Ex-Met boss Lord Stevens to probe Formula 1 spy scandal

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The former Metropolitan Police Commissioner has been hired by Ferrari to investigate how secret team details were allegedly leaked to an employee of fierce Formula One rivals McLaren, for whom Hamilton leads the drivers' championship.

An extraordinary meeting of the FIA, motor sport's governing body, will be held in Paris tomorrow to examine the circumstances surrounding ' Ferrarigate' - but Lord Stevens has been hired to do his own probe into the scandal.

A spokesman for Quest, the forensic intelligence agency chaired by Lord Stevens, said: "I can confirm that Quest have been retained by Ferrari, as evidenced by mention of Quest in papers filed at the High Court.

"I am unable to confirm the nature of Quest's engagement at this stage."

Ferrari's appointment of Lord Stevens comes in the wake of his probe into transfer bungs in football, which ended in June after a 15-month investigation which cost the Premier League more than £1.4million.

He also carried out highprofile inquiries into the death of Princess Diana and the security services in Northern Ireland.

In Paris, representatives from McLaren Mercedes will face 30 intensive questions about how chief designer Mike Coughlan allegedly came to be in possession-of a 780-page technical dossier from Ferrari's mechanic Nigel Stepney.

It is thought Coughlan had the information in April this year but the FIA's questions relate to a five-month period between March and July this year.

They want to know whether McLaren obtained unauthorised information relatingto this season's Ferrari F1 car.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis believes "time will demonstrate the truth of this matterî, believing his team will be cleared of team espionage.

They are expected to argue that Coughlan acted alone.

Despite that, the sport's ruling body have confirmed that if McLaren are found guilty then Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are only two points apart in the drivers' championship, could be deducted points.

Lord Stevens will not play any role in tomorrow's FIA hearing.

Instead, Quest will help Ferrari assemble evidence in their High Court action against Coughlan.