Ferrari say truth will out in spy hearing

The governing body announced on Wednesday that it had reconvened its World Motor Sport Council for a hearing in Paris on September 13 to consider the development.

The Italian squad responded to the announcement on Thursday, saying they will attend the new hearing.

"Ferrari notes the FIA's decision to call an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council to examine new evidence that has emerged with regards to the accusation that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has violated article 151c of the International Sporting Code," said Ferrari in a statement.

"Ferrari will be present at the Council meeting on the 13th September in Paris and wishes to reaffirm its own strong wish that all the elements in this case are brought to light. Ferrari is confident that the truth will out."

The Monza paddock has been full of intrigue about the nature of the new evidence that has led to the calling of the FIA hearing, with world champion Fernando Alonso not commenting on Thursday at suggestions that he has been involved in providing new evidence.

Paddock sources have suggested that the matter revolves around an email exchange between Alonso and McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa about setting up of this year's car.

Autosport.com understands that the FIA became aware of new evidence last week and wrote to all F1 teams, as well as Alonso, de la Rosa and Hamilton, on Friday to make it clear that it was their duty to provide the FIA with any information regarding that matter.

It is also believed that the letter to the drivers promised them an 'amnesty' from any punishment if they fully cooperated with the ongoing investigation.

How much involvement Alonso had in the matter is unclear, and the FIA has refused to confirm or deny the nature of the new evidence, or the letters.

"We can make no comment at all," said a spokesman.

Alonso himself also kept quiet when McLaren prevented him from answering questions about the matter during a pre-Italian Grand Prix media briefing at Monza on Thursday.

What is known is that the new evidence gathered by the FIA has not come from the two men at the centre of the controversy - Mike Coughlan and Nigel Stepney.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica quoted on Thursday from a letter that Stepney had sent to the FIA confirming he had met with Coughlan to discuss technical data.

Neither Coughlan nor Stepney are scheduled to appear at the FIA hearing on September 13.