Ferrari and McLaren wage war of words03.08.2007 19:00 SportsBy Alan Baldwin BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Ferrari denied on Friday that their cars were illegal in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and castigated Formula One rivals McLaren for making "serious and false" accusations against them. McLaren in turn pointed the finger at the Italians, accusing them of "grossly misleading statements" in an increasingly vitriolic public slanging match between the title contenders. With the two teams locked in a spying controversy that shows no signs of abating, Ferrari responded to a letter sent by McLaren team boss Ron Dennis to the head of the Italian Automobile Club, Luigi Macaluso. Dennis had written on Wednesday that Ferrari, who won in Melbourne with Kimi Raikkonen, had used a device on the floor of their cars that gave them "an illegal competitive advantage". He said McLaren sought a clarification from the governing body after being tipped off by now dismissed Ferrari employee Nigel Stepney, whom he described as a 'whistleblower" and whom Ferrari accuse of feeding information to their rivals. More stringent floor tests were then introduced. "Ferrari wishes to state very strongly that its (McLaren's) letter contains accusations that are both serious and false," Ferrari said in a response issued ahead of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix. "Contrary to the statement put forward by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Ferrari never illegally gained any advantage. Continued... Source: reuters.comwww.alllee.com |
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