Mercedes sue Ferrari-bound engineer over F1 data

Mercedes is said to be demanding that Hoyle hand over all documents relating to the matter and be prevented from using any of the information in his possession.

Mercedes is seeking to stop Hoyle’s move to Ferrari or any other team.

“Mr Hoyle’s actions were calculated to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of trust”.

Hoyle served notice on his contract, due for expiry at the end of this month, in May 2014, soon after which HPP became aware he meant to join Ferrari. Most significantly, perhaps, Mercedes wants Hoyle to be blocked from joining any of its Formula 1 competitors until the 2016 season is completed. He was given a new email address and relevant data was removed from his laptop.

It is further alleged Hoyle also saved files related to the compressor performance of HPP’s F1 engines, along with encrypted raw data files containing very detailed data about engine performance used to produce race reports.

Mercedes has claimed that Hoyle was found to have looked at internal race reports after his reassignment, taken confidential data – including code required to decrypt files – and then deleted information on his own equipment to hide wrongdoing. The team has no evidence that information has been transmitted to Ferrari.

Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, which makes engines for the Mercedes Petronas team, is suing Benjamin Hoyle, according to an October 19 filing released Monday.

“The company has taken the appropriate legal steps to protect its intellectual property”. The world champions could not afford their principal challengers being given what they allege is an unfair and unlawful advantage.

Ferrari and Mercedes have enjoyed a rapprochement of late in steering the direction of the sport’s rules, but this case shows that competition on track is as fierce as ever.