F1 Ferrari Sabotage?

[cavallino333]

http://www.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/10233932

MARANELLO, Italy -- Ferrari filed a criminal complaint accusing a British team member of attempted sabotage before the Monaco Grand Prix.
Advertisement


Nigel Stepney, a technician who is responsible for team performance, was cited in the deposition in a Modena court, Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni said Friday.

A mysterious powder was found on the gas tanks of Felipe Massa's and Kimi Raikkonen's cars on May 21, six days before the Monaco race, the Gazzetta dello Sport and the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The parts were replaced before the race and the powder was sent to the police to be examined.

Massa finished third in the race and Raikkonen was eighth.

ANSA reported Stepney was disappointed that he was not promoted to technical director when Ross Brawn left the team after last season. Stepney criticized Ferrari in an interview with a British newspaper and the team responded by not sending him to races anymore.

Ferrari said it has also started an internal investigation against Stepney, but that he is still employed by the team. It would not provide information on his whereabouts.

Ferrari is struggling to keep up with McLaren-Mercedes this season.

McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are 1-2 in the driver's standings, while Massa and Raikkonen are third and fourth. In the team standings, McLaren holds a 35-point lead on Ferrari after seven of 17 races.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2006-2007, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

Quite a bizzare story. I hope it turns out to be a mistake but the people on the Ferrari forum are about ready to crucify Stepney already.

[Yossarian]

excuses, excuses

[SD_GR]

Gazzetta dello Sport would be considered yellow press except it's published on pink paper. It's still hardly The Financial Times. Besides, MC was 2 GPs ago and Ferrari have not been on pace in the meantime.

[RayfieldsWRX]

Definitely seems hard to believe.

[cavallino333]

It's still hardly The Financial Times. Besides, MC was 2 GPs ago and Ferrari have not been on pace in the meantime.

I don't their trying to make an excuse for their current performance but just that something may have been done to effect Monaco or least an attempt was made. Monaco was pretty bad, and Ferrari hasn't really been THAT far off of Mclaren in the races before or after.


It definitely seems pretty weird. No stranger than when Toyota was busted for industrial espionage when stealing some Ferrari file in 04.

[Cheers]

I don't their trying to make an excuse for their current performance but just that something may have been done to effect Monaco or least an attempt was made. Monaco was pretty bad, and Ferrari hasn't really been THAT far off of Mclaren in the races before or after.


It definitely seems pretty weird. No stranger than when Toyota was busted for industrial espionage when stealing some Ferrari file in 04.

The sabotage thing is weird. Apparently they found it before the GP though and replaced all parts.

I heard the wind tunnel at Maranello had a problem with the rolling road at full speed....which cause all kinds of other damage. It has not worked since just before Spain. So they have not been able to fully test their aero package. Kimi mentioned that they will have a new aero package for France so the speculation is it is at least partially back online. I would think this is probably a legit reason for the lagging performance in the last few races.

[cavallino333]

I heard the wind tunnel at Maranello had a problem with the rolling road at full speed....which cause all kinds of other damage. It has not worked since just before Spain. So they have not been able to fully test their aero package. Kimi mentioned that they will have a new aero package for France so the speculation is it is at least partially back online. I would think this is probably a legit reason for the lagging performance in the last few races.

Hmm interesting I hadn't heard that.

[Cheers]

Hmm interesting I hadn't heard that.

one article

Hopefully we will see an improvement.