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EspañolNIGEL STEPNEY
'Nigel Stepney' is an English born Formula One mechanic.
Stepney was a mechanic at Benetton Formula Formula One team in the late 1980s and early 90s and then moved to Scuderia Ferrari with Michael Schumacher, Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn. He was Chief Mechanic at Ferrari and afterwards became Race and Test Technical Manager.
At the 2000 Spanish Grand Prix, Stepney was injured during a pit stop for Michael Schumacher's car. This occurred when the German was given the signal to go by 'the lollipop man' when the refuelling hose was still attached to his car, knocking Stepney down. He suffered badly damaged ligaments to his ankle.
On 1 February 2007 it was reported on the Internet that Stepney was unhappy with Ferrari's technical restructuring and that he wanted to leave the team, seeking for a new challenge. However, Ferrari's spokesman, Luca Colajanni, reported on Pitpass' website that he had a contract until the end of the 2007 season and that he was therefore staying at Ferrari.[1]
On 23 February, it was reported that Stepney had been promoted to Head of the performance development, meaning that he would no longer have to attend races.[2]
Main articles: 2007 Formula One espionage controversy
On 21 June it was reported that Stepney was the subject of a criminal inquiry by the Modena district attorney, initiated after Ferrari reportedly made a formal complaint. No reason for the investigation was given, with the specifics of the complaint not being released to the public.[3] A Ferrari spokesman told Reuters "It is not related to any event; it is related to his behaviour."[4] It was later reported that this was due to the team finding a white residue powder in the fuel tanks of their cars post the Monaco Grand Prix, where they finished third and eighth.[5] He has also been accused of selling Ferrari parts to competing teams. He has since denied the accusations and has claimed to be the victim of a "dirty tricks campaign".[6]
On 3 July Stepney was dismissed by Scuderia Ferrari.[7] Later the same day Ferrari announced it was taking legal action against Stepney and a McLaren engineer named by Autosport.com as Mike Coughlan;[8] A Ferrari press release stated:
On his return from holiday in the Philippines on July 5, Stepney was interrogated by the Italian police as part of the industrial espionage case.[9] On 6 July Honda F1 released a statement confirming that Stepney and Coughlan approached the team regarding "job opportunities" in June 2007.[10] Since the revelation of Coughlan's involvement in the affair McLaren provided a full set of drawings and development documents to the FIA, detailing all updates made to the team's chassis since the incident occurred at the end of April.
1. Stepney remains under contract to Ferrari
2. Stepney moves in Ferrari reshuffle, ''autosport.com'', Haymarket, 2007-02-23. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
3. Noble, Jonathan Noble; Goren, Biranit. Ferrari's Stepney faces criminal enquiry ''autosport.com'', Haymarket, 2007-06-21. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
4. Ferrari takes Nigel Stepney to court
5. F1 Ferraris 'sabotaged by Brit'
6. Stepney responds
7. Stepney dismissed by Ferrari
8. McLaren suspect is Mike Coughlan Jonathan Noble
9. Stepney 'Astonished' During Formula One Three-Hour Espionage Interrogation
10. Honda was approached by spy suspects
Stepney was a mechanic at Benetton Formula Formula One team in the late 1980s and early 90s and then moved to Scuderia Ferrari with Michael Schumacher, Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn. He was Chief Mechanic at Ferrari and afterwards became Race and Test Technical Manager.
At the 2000 Spanish Grand Prix, Stepney was injured during a pit stop for Michael Schumacher's car. This occurred when the German was given the signal to go by 'the lollipop man' when the refuelling hose was still attached to his car, knocking Stepney down. He suffered badly damaged ligaments to his ankle.
On 1 February 2007 it was reported on the Internet that Stepney was unhappy with Ferrari's technical restructuring and that he wanted to leave the team, seeking for a new challenge. However, Ferrari's spokesman, Luca Colajanni, reported on Pitpass' website that he had a contract until the end of the 2007 season and that he was therefore staying at Ferrari.[1]
On 23 February, it was reported that Stepney had been promoted to Head of the performance development, meaning that he would no longer have to attend races.[2]
| Contents |
| Espionage allegations |
| Notes |
Espionage allegations
Main articles: 2007 Formula One espionage controversy
On 21 June it was reported that Stepney was the subject of a criminal inquiry by the Modena district attorney, initiated after Ferrari reportedly made a formal complaint. No reason for the investigation was given, with the specifics of the complaint not being released to the public.[3] A Ferrari spokesman told Reuters "It is not related to any event; it is related to his behaviour."[4] It was later reported that this was due to the team finding a white residue powder in the fuel tanks of their cars post the Monaco Grand Prix, where they finished third and eighth.[5] He has also been accused of selling Ferrari parts to competing teams. He has since denied the accusations and has claimed to be the victim of a "dirty tricks campaign".[6]
On 3 July Stepney was dismissed by Scuderia Ferrari.[7] Later the same day Ferrari announced it was taking legal action against Stepney and a McLaren engineer named by Autosport.com as Mike Coughlan;[8] A Ferrari press release stated:
On his return from holiday in the Philippines on July 5, Stepney was interrogated by the Italian police as part of the industrial espionage case.[9] On 6 July Honda F1 released a statement confirming that Stepney and Coughlan approached the team regarding "job opportunities" in June 2007.[10] Since the revelation of Coughlan's involvement in the affair McLaren provided a full set of drawings and development documents to the FIA, detailing all updates made to the team's chassis since the incident occurred at the end of April.
Notes
1. Stepney remains under contract to Ferrari
2. Stepney moves in Ferrari reshuffle, ''autosport.com'', Haymarket, 2007-02-23. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
3. Noble, Jonathan Noble; Goren, Biranit. Ferrari's Stepney faces criminal enquiry ''autosport.com'', Haymarket, 2007-06-21. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
4. Ferrari takes Nigel Stepney to court
5. F1 Ferraris 'sabotaged by Brit'
6. Stepney responds
7. Stepney dismissed by Ferrari
8. McLaren suspect is Mike Coughlan Jonathan Noble
9. Stepney 'Astonished' During Formula One Three-Hour Espionage Interrogation
10. Honda was approached by spy suspects
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