F1: Ferrari slams FIA decision.

[Rory Phoulorie]

Friday, 27th July 2007

WMSC decision �legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula 1 and sets a very serious precedent', says Ferrari.

Ferrari has reacted angrily following the news that McLaren will not be punished by the FIA - Formula 1's governing body, even though the Woking-based team were found to be in possession of confidential documents belonging to the Scuderia.

A statement from Ferrari emphasised that how the World Motor Sport Council could conclude that they broke article 151c of the sporting regulations and then not apply any penalty was �incomprehensible'.

The Maranello-based outfit also added that the decision �legitimises dishonest behaviour in Formula 1 and sets a very serious precedent'.

Ferrari now plans to continue with its legal actions already underway in Italy and the UK.

The full statement from the Scuderia read:

�The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team has been found to be in breach of article 151c of the F1 Sporting Regulations and to have therefore behaved in �a fraudulent manner and therefore in a manner prejudicial to the interests of competition or motor sport in general'.

�The World Council has nevertheless decided that, in the absence of any definite proof that information that is the property of Ferrari has been effectively used on the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car competing in the current championship, it can impose no sanction without further evidence.

�Ferrari notes that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been found guilty by the FIA World Council. It therefore finds 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 1 and sets a very serious precedent.

�In fact, the decision of the World Council signifies that possession, knowledge at the very highest level and use of highly confidential information acquired in an illicit manner and the acquiring of confidential information over the course of several months, represent violations that do not carry any punishment.

�The fact that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of such information was discovered totally by accident and, but for this, the team would continue to have it. This is all the more serious as it has occurred in a sport like Formula 1 in which small details make all the difference.

�Ferrari feels this is highly prejudicial to the credibility of the sport.

"It will continue with the legal action already under way within the Italian criminal justice system and in the civil court in England.�

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