The Nigel Stepney saga took a strange twist today, when the Englishman was fired by Ferrari, who at the same time revealed a link with a McLaren engineer.

A statement issued by the Maranello outfit this morning read:

Ferrari announces it has recently presented a case against Nigel Stepney and an engineer from the Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes team with the Modena Tribunal, concerning the theft of technical information.

Furthermore, legal action has been instigated in England and a search warrant has been issued concerning the engineer. This produced a positive outcome. Ferrari reserves the right to consider all implications, be they criminal, civil or of any other nature, according to the applicable laws.

Shortly afterwards, McLaren issued its own statement:

"McLaren became aware on the 3rd July 2007 that a senior member of its technical organisation was the subject of a Ferrari investigation regarding the receipt of technical information. The team has learnt that this individual had personally received a package of technical information from a Ferrari employee at the end of April.

Whilst McLaren has no involvement in the matter and condemns such actions it will fully co-operate with any investigation. The individual has in the meanwhile been suspended by the company pending a full and proper investigation of the matter.

No further comment will be made.

Since it was first revealed that Ferrari was taking legal action against Stepney, there has been much speculation but little substance - other than talk of a "white powder".

It was widely expected that more would be revealed at Magny-Cours, however, as Ferrari team boss Jean Todt made clear, it would be impossible for him to comment on a matter which was still under legal investigation.

Today's sacking and the claim that information has been passed to a McLaren employee, once again poses far more questions than it answers, especially in light of the fact that the Woking team has now suspended its employee, clear proof that the team is taking the charges very seriously.

Since the Stepney claims were first made, there has been widespread disbelief within the paddock, with many F1 insiders of the opinion that Ferrari was merely bringing the charges against him as a ploy, a warning, following speculation that he might be taking several key members of staff to a rival team.

Today's proceeding shed a whole new light on the situation.

There is still an ongoing case with regards Toyota - which is also said to have received information from (former) Ferrari employees, and it is thought that several former (Toyota) team members could still face charges.

Once again, F1 is more exciting and filled with thrills and spills off-track than on.