McLaren Suspend Employee Over Sabotage

By Sam Cooper
July 3 2007

Espionage, Sabotage, events that you would expect to see in a James Bond movie, and now in 2007, these events can be seen in Formula one. Now McLaren have suspended an employee as the authorities suspect the employee of being involved in receiving an illegal package from a Ferrari employee in late April, regarding technical information about the Ferrari team.

The employee, who has not been named, will be suspended until further notice. One thing that interests me, is the McLaren employee’s suspension linked with Ferrari Nigel Stepney’s firing? And could this investigation spread further?

McLaren issued this statement over the matter.

"McLaren became aware on the 3rd July 2007 that a senior member of its technical organisation was the subject of a Ferrari investigation regarding the receipt of technical information. The team has learnt that this individual had personally received a package of technical information from a Ferrari employee at the end of April."

"Whilst McLaren has no involvement in the matter and condemns such actions it will fully co-operate with any investigation. The individual has in the meanwhile been suspended by the company pending a full and proper investigation of the matter. "

"No further comment will be made."

We will update you on any new updates on this matter.