Q & A with Jean Todt on the spy affair

Jean Todt: The situation unfortunately is quite clear. To the first part of the question, yes I have been reading the magazines that have been writing about that. But unfortunately at the moment I am not allowed to make any kind of comment. But as I have said before, it is just a question of time to have more details.

I wish I could answer and be more detailed, already now, but as it is a court case I am simply not allowed. If you analyse all the different official statements that have been done, there are some people involved in it and you can clearly make your own judgement from what has been officially stated and what was in some interview.

But at the High Court there will be a public hearing next Tuesday.

Q. I understand that you cannot comment on the court proceedings, but Nigel Stepney has categorically denied handing any information over. Are you satisfied that there is nobody else involved in this?

JT: I think we have to, how can I say, stop talking about that for the time being. I am simply not allowed to speak about it because it is a court case. So don't ask me if it is only one, two or three (people). The things will come over the next days, over the next weeks, and then when everything is settled then probably it will be easier for us to comment and to answer to details.

But at the moment unfortunately I am not in the position to talk. There is a court case happening - one in Italy and one in the UK.

Q. How difficult has it been to keep the team, the drivers and the mechanics concentrated on just this race considering everything that has been going on?

JT: Quite easy. Fortunately I have said very often, inside the team there is a very good spirit. People are focused. They want to see how to improve the situation, how to move forward in the championship. And we try to leave them away from it.

I am not happy about the situation. I feel it is unnecessary to arrive at this type of situation, but unfortunately that is a situation we have to face. Considering the team, it is not something where they are involved, they are aware of it, and the only thing they try to do is be competitive.

Q. I know you cannot talk about Ron Dennis and Mike Coughlan personally, but Ron Dennis has said he is convinced his team are innocent of all the problems and it is only an isolated case. Do you believe Ron and if the team are found guilty that they should be penalised for being involved in this scandal?

JT: I understand that some of you have spoken with the president of the FIA over the weekend, and I think he is in a better situation to answer than me. So we will have to answer some questions from the FIA in the coming days, and from that that will be their problem.

Q. Do you believe that McLaren are innocent?

JT: It is not a question to believe or not to believe. At the moment I am sure I am not able to comment about those facts.

Q. Can I ask you a procedural question? With the court case on Tuesday, can you just confirm the individuals who are going to be named in that court case and what the accusation is against them?

JT: The first procedure was our lawyers, together with some independent experts, went to visit the house of one of the top management people from a competitors' team. They decided after that, that they have some facts, which allowed them to move forward. And to move forward is to go to the High Court on Tuesday.

Q. Ron Dennis said at the press conference earlier this weekend that you spoke with him and you mentioned that you believed in his integrity and the integrity of the team. Can you confirm what you said?

JT: It is true that Ron called me a few times, since the information came officially. But I am not going to comment on the telephone discussions we had.

Q. With all that has happened in the last week, will this have any bearing on the future of Ross Brawn and his decision. Is he still talking to Ferrari about coming to Ferrari?

JT: We are talking about two completely different matters. Ross is a great guy; he had some fantastic achievements at Ferrari. He decided to take a sabbatical year. I don't want to speak for him, but he is very sad knowing all that has happened. We are all very sad about what has happened.

And there is nothing that will interfere in the choices we have to make for the future. It is something you should ask him, and it is true to say that I mentioned we will meet over the next weeks, and I confirm that we will meet over the next weeks.

Q. It has been written that Ferrari took action after being tipped off by an individual in a copy shop in England, which seems bizarre. Can you confirm that?

JT: I cannot confirm that. But as I said, I can understand the question. But it will come out very quickly and then you will, or you will not, have some answers to the questions that you may want to have answered. All of that will be covered.

Q. Honda have confirmed that they spoke to Nigel Stepney and Mike Coughlan. Are you happy that they are no longer involved in the investigation?

JT: Again, I don't have everything in hand to comment about that. We had a team principals' meeting on Friday, which finished about 1pm. Nick Fry came and informed me for the first time about this meeting. That was the only time I spoke with him about that.

Q. This morning in the newspapers Nigel Stepney said that he knows where, 'the bodies are buried.' Referring to processes put in place within Ferrari in the last 10 years that should remain a secret. Are you concerned that he could talk about secrets inside Ferrari, and whether or not this is a way to silence Nigel because he knows too much about it?

JT: You know. It makes me smile, and it is good sometimes. But after 10 years, or the last 14 years, it is true it is like being in the family. There are so many things that do happen. But we have had over 14 years with the team, some good times and some tough times, but nothing that cannot come out.

So you know very well in this business that if something has to come out it does not wait 10 years. We have about 900 people employed in the company, so the answer is quite easy.

Q. When it does all come out, and we find out whoever is right and whoever is wrong, do you think it is unfortunate for the image of F1 that this is happening anyway?

JT: I will let you decide about the answer. I would prefer to speak and comment about the race, the great race we had today, the problem that Felipe had, and the championship that is an interesting championship rather than having to comment on these types of things. Unfortunately that is the fact when you are facing some irresponsible people.