Ferrari respond to McLaren's accusations

McLaren CEO Ron Dennis wrote a letter a couple of days ago to the Italian motorsport authority president Luigi Macaluso, where he lays out his team's version of the spying controversy.

Among other things, Dennis claims McLaren were tipped off by ex-Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney to the fact that the Italian team were running an illegal floor mechanism.

"As far as we are aware, Ferrari ran their cars with this illegal device at the Australian Grand Prix, which they won," Dennis wrote.

"In the interests of the sport, McLaren chose not to protest the result of the Australian Grand Prix even though it seems clear that Ferrari had an illegal competitive advantage."

Responding to these accusations, Ferrari emphasised in a statement today the fact that both their cars passed technical check-ups by the FIA before, during and after the Australian Grand Prix.

The statement reads: "With regard to the points made by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes concerning the 2007 Australian Grand Prix in a letter to the President of the ACI-CSAI, Gino Macaluso on 1 August last, Ferrari wishes to state very strongly that its letter contains accusations that are both serious and false.

"Contrary to the statement put forward by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Ferrari never illegally gained any advantage.

"The two F2007 cars used in the Australian Grand Prix were deemed by the Stewards to be in conformity with the technical regulations, before, during and at the end of the event. If there had been any illegalities, they would have been disqualified.

"In fact, what the FIA did next is commonplace. The FIA took the opportunity to issue a clarification on the interpretation of the regulation and then asked the teams concerned to make the necessary modifications.

"There are actually numerous examples of this in both the recent and distant past which have also involved other teams.

"At the next sitting of the FIA International Court of Appeal, Ferrari will fully explain its position on the entire matter."