Ferrari has dismissed Nigel Stepney, the engineer at the centre of an as yet undisclosed legal investigation currently underway.
Following an internal investigation and disciplinary procedure, the team confirmed that the Englishman – currently on holiday in the Philippines – is ‘no longer an employee’ of Ferrari
Details of the charge against Stepney are unknown, but rumours range from attempted sabotage of the Ferrari cars around the time of the Monaco Grand Prix, to concerns that he was about to leave to join Honda, taking a number of Ferrari employees with him.
Stepney – through his lawyer – has denied any wrong-doing, and expressed confidence that he will be cleared while claiming the affair is part of a ‘dirty tricks’ campaign on behalf of Ferrari
He is due to return to Italy later this week, and is expected to hold a press conference soon after.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Ferrari dismiss Stepney
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Honda looking forward to France
Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are both looking forward to this weekend’s French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, where the team are expecting to “make a small step forward in performance”.
"The Circuit de Nevers is quite a tricky circuit to get your lap absolutely right however it is a lot of fun to drive and very fast,” exclaimed Button.
“The start is particularly important, regardless of what side of the grid you are on, and you have to position yourself well for the first two corners to get a good run down the straight to the Adelaide hairpin. This is really the only place on the circuit where you can have a real chance of overtaking.”
The track’s technical challenge is one reason why many of the drivers enjoy competing at Magny-Cours, including Barrichello.
"I really enjoy racing at Magny-Cours and it is a really flowing circuits which the drivers generally enjoy,” he explained.
“The track has a mixture of high and slow speed turns, and although the track surface is smooth, it can be hard on the rear tyres. The high speed changes of direction between turns four and five, and also turns seven and eight, are particularly challenging.”