Stepney still waits for powder test result

By Michele Lostia and Jonathan Noble Friday, November 23rd 2007, 14:39 GMT

Nigel Stepney’s lawyer has denied reports from Italy that scientists have proven the former Ferrari mechanic was involved in a sabotage attempt on the team’s cars prior to the Monaco Grand Prix.

Stories out of Italy earlier this week claimed that forensic analysis had shown that a mysterious powder found in Kimi Raikkonen’s fuel tank before Monaco was the same as that found in a pair of Stepney’s trousers found at his apartment.

However, Stepney’s lawyer Sonia Bartolini has insisted that tests on the chemical are not due to be completed until early next month.

“Granted that we question the way the incriminated powder was collected, we learn with astonishment about the speculation concerning the analysis on the substance found in Nigel Stepney’s trousers,” she was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

“As a matter of fact, this exam has not yet been carried out by the appointed experts, who are in contact to proceed on this point of the incidente probatorio (a mechanism for preservation of evidence) scheduled between next December 5 and 10.

“So at the moment there is no evidence of any responsibilities on my client’s part.”