Stepney accuses Ferrari of "dirty tricks"
June 25th 2007 06:33
Stepney is under investigation
Ferrari filed a formal complaint earlier this week, but have refused to reveal the reason behind their actions.
The case is currently being examined by the Modena district attorney, but Stepney is self-assured in his innocence.
"I have confidence I'll be cleared by the legal process that is now taking place," Stepney told the The Sunday Times.
"It is just part of a dirty tricks campaign and everything is in the hands of my lawyer, so we'll wait and see what happens," he added.
While details of the legal proceedings are unknown, a Ferrari spokesman told Reuters earlier this week, "It is not related to any event, it is related to his behaviour".
Stepney, who was Ferrari’s technical manager during their period of title domination from 2000-2004, made no secret of his dissatisfaction within the team when Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn departed last year.
Stepney tried to follow their footsteps, but was contractually bound by the Marranello team who demoted him to head ‘performance development’.
The Englishman, who is currently holidaying in the Philippines, was also puzzled by claims by Ferrari and the Italian police that they have been unable to contact him.
"I'm on a planned holiday with Ash (his fiancée) and our baby,” said Stepney.
"Why would anyone say I am not contactable? I booked the flights through the Ferrari travel office,” he said, “They know where I am."
Stepney’s lawyer, Luca Brezigher meanwhile, told Gazetta dello Sport that Stepney’s Serramazzoni apartment had been searched, but “the charge against him at the moment is rather unspecified”.
Brezigher said he expected the investigation to continue for at least one year before any formal charges were issued.
With this legal matter hanging over his head, Stepney’s desire to switch to another team in 2008 will be seriously implicated, if Brezigher’s prediction is correct.
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