Ecclestone says drivers have nothing to fear in 'spying' probe

Jul 5, 2007, 10:54 GMT

London - McLaren-Mercedes drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are not at risk of having points deducted as a result of a 'spying' controversy involving their team and Ferrari, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has said.

Ecclestone told the Times newspaper on Thursday the international motorsport federation FIA could deduct constructors' points but that drivers would not be affected by any sanctions.

'It is nothing to do with the driver. He's got the car, he gets into the car, he has no idea,' he was quoted as saying.

Ecclestone said it first had to be proved that any of the leaked Ferrari information had been incorporated into the McLaren before there could be any talk of penalties.

McLaren Wednesday denied that it had used any classified information illegally received from rivals Ferrari.

On Tuesday the team suspended its chief designer Mike Coughlan in the wake of allegations from Ferrari that he had illegally received information from the Italian marque.

Ferrari have dismissed former technical manager Nigel Stepney and taken legal action in Italy against him and the McLaren employee 'regarding the theft of technical information.'

British newcomer Hamilton leads double world champion Alonso by 14 points ahead of Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the ninth race of the season.

In the constructors' championship McLaren are 25 points ahead of Ferrari.