So Nick Heidfeld will be the 2007 champion. After all, if a Swiss bank gave away a client`s private account details, then they are culpable, rogue employee or not. Mike Coughlan is also at fault in this context, admittedly, so both Ferrari and Mclaren must receive an equal punishment. Anything else will once again be perceived as massive FIA Ferrari favouritism. And also just about kill off F1 as a topic of interest to the average"man in the street"casual fan. Lewis Hamilton´s fantastic "bring F1 to the people" act will be an irrelevant sideshow to a bunch of foriegn lawyers. F1 cannot afford this. They must look for once at the bigger picture, and have an obvious path beckoning: dock Ferrari and Mclaren of all constructors points, but leave the drivers to battle-out possibly the best championship ever. Just imagine: four drivers, perhaps 8 points between them, two races left. The press would go beserk. Fantastic publicity. Or, the FIA penalise Alonso and Hamilton. Ferrari win. Yawn.

G Gourlay, Malaga, Spain

Nigel Stepney is not the coffee-boy in a carpenter shop. He is/was an engineer in one of rhe most technological business in the world.
When he decides to spy his own team, then he takes a "heavy brick" of 780 pages with all its Ferrari logos to a local copy shop. In a digital world he doesn't have the chance or the idea of using a pen-drive or any other digital storage device.
Does it make any sense? (just think in the volume and weight of 780 pages).

How did McLaren knew about that dinamic floor?
Perhaps in the same way that Ferrari complained last year about Renault's mass-dumper.

Could McLaren have comunicated Ferrari that they had the papers?
Yes if they really knew about it and specially if they wanted to cheat anybody. Once they had all the papers copied they could have played their "fair-play role" and make a phone call to Maranello.

Fernando , Zaragoza, Spain

Many years ago when a certain young German driver had just signed for Bennetton he was involved in an argument with a London taxi driver.
The result was the taxi driver went to hospital suffering from the effects of a can of Mace that was srayed in his face.
The young driver only escaped prison by a narrow margin.
I would put money on the chances of a lot of "Dirty Tricks" being used especially with those involved.

Mmmm. Looks like you have confused memories ...
Read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Gachot

furio , rome, Italy

Senior Farrari officials released the documents to entrap McLarren as they were walking away with the championship.

It is Ferrari who should be investigated and taken to task, cant beat them on the track so discredit them the Ferrari way of doing things.

Nigel has been used as a scape goat to cover up Ferraris deception.

Ban them for two years.

Steve, Northfleet,

If the teams are responsible for the conduct of their staff, surely Ferrari should be penalised for allowing one of their employees to pass this information onto McLaren? Are we sure that McLaren solicited this information from Ferrari? This has the feeling of a "sting" by Ferrari to compromise their biggest competitor.

imj, Abu Dhabi, UAE

It's unbelievable hearing people suggest that Ferrari are responsible for this by intentionally sending the
documents to McLaren. The documents contained classified information on Ferrari's F1 operations. Deliberately exposing this information to a rival
would be suicidal. When Ferrari became aware of the situation they took action by dismissing
Nigel Stepney and informing the FIA (and their lawyers). Several members of the McLaren team were aware of the Ferrari documents but what action did McLaren taken? At best they did nothing - at worst they used the information illegally. That's why the FIA have summoned them. McLaren have a case to answer. Ferrari don't. It would unfortunate if the McLaren drivers were penalised. They may not have known about any illegalities but they would have benefited from them so it stands to reason that they should lose points if McLaren are found guilty. Based on previous FIA judgements ignorance (on the driver's part) is no defence.

Jay, Windsor, Berks

Many years ago when a certain young German driver had just signed for Bennetton he was involved in an argument with a London taxi driver.

The result was the taxi driver went to hospital suffering from the effects of a can of Mace that was srayed in his face.

The young driver only escaped prison by a narrow margin.

I would put money on the chances of a lot of "Dirty Tricks" being used especially with those involved.

Jack Hargreives, Midhurst,

Two things, first I don't believe the conspiracy theory. Ferrari would have had to have known that Coughlan's wife would use that particular copy shop and get them on board, a little far fetched!! Secondly, I'm sure Mclaren have a copier or three in their offices. The fact that the documents were copied out of the building seems to suggest that Coughlan was working alone, whatever he was working at.

Steve, Leoville, France

Although I agree that it would be sad for Hamilton and Alonso to be penalized as a result of this issue, it would be fair. I personally do not believe that Mclaren benefited from having the documents, yet if we stipulate that the team did benefit then the FIA must strip them of all points and ban them from this year’s championship. Ignorance of the crime does not allow for benefit.

Ken, Reston, VA

This is for Ken’s, Harrow. I would have liked Hamilton to win this year but the team ethics are now being questioned. If they had these documents, why not inform Ferrari and sort the matter out.

This is not about Michael Schumacher and Ferrari's dominance. You need to wake up and smell the fresh air and see right from wrong.

Your comments do not make sense at all. The sad thing about this saga is that Hamilton (The Tiger Woods of F1) will be penalised because of the poor integrity key members of the team possessed.

Shanil Toolsee, Johannesburg, South Africa

This is so typical of British racist attidues to Italians.
What a nonsense racist (towards the english) statement

alison, london,

Gosh, where is the famous "english fairness" gone? Come on guys the evidences are far too strong. Mac Laren has cheated and thats it. It seems to me that after u ( the Brits)invented many sports you ended up like a very average sport nation.

gigisacco, yorkshire/sicily,

I am an italian Ferrari fan. I don't think that Mac Laren's good performances this year have any relationship with the stolen papers. The MP4/22 is a strong car and it's all the way different from Ferrari F2007. If FIA will find Mac Laren guilty of some misconduct I hope they will not dock points both from the drivers and the team.
BUT I find that asking Ferrari to be punished is just hilarious!
That is really too much ...

Furio, Rome, Italy

With respect to everyones opinions; (to which all are entitled), I believe that all but 2 or 3 people actually know what has happened. A number of lawyers from both sides 'think' they do from the respective perspectives of the clients they represent.

None of us will ever really know what happened; neither will we discover the 'true' value of the dossier.

I am deeply concerned at the way this information is being ‘drip fed’ to the public via the Media. How did the Italian press obtain details of the confidential affidavit? (And I assume Helen that by suggesting this; I am now a British racist!). Will the FIA seek to censure McLaren or Ferrari if their lawyers leaked the contents?

In my humble opinion, I believe that there is much more to this than a simple dossier of drawings and strategies and my instinct tells me that some gamesmanship is being played by both parties.
all need to keep quiet and let the legal process take its course; hopefully truth will out!

Rouge, Surrey,

Please can we get back to this season of racing in F1 and quit all this political nonsense. For me Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari was the greatest driver ... Yes he had his faults to and now we have Lewis Hamilton who could even be greater if that is at all possible. What a talent and why should he be punished for what others may or may not of done behind closed doors. Can we not just enjoy watching what is turning out to be a fantastic year for both Ferrari & McClaren Teams and its 4 drivers which any one of them can win this years World Championship. Come on boys - behave will you !

Robert H Brown, Ramsey, Cambs, UK.

How convenient for McLaren I'd say!

It is quite amazing how they've turned their cars from the very expensive torches they were last year to a title contestant, fighting against Ferrari face to face... and having to adapt to Bridgestone too.

I know for many of you this is not just about F1, it's got to do with national pride: you want a British driver being champion in a British team. But fellas... cheating to achieve it is bad you hear me? BAD!

Alfredo Nieto, Madrid, Spain

The integrity of the sport takes hits all the time. But this seems worse. First, Coughlan has admitted he had this stuff and apparently also that others at McLaren saw it. That's bad. But second, the others who saw the documents decided it was in their best interest not to tell the FIA or Ferrari. I'm sure they may have been worried that a big stink would develop if news of the pilfering went public. But their silence now comes across as tacit approval, and as a result, all of the team's subsequent actions are suspect--their very timely protest about the moveable floor. If they're not punished, the sport's image will only get worse. Maybe new fans can overlook obvious violations of the rules. I can't. And for the
record, I like both Hamilton and Alonso. But frankly, their team blew it.

Tom , Madison, US/WI

It doesn't seem implausible to me that the staff at the copy shop would notice. This was a local copy shop, after all. The risk of a copy-shop assistant *in Didcot,* wasn't it, being a bit intrigued by 700 pages of stuff with Ferrari logos plastered all over it (red covers, do you think?) is actually pretty high. It would have been safer to go out of town.

EJ, London,

Am I reading this correctly?

Someone at Ferrari sends 'top secret' info to one or more people at McLaren. A few months pass; this is discovered, 'by chance'(?), investigated and Ferrari call a foul.

A similar analogy is that of cops 'planting' dope and arresting thereafter. These cases are, quite properly, thrown out of court and rogue policemen discovered, are disbanded.

If it holds that McLaren didn't steal the information; then Ferrari ought to discipline their own people, withdraw their case, shut up and get on with racing.

One can argue semantics on how McLaren should have handled the information, or even whether it has been used in development at all, but surely McLaren can't be punished for receiving it?

Steve P, Christchurch, NZ

I am an italian Ferrari fan. I don't think that Mac Laren's good performances this year have any relationship with the stolen papers. The MP4/22 is a strong car and it's all the way different from Ferrari F2007. If FIA will find Mac Laren guilty of some misconduct I hope they will not dock points both from the drivers and the team.
BUT I find that asking Ferrari to be punished is just hilarious!
That is really too much ...

Furio, Rome, Italy

growtiger - you can copy a document without having to go to copy-shop- they make 'em for the home!

horryd, Shanghai, China

Ferrari has been smacking McLaren's ass for the past few years. But this revelation is the biggest hit ever the McLaren brand will ever take.

Cheaters.

Luigi (not), Napoli (not), Albania

"However might this also be an attempt to derail the phenomenon that is Lewis Hamilton - and from the land that brought us Berlusconi, Opus Dei and the Mafia!"

oh dear god....................

Adam Kelly, dublin, Ireland

"The only real and fair punishment would be for both teams to lose the same amount of constuctors points"

This is the most ridiculous statement. Why should a person/persons/body be punished for being victimised? I appreciate the worry everybody, including myself is feeling about the potential disruption to the championship, but to suggest both teams should be docked points, clearly a suggestion born of the desire to see the championship standings maintained, is just not ethical or logical for that matter.

Adam Kelly, dublin, Ireland

I think everyone was surprised by the Mclaren dominance early in the season as if they had suddenly found success after years of lounging further back. Logic tells us that they obviously found superior performance legally or illegally. Whatever the reason, it has to raise the reasonable doubt when they are caught with the Ferrari Documents. Dennis did not want to know and didn't, but his team benefited and that is all he wanted. As for Mclaren receiving technical information on Ferrari without paying for the documents--well, if you believe those documents were free, then I have some prime ocean-front property near Phoenix in Arizona, USA that you might be interested in. The beach is fantastic white sand and the sound of the surf is quite relaxing.

R Mills, Dallas, USA Texas

It is unfair to penalise the drivers in any fashion if information in the documents was used to gain an advantage. The drivers proove who is best with the machines they have been given proving that they are the best drivers on the day. If any wrong doing is found the constructors should be penalised not the driver. If the drivers do get penalised you may as well put Hamilton and Fernando in the spyker or honda for the rest of the season. Come on FIA penalise the Team who have done the wrong doing not the drivers.

Chris Heath, Stalybridge, UK

Lets not forget that Lewis Hamilton is not the only McLaren employee. I feel hugely for Ron Dennis who has worked his butt off to help create this magnificent business and it could all be undermind by one or two stupid selfish people.Think also of Fernado Alonso current world champion,think of all the guys on the shop floor,driving the vans,sweeping up,how do you think they feel.

Martin Stevens, Farnham, Surrey

What a disgraceful display of whinging on this comment board. For you English to start pointing fingers at Ferrari is a spectacle. We call it 'blaming the victim' in the states; wait for evidence that Ferrari set up McClaren then open your mouths.

What is appalling is that Coughlan and his wife didn't just go buy a scanner and then load the documents to a computer-thus avoiding detection at the copy shop. This is beyond explanation and actually does make me suspicious, but I don't know of what-beyond Coughlan's choice of mate.

mitch w, eastchester ny, usa

All what happened is disgusting. Mclaren said they are disappointed at being summoned to appear before the FIA World Motor Sport Council. No guys here you are wrong again. I can be disappointed not you, and like me all the truly lovers of F1. I work and live in Budapest and i was counting down the days to spend a nice week-end at the Hungaroring on Agoust 3rd-5th. Now no more and my ticket is on sale on ebay. Why a person should be motivated to spend 300 euros to watch and support cheaters?

fernando, budapest, hungary

Actually, i reply to Christy..
Ferrari spent so much time testing and preparing all the files that Coughlan photocopied and as a consequence had less time to improve these times.
Anyway Raikkonen now is demonsting how Ferrari is superior in every sense.
Don't think that I talk as an Italian Person.
I really love F1 and I've supported Mercedes when there was the great Mika Hakkinen.
Anyway it is a bad story....

Mary, Milan, Italy

Smoke and fire: "The FIA will want clarification on how McLaren discovered that Ferrari were using a moveable aerodynamic device on the “floor” of their cars.." Just how did they know? it points to attempt to interfere with technological advancment through inside knowledge. Even if the technology was subsequently banned, the efforts and investment was costly to Ferrari and McLaren benefitted from its banning.

J MacIn, London, UK

And of course one of the best things about Lewis's Success is listening to whining Scotsman trying to have him banned. What's up Mr Coultard not doing well this year..? Nothing new there then

steve , Sunshine Coast, Australia

Great!
So it is a plot organized by those "mafiosi italians" at Ferrari.
In my opinion there is no need of a trial, of evidences at all.
They are guilty because they are italians; at McLaren they are innocent because they are british.
A shocked and disgusted italian.

andrea, trieste, italy

I don't understand why either should be penalized. There is no reason why ferrari should be penalized for sending information on their car. Yet Mclaren shouldn't be penalized for recieving the documents, Mclaren didn't steal them or ask for them, they just recieved them. Coughlan might have been scared about returning them or giving them to the FIA because he may of been accused of espionage just like he is now.

Tierney O, london,

If there is deception and/or corruption in the McLaren camp it must be rooted out. However, it would be a travesty of justice if Hamilton and Alonso were excluded from racing the rest of the season unless it were proved that they were aware of any such deception/corruption.

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK

Why should McLaren be punished for the actions of a greedy renegade? This spy scandal is absurd and sounds like another plot by the FIA in collusion with Ferrari to manipulate the championship once again in their favour. I think what McLaren should do is courier a package of bogus confidential information to Ferrari and then have them charged for espionage! With both teams disqualfied BMW will be the new world champions!

David, Toronto, Canada

Forgive me if I have missed something, but didn't Ferrari win the last two races? Was this also due to stolen documents, and if so, which ones? Or have the original ones been sent back by express mail? Or are Ferrari just another lot of bad losers?

Ed Zuiderwijk, Cambridge, UK

It seems here that all of the people making comments are taking either ferrari's side or McClarren's side. Although i am british and thus support british teams and british drivers i feel that if this 'espionage story' and the facts surrounding it are found to be true BOTH teams should be penalised - Ferrari for providing the information and McClaren for recieving it - after all it takes two to tango! - however doing this through deducting drivers points is both pointless and unfair as the drivers themselves would not have been aware of any foul play. The only real and fair punishment would be for both teams to lose the same amount of constuctors points.
And to those who say that F1 is uninteresting and expensive clearly you have never been to a grand prix - so your comments are completely irrelevant. I think that £99 is a reasonable price for 3 days of pure excitment that i look forward to every year! F1 drivers have driving skills unmatched by anyone else in the world-so dont diss!!

V. Thorndale, Surrey,

Mr. Khan... you are ignoring the point... the documents had to come from somewhere... you cannot investigate one side of the story and not the next...

What interests me is that you seem sympathetic of Ferrarri because it is a non-British team? What does nationality have to do with any of this?

It seems extremely convenient for Ferrarri! There was no proven benefit of the document leakage... yet... their chief competition is discredited and will almost certainly be docked points... If that is not convenient, I don't know what is!

Seems like racing is just like football, is just like cricket, is just like basketball, is just like politics... is just like every other activity that human beings find our selves!

HW, London,

It is an ugly story.
F1 should not be left to drift off sport as bicycle races.
For this reason, even if it spoils the most interesting season
long since, I hope the FIA will set an example.
McLaren should pay dearly, at the very least because they knew about it earlier and they should have fired Coughlan and gone public as soon as anyone there smelled something, and in any case before it was uncovered by other means. They now try to close the barn after the cows are gone. They did not copy the car - maybe. In those files there is probably enough to learn about how the Bridgestone tyres work. Last year they were using Michelin like Renault. The latter team - world champion - is paying now the difficult tyre transition, McLaren had no such problem...
However, Hamilton and Alonso are probably innocent and in an ideal world they should not pay for the team. I hope all parties concerned come up with some idea to keep them in the fight.

nino t., zurich, switzerland,

From what I personally know of McLaren - they have no need to stoop to such hole in the corner criminality.

Their state of the art operation and system makes this allegation seem ridiculous.

However might this also be an attempt to derail the phenomenon that is Lewis Hamilton - and from the land that brought us Berlusconi, Opus Dei and the Mafia!

K Malno, gloucestershire, UK

If McLaren were honorable the documents would have been returned the very day they were delivered. All the other teams have been cheated by McLaren. Why should anyone continue to follow the sport with this kind of "competition"? This is the equivalent of steroids in athletics. Banish the team. Two years. Less than this will have Formula One Racing slouching toward the standards of syndicate controlled dog racing in the USA twenty years ago.

Robert, Buckhorn, USA

Does this mean that if someone at McLaren now sends an express package to Ferrarri's head designer, then Ferrarri will also be guilty of receipt of competitor information and therefore should be sanctioned?

On this basis, anyone could send another team information and then have them punished, what an easy way to win the F! championship! Perhaps Button's team should start sending out express packages to all the other teams to gain an advantage without even racing.

The point I am making is that just because I open my front door and sign for a package, does not make me a cheat and a lier. The situation is more complex, ie. was the information solicited and acted upon? If yes, then throw the book at McLaren. But nobody has asked this question have they?

Steve P, York, UK

As Stepney is now under investigation by the police it is clear that he is being dealt with by a higher authority than the FIA. Also it is slightly conspiracy theorist to assume that Ferrari got one of their guys to knowingly commit a criminal offence; courier counterfeit papers to the opposition and then alert the authorities without leaving a paper trail.

Also kind of ridiculous to say that Ferrari should be investigated/punished for an employee committing a criminal offence against them.

Having said that, I wish LH all the best and hope that he doesn't get docked any points.

JP, Cambrdige,

So much for the Affidavit being "Confidential".

It does have a whiff of "plans within plans" occurring here - "Unknown" substances to sabotage the Ferraris cars before the Monaco GP. "Unknown people sending documents via Courier. Selective leaking to the press.

The concern is that Max Moseley will treat this as an opportunity to hammer Ron Dennis - a man he's never got on with. I really hope that if McLaren are stitched up in this, someone ensures the doc gets published so everyone can see how Ferrari REALLY operate.

Richard Cox, Kent,

if mclaren are proved guilty of this allrged offence they should be banned from racing for all time also all there staff no matter what job thet do should be banned from any connection with racing for life because you can bet you last doller that if one person new of this document they all did

seamus, dublin, ireland

Ferrari is a shame for F1 ! They should be punished!

vali, Alexandria, Romania

Ken H - don't watch it then. If you think that it takes no skill to drive an F1 car then you probably haven't been watching anyway.
Ron Dennis is lying through his teeth to say the rest of McLaren knew nothing. Ferrari were the best car in the first couple of races, McLaren suddenly improved no end, and now the Ferrari secrets have been taken off them the Ferrari is showing dominance again.
Doesn't take a rocket scientist (or F1 engineer) to work it out.

kiwi_tifosi, London,

This is all too convenient for Ferrari or are the Mclaren people really as green as they are made
out to be?.

I now watch Moto GP where the riders really work for their living and put their lives at risk.

John, Trieste, Italy

I think the MaClaren fans are just talking with their hearts. How can a team who had their entire strategy stolen and given or sold to a rival team be punished when the team who benefited are MaClaren? Surely the fact that the revealations clearly show that Ron Dennis's own boys have told him porkys indicate that there are a lot more people in the MaClaren camp who are being economical with the truth.

MaClaren is definately more involve than the Lewis /MaClaren fans would dare to admit.

Jason, London, UK

There is no way that Hamilton will be penalised over this. His story this year is just too valuable to the business if F1. To knock him out of contention would be financially massively damaging to F1 so rest assured that Max & Bernie will do whatever it takes to fix it.

John M, Stromeferry,

It would be so unfair if Hamilton were to suffer for the unethical behaviour of some Mc.Laren team members. Those individuals involved should be penalized and very heavily, but not the whole team.

Cameron Gill, Basseterre, St. Kitts-Nevis

Excuse my asking, but if Ferrari and McLaren are using the same technical information to develop their GP cars, why is it that Ferrari are second in the championship? Surely if the cars were all the same, the ultimate test is Driver, Pit Crew, and race stratergy, and probably track conditions at the times of racing.

Christy, Worcester, Worcestershire

McLaren have been put in an impossible position having received something they presumably did not solicit.
Is it proved that the documents were accurate or that McLaren used them to improve the performance of their cars ?

Are they to be held responsible for the possible actions of disgruntled Ferrari employees ?
Or the politics, in-fighting and scheming well known at that team?

Yes Ferrari have questions to answer.

Glenda, Herts,

I'd be very surprised if they docked Hamilton points, if they did then all the new "fans" of F1 would melt away faster than the polar ice caps.
Personally I'd like someone to analyse these documents and see if they are a) real b) not made up or altered from the original. Personally I'll stick with superbikes

Will, Cambs,

Hey, how can you ask Ferrari to be punished?!? An english member of Ferrari has been caught sending out secrets to an old pal of his, after he tried to damage Ferrari by putting reducing powder in the fuel tank and you say Ferrari is liable for this?!? Of course it is "Funny how this all comes out after McLaren go on a winning streak " Graham! Does anyone remember how McLaren was way slower than Ferrari in the first GPs, but then suddenly it became faster in April! Couldn't McLaren got some wee help from mr. Couglan and his stolen papers??

Iain, Glasgow,

Why do so many people refuse to believe MacLaren would cheat but all thin Ferrari would? This is so typical of British racist attidues to Italians. Grow up people, this is a big money industry and Brits will cheat as much as anyone else.

Helen, Reading, UK

Of course, it's the slimy, greasy foreign team who are to fault! As always, Williams or McLaren are the "good guys" and any dastardly foreigners must be cheating...
Look at the race a couple of weeks back: St Hamilton on pole, cuts right across the track and then left into the centre blocking everyone, the manouver that Schumacher was hugely criticised for, and now Our Lewis does it and its OK...
A fair chunk of F1 is about knowing what others are doing - spies in the pit, copying parts, bending rules to get a head start, its how Bernie Ecclestone, Frank Williams and Ron Dennis, and before them the likes of Colin Chapman, got where they are. However, friends passing details from one team to another is too far - imagine if Carlos Queiroz and Steve Clark went to Newcastle with a dossier on Man Utd and Chelsea's players, it is ridiculous.
And Graham W - it was actually McLaren who dumped Raikonnen, when they went out and grbbed Alonso on what you would no doubt see as a fair living wage..

Kenneth, Glasgow,

Ferrari are the only dominant non-British team in F1. Thats a complete team, not an engine / chassis combination. All the other manufacturers are linked to UK in one way or the other. So its not fair to say "how convenient for Ferrari".

McLaren should be punished as they engaged in industrial espionage. Whether they were able to improve the performance of their cars, based on the Ferrari documents, is a moot point. McLaren, or its employees, happened to be in possession of confidential documents that belonged to Ferrari. Case closed.

To ensure F1 maintains its credibility, McLaren should be expelled from F1 and banned for a season or two.

Abid Khan, London,

If the documents were just received by "express mail" then who's to say that Ferrari didn't deliberately send them out? Are the documents accurate?

Funny how this all comes out after McLaren go on a winning streak and Ferrari's new, and rather expensive driver, is struggling.

There are always clouds over teams that Schumacher is involved with, and now he is an "advisor" for Ferrari. Wonder what he is advising about?

Graham W., Leicester,

Isn't is strange how max mosley is quoting article 123 of the FIA sporting code to suggest that McClaren being responsible for their employees actions might be punished, however the same article does not seem to apply to Ferrari and the actions of Alex Stepney. Is Mosley trying to manipulate the results of the world chapionship yet again?

chris oversby, houston, texas

If Mr Stepney and Mr Coughlan are telling the truth, the interesting question is, who sent the dossier to Mr Coughlan by "express courier mail " and why. And how it came to be discovered so remarkably that the document was being copied (when did you ever take a document to a copy shop and find the staff paying attention to the content?). Might it not be that the value of the document is rather unimportant to the story, and the ease of its discovery in the hands of Maclaren, rather critical. A "set up", in fact. "Cui bono" is often a guide to the truth. In this case Maclaren could never have benefited, as demonstrated by the shocked reactions of Mr Coughlan's colleagues when he tried to show them this infected material.

growltiger, London,

No-one seems to think that Ferrari should be punished at all ? It took 2 people to make the deal.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council is bound to consider Article 123 of its Sporting Code – which states that every team bear a collective responsibility for the actions of their members.

If Nigel Stepney committed an illegal act then it could be construed that the rest of the Ferrari team are just as responsible, accusations of entrapment could be levied at the Ferrari team. Being the instigator of the illegal act Nigel Stepney and the Ferrari team would be in for a bigger punishment than Mike Coughlan and McLaren, who seem to have played a more passive role, generally taking the whole thing to be a bad joke.

Alan Chesterman, BOURNEMOUTH, UK

In racing one may hide their true ability in order to gain advantage. If McClaren had knowledge of Ferrari's real performance limits or ongoing development of the cars, then the integrity of the competition has been diminished. It appears some members of the Woking group knew they mustn't see Ferrari documents. If McClaren are not severely punished, why should I watch any race?

mitch w, eastchester, NY

Yet again, how very convenient for Ferrari.

After years of decisions that for other teams and drivers would have resulted in any driver other than Michael Schumacher being penalised, now the world watches as the people that run F1 are ensuring by hook, or by crook, that Ferrari's unrestricted dominance continues and millions of newly interested fans who have to pay a fortune to watch men driving round in circles, realise F1 is nothing like as interesting as rallying because the drivers have to drive the cars and not simply point them and automatic systems doing the rest.

Ken.H, Harrow,