Formula One: Mclaren Charged Over 'spy' Scandal

McLaren bosses have been summoned by world motor sport's governing body, the FIA, to account for their actions in the ongoing 'spy' scandal. Representatives of the team are to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA council on July 26.

A cache of Ferrari data and drawings were allegedly found in the home of the McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan. Ferrari had earlier claimed that Nigel Stepney, the team's former Ferrari race and test manager, had passed on the documents to McLaren.

An FIA statement read: "[McLaren] team representatives have been called to answer a charge that between March and July 2007, in breach of Article 151c of the international sporting code, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes had unauthorized possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, including information that could be used to design, engineer, build, check, test, develop and/or run a 2007 Ferrari formula one car."

Chief designer Mike Coughlan was suspended by McLaren nine days ago, before this week appearing in the high court, alongside wife Trudy, in relation to the theft of technical information from Ferrari. At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, the Coughlans were said to have "behaved disgracefully" by copying and keeping a 780-page technical document belonging to Ferrari.

A further hearing was yesterday called off due to the Coughlans providing the high court with requested affidavits outlining how they came to be in possession of the material. The affidavits were only supplied after it became clear they would not be used in respect of related criminal proceedings in Italy. Ferrari confirmed they had "agreed not to forward the affidavit to the Italian criminal authorities".

However, while the case is due to continue at some stage in the high court, the FIA is to probe McLaren's involvement - if any. Team principal Ron Dennis has maintained his team's innocence throughout the affair, while expressing his honesty and integrity had been called into question. Speaking at the British grand prix last Friday, Dennis said: "I can categorically state there are no developments whatsoever that have occurred on our cars relating to this. I can comfortably say this will not end in anything that causes McLaren any embarrassment."

If McLaren are found guilty, the FIA has a wide range of powers open to it in terms of discipline, which includes the potential expulsion of the team from the championship or the deduction of points. At present, Lewis Hamilton has a 12-point lead in the title race over team-mate Fernando Alonso, while McLaren are 25 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship.