McLaren deny bosses knew of Ferrari documents

Coughlan, McLaren's chief designer who has been suspended, is the subject of a legal investigation initiated by the Maranello team who suspect him and Nigel Stepney - a former Ferrari employee - of sabotage and espionage.

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McLaren have been summoned by the FIA, Formula One's governing body, to an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council to explain how Coughlan came to be in possession of a 780-page document relating to Ferrari's 2007 car, but more worryingly for them reports have emerged that suggest other high-ranking officials knew about the existence of the document.

But McLaren, for whom Briton Lewis Hamilton is currently leading the world championship, have reacted swiftly and decisively to deny such reports.

A statement said: "McLaren is concerned that erroneous speculation has arisen from inaccurate and misleading reference to the contents of confidential legal papers filed at court in response to Ferrari's UK action to recover its intellectual property.

"This is unfortunate and is prejudicial to a fair interpretation of these matters.

"McLaren can confirm from its own investigation that no Ferrari materials or data are or have ever been in the possession of any McLaren employee other than the individual sued by Ferrari.

"The fact that he held at his home unsolicited materials from Ferrari was not known to any other member of the team prior to the 3rd July 2007."

The statement went on to refute suggestions that any of the information contained in the disputed document was used to help develop the current McLaren car.

"McLaren looks forward to having the opportunity to present the complete and accurate picture of events in the appropriate forum, that is before the FIA World Motor Sport Council, in Paris on 26th July 2007.

"Furthermore, McLaren has categorically established that no Ferrari information has at any stage been used to develop its car."

Stepney, 47, was dismissed by Ferrari on July 3 for his part in the row, but has now turned the legal spotlight on his former employers after he was forced to flee Italy earlier this month.

Lawyers are investigating whether Ferrari had any involvement in the high-speed car chases that dogged Stepney after the Italian marque lodged a formal complaint against the Briton with the Modena district attorney last month.

Stepney's lawyer Sonia Bartolini told La Repubblica newspaper: "At the right time we'll draw our conclusions. At the moment we're trying to trace the car plates to the subjects that followed Stepney, and then we'll file a complaint.

"Obviously, if it is confirmed that Ferrari are behind this, it would be very serious. It's one thing to keep an employee under control at the workplace, but it's quite another to spy on him at his home and to follow him at night.

"If that was the case, the Maranello people will be called to answer for it in court."