Italy fumes over spy verdict, Stepney stays calm

MILAN, July 27 (Reuters) Italy joined Ferrari today in condemning the decision not to punish McLaren for the spying controversy which has gripped Formula One.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said yestersday that although McLaren had Ferrari data in their possession, there was insufficient evidence that they gained from it.

However, the world governing body warned after the Paris hearing that the Mercedes-powered team could still be kicked out of this and next year's championship if fresh proof emerged.

''If someone is guilty they must have a punishment, instead here there is nothing,'' Ferrari boss Jean Todt was quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport. ''It is a decision strongly prejudicial for the credibility of this sport.'' Ferrari have taken legal action in Italy against their former engineer Nigel Stepney, who they allege passed information to McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan.

McLaren have argued that suspended Coughlan acted without their knowledge or authority and had not shared it with anyone else at the team.

''Nothing has changed. It is right that the world championship is won on the track. I remain calm,'' said Stepney, who along with Coughlan could face an FIA ban.

''PONTIUS PILATE'' Italian Luigi Macaluso, a member of the 25-man FIA world motor sport council which made the decision, was stunned.

''I was the only one that tried to explain that McLaren was guilty. For me they are guilty and that's that. Juve were sent to Serie B for a lot less,'' he said in reference to Italian soccer's match-fixing scandal last year.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore was on Ferrari's side.

''I do not understand why there has been no decision. This is a sentence that reminds me of Pontius Pilate,'' he said.

But former world champion Jackie Stewart backed McLaren.

''If one individual is operating independently outside his own remit, then it is right that such clandestine behaviour should be punished on an individual basis,'' he told the Guardian.

Mercedes motorsport head Norbert Haug was unflustered by the possibility of further action.

''As far as the FIA threat is concerned, I'm not worried.

We're cleaner than clean,'' he told German media.

Former Ferrari driver Mika Salo said the scandal was nothing new.

''When I was driving for Ferrari we always spied on McLaren, listening their radio traffic. After every practice session I had in front of me, on paper, all the discussions Mika Hakkinen had had with his engineer,'' he told Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

REUTERS TB RN1705