July 2007." The statement went on to refute suggestions that any of the information contained in the disputed document was used to help develop the current McLaren car. "McLaren looks forward to having the opportunity to present the complete and accurate picture of events in the appropriate forum, that is before the FIA World Motor Sport Council, in Paris on 26th July 2007. "Furthermore, McLaren has categorically established that no Ferrari information has at any stage been used to develop its car." Stepney, 47, was dismissed by Ferrari on July 3 for his part in the row, but has now turned the legal spotlight on his former employers after he was forced to flee Italy earlier this month. Lawyers are investigating whether Ferrari had any involvement in the high-speed car chases that dogged Stepney after the Italian marque lodged a formal complaint against the Briton with the Modena district attorney last month. Stepney's lawyer Sonia Bartolini told La Repubblica newspaper: "At the right time we'll draw our conclusions. At the moment we're trying to trace the car plates to the subjects that followed Stepney, and then we'll file a complaint. "Obviously, if it is confirmed that Ferrari are behind this, it would be very serious. It's one thing to keep an employee under control at the workplace, but it's quite another to spy on him at his home and to follow him at night. "If that was the case, the Maranello people will be called to answer for it in court." End of article.... McL denies knowing of docs before July 3 Stepney continuew to threaten SF
the trouble is Anthony that poor old Senna3xwc has turned up to a battle of the wits only half prepared
WOW!!! That is some site!!! Phil, how did you happen to find it? I'll have to read it, as it is as complete as anything I have ever seen on F1, particularly on this McLaren-Gate Business. Thanks. Ciao...Paolo
I think if they can prove McLaren paid any money for this (how they would ever work that out I do not know) then they are 100% guilty. I personally now think that this is nothing more than 2 guys about to leave their employers and (as we all do) they intended to take a little information along with them. Thus the real goal here was to make THEM (Coughlan and Stepney) look very good at Honda, nothing to do with McLaren. So no team is at fault, just a couple of employees trying to grab as much knowledge as possible. Heck I've still got code I wrote years ago that I have kept incase I get stuck and might need it to solve a problem. Pete
umm, most companies make you sign a form preventing this, forgotten the name of it but basically anything you write for the company while under their employ stays with them .... uhoh, Pete's heading for the bighouse quick, add the RD disclaimer
Yes that is true, but that does not prevent me from using concepts and ideas I came up with under their employeement ... so absolutely I would never use their code, just for my own personal "how the heck did I do that last time" check. Probably do this at home ... I'm sure you have done it too Pete
Indiscretions leaking from England now say that two additional high level McLaren employees, close to Ron Dennis, are implicated in the Couglan Affidavit: Paddy Lowe and Martin Whitmarsh. Please note that the newspaper states that these are whispers and by no means are established facts.
Wednesday 18th July 2007 Fantasy F1 - Win a trip to Monaco! It's not too late, point scoring starts at the Bahrain GP. Click here. Nigel Stepney, the accused former Ferrari mechanic at the heart of the spy scandal that is engulfing the 2007 season, has requested a meeting with Jean Todt in a bid to clear his name. According to The Guardian, Stepney is hoping to meet the Scuderia's executive director next week. 'Stepney's lawyer, Sonia Bartolini, said last night her client was keen "to give the names of those he suspects were involved in an alleged plot against him". "Ferrari has signalled its readiness for an encounter," said Bartolini. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Stepney said: "I'm ready to speak to [Ferrari principal] Jean Todt and to president [Luca di] Montezemolo," Stepney was reported as saying by his lawyers on . "I want to clear my position with Ferrari; I want to let everyone understand it's nothing to do with me. "And I want to reveal some names of people inside Ferrari who had more interest than myself in doing what I'm unfairly accused of. "I have nothing against the team and I could never have done such things. I repeat: it's a conspiracy." Bartolini added: "Nigel reiterated many times to me that he is totally innocent and that Ferrari must realise he's the victim of a conspiracy. "If Coughlan really admitted he received certain things from him, then he will have to answer for it: because it's true they met, it's true they perhaps talked about a new work group, but our client never handed over files or documents. "That's why he wants to meet Ferrari's lawyers or even go to Maranello: he intends to collaborate, he's confident to demonstrate he's innocent. He will also name other people inside Ferrari, because there are other people unhappy about their situation there. "As for the letter with the sacking notice from Ferrari, it hasn't yet arrived. He still feels attached to the team." Gazzetta dello Sport also quotes Ferrari's legal department as saying that they could consider talking to Stepney if it helps the case. "Ferrari are ready to take in consideration every element that can shed light on the issue," they said. The Englishman has been accused by the team of sabotaging their cars ahead of May's Monaco GP. Earlier this year, he admitted that he was willing to leave Ferrari after being overlooked for promotion. He has strenuously pleaded his innocence and denied having anything to do with the stolen package of technical information which was allegedly passed on to McLaren designer Mike Coughlan.
Zoom Stepney ready to name names.... The ex-Ferrari employee at the centre of the Formula One espionage saga says he is ready to name names in a bid to prove his innocence. Nigel Stepney has been the subject of an investigation by Italian police after being accused of supplying McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan with secret technical information on the Italian team. Speaking on Stepney's behalf, Italian lawyer Sonia Bartolini said her client was prepared to name those who he believes are really behind the scandal in attempt to clear his name. "Stepney has stressed he is innocent and is ready to give the names of the people he suspects," Bartolini told Italian media on Tuesday. "He has reiterated that he has nothing to do with the business to which his name has been associated, and he wants those who are guilty identified. " Coughlan is facing legal action brought by Ferrari at London's High Court, while McLaren have been summoned to an extraordinary meeting of the FIA's world motor sport council in Paris on July 26. The council will hear McLaren answer a charge that they breached article 151c of the international sporting code. The rule relates to 'any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motor sport generally'. If they are found guilty of industrial espionage, the British team could face a points deduction in this year's Formula One world championship, or even expulsion. Source AFP this article is saying that industrial espionage is linked to points deduction. I would not take much stock in what Stepney says. Must be under oath and there must be some proof not just his word for it.
Stepney ready to prove his innocence By Michele Lostia and Pablo Elizalde Wednesday, July 18th 2007, 10:34 GMT Nigel Stepney is ready to talk to Ferrari bosses to prove he has done nothing wrong, and says all the espionage and sabotage claims are part of a conspiracy against him. Ferrari are taking legal action against their former engineer Stepney, whom they suspect of leaking the 780 pages of technical information allegedly found in McLaren's chief designer Mike Coughlan's home. The Italian police are also investigating sabotage claims following the discovery of a white powder on Ferrari's cars prior to the Monaco Grand Prix. Stepney was dismissed from Ferrari at the start of this month. Stepney has insisted, however, that he had nothing to do with any of the accusations. "I'm ready to speak to [Ferrari principal] Jean Todt and to president [Luca di] Montezemolo," Stepney was reported as saying by his lawyers on Gazzetta dello Sport. "I want to clear my position with Ferrari; I want to let everyone understand it's nothing to do with me. "And I want to reveal some names of people inside Ferrari who had more interest than myself in doing what I'm unfairly accused of. "I have nothing against the team and I could never have done such things. I repeat: it's a conspiracy." Stepney's lawyer Sonia Bartolini added: "Nigel reiterated many times to me that he is totally innocent and that Ferrari must realise he's the victim of a conspiracy. "If Coughlan really admitted he received certain things from him, then he will have to answer for it: because it's true they met, it's true they perhaps talked about a new work group, but our client never handed over files or documents. "That's why he wants to meet Ferrari's lawyers or even go to Maranello: he intends to collaborate, he's confident to demonstrate he's innocent. He will also name other people inside Ferrari, because there are other people unhappy about their situation there. "As for the letter with the sacking notice from Ferrari, it hasn't yet arrived. He still feels attached to the team." Gazzetta dello Sport also quotes Ferrari's legal department as saying that they could consider talking to Stepney if it helps the case. "Ferrari are ready to take in consideration every element that can shed light on the issue," they said. Corriere della Sera also published today segments of what the newspaper says is the Modena police report on the Stepney investigation. According to the newspaper, a policeman first interrogated Stepney on May 18th, confiscating the trousers he was wearing at the time after finding that now infamous white powder in Stepney's pockets. "I really can't say how that sand has ended up in my pockets," the newspaper quoted Stepney as telling the police. "Anyone could have put it there. Last night I left the trousers unattended in the changing room while I was taking a shower." The newspaper further reports that the initial suspicions arose after a mechanic found what looks like a finely grained, sandy powder near the Ferrari F2007 cars on May 17. Stepney was linked as a suspect because, according to Modena district attorney Giuseppe Tibis, the Briton was seen twice that day "in immediate proximity to the refuelling machine and the computers" of the two cars. Furthermore, the police report states that an eyewitness claims to have seen Stepney supposedly emptying the left pocket of his trousers in the location where shortly after the powder was found. Commenting on the police report, Stepney was quoted by Corriere della Sera as saying: "It's true, I emptied the pockets, as can be confirmed by a friend that was with me at the time. But I don't know how that powder ended in there."
That depends. As soon as the concept of the idea has been discussed within the company, with another company employee, it can be consider company property. If the concept or idea ever hits the papers, then it is for sure company property. Some company even still retain the rights even if the concept/idea/design has been rejected, for a limited amount of time that is. Moral of the story, if you think you have a great idea, work on it at home before presenting it to anyone at work
If, (and this is a word that I have used in almost all posts regarding this topic, accusatory or otherwise) McLaren is guiltless, I wonder why Ron Dennis' and all other "official statements" from Mclaren, have only carefully referred to the Ferrari information, not being, "in possession of other McLaren personnel," used to develop the current cars, or "no element of the Ferrari plans are present on the McLaren cars." I also wonder why, if McLaren is guiltless, why Ron Dennis hasn't issued a sworn statement, just to prove the resolve and commitment to his word and his belief, that there are no other personnel at McLaren with any knowledge of this information prior to July 3.
i have plenty of popcorn ready, if not for good competition the remainder of the season, it's for the mess to unravel...and it's getting uglier by the day.
