Will Stepney be punished like Coughlan was in his time?
Former Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney will soon have to answer questions from the FIA to explain his role in the espionage affair that rocked the world of F1 last year. Some rumors have suggested that Stepney could be suspended for two years from the world of motorsports for his involvement in the exchange of information […]

Former Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney will soon have to answer questions from the FIA to explain his role in the espionage affair that rocked the world of F1 last year.
Some rumors have suggested that Stepney could be suspended for two years from the world of motorsports for his involvement in the exchange of information between Ferrari and McLaren.
Coughlan has already been sanctioned by the FIA, even after public apologies from McLaren to the governing body and to Scuderia Ferrari. No details of this sanction have been provided.
The FIA has stated that there are no comments to provide on this matter.
Stepney was supposed to answer questions from the FIA’s legal department last week, but the meeting was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. A new meeting will be rescheduled in the near future.
Despite the FIA’s lack of willingness to officially comment on its intentions, President Max Mosley wrote a letter to Autosprint this week, explaining that it was important for Stepney to have the same opportunity to defend himself as Coughlan had at the time.
In his letter, Mosley wrote: « No one can be condemned without having had the opportunity to defend themselves. This is a fundamental legal principle. »
He added: « It is false to say that his guilt is an incontestable fact before he has had the opportunity to defend himself. By condemning someone without giving them the chance to be heard, you refute the basic principles of justice. »
In the wake of this espionage case, the FIA is considering implementing a licensing system for all F1 personnel similar to that used for drivers. This would allow for licenses to be revoked or canceled for individuals who oppose FIA regulations.