Mercedes are suing one of their engineers for allegedly taking confidential documents and data as he prepared to join Ferrari.
Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains are suing Ferrari-bound Benjamin Hoyle, who is alleged by the team to have searched for and saved files including a race report from the 2015 Hungarian GP, mileage and damage data relating to Mercedes’ F1 engines and files containing code required to decrypt raw race data files.
Hoyle informed the world champions last May that he would resign when his contract expired at the end of 2015, with Mercedes later learning that he intended to join rivals Ferrari. Mercedes are reportedly seeking the return of all documents and information, payment of legal fees, and wants to block Hoyle from joining Ferrari or any other F1 team until after the 2016 season.
“Legal action is underway involving Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Ltd. and an employee,” Mercedes said in a statement. “The company has taken the appropriate legal steps to protect its intellectual property.”
Ferrari moved to distance themselves from Hoyle after the news broke and insist he will not be joining the Scuderia.
“There were talks but nothing led to a formal contract. He’s not even going to join us in the foreseeable future,” a Ferrari spokesman told Reuters. “It’s not true that he was on the verge of joining us. What he did concerns only him and the company he was working for. We are not involved in this.”