FIA warns teams against working with ex-Ferrari man.
The FIA has announced that it will take no formal action against Nigel Stepney for his role in the Formula 1 spying scandal, but has warned teams against working with the Briton until July next year.
Stepney played a key role in the saga that developed last season after he was found to have leaked confidential Ferrari information to McLaren designer Mike Coughlan - a move which ultimately led to McLaren being thrown out of the constructors' championship by the FIA and hit with a record-breaking $100 million fine.
Although he has since been dismissed by Ferrari and is subject to an ongoing police investigation in Italy, Stepney remained free to work in motorsport and was named as the new director of race technologies for the Gigawave company - which produces a number of wireless broadcast systems, including on-board cameras for various major motor racing series' and runs two cars in the FIA GT Championship - back in January.
However, his continued involvement in motorsport was subject to discussions with the FIA's legal department and with a meeting having taken place, the governing body said it wasn't in a position to ban Stepney from motorsport and couldn't recommended that teams tread carefully if they planned to work with the Briton.
"In its investigations of last year regarding the unauthorised use of intellectual property within Formula One, the FIA heard allegations that Mr Nigel Stepney, then employed by Ferrari, had passed confidential Ferrari information to an employee of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes," an FIA statement read. "Mr Stepney has admitted this allegation and apologised to the FIA, though he disputes the seriousness and extent of his involvement.
"As Mr Stepney is not a licence-holder of the FIA, no formal action may be taken against him under the International Sporting Code (though the FIA is co-operating with the Italian police, who are investigating Mr. Stepney's actions).
"As a matter of good order, the FIA recommends to its licensees that they do not professionally collaborate with Mr Stepney without conducting appropriate due diligence regarding his suitability for involvement in international motor sport. This recommendation stands until 1 July 2009."
