F1: Sued Mercedes man not joining Ferrari

Ferrari has confirmed Mercedes engineer Benjamin Hoyle will not be joining the Formula 1 team "in the foreseeable future."

It emerged on Tuesday that Mercedes is taking legal action against Hoyle, accusing him of stealing confidential information and data ahead of a new-year move to Ferrari.

The Scuderia was cited in UK High Court documents, with Mercedes stating that once Hoyle's contract with High Performance Powertrains terminates at the end of the year he "intends to take up employment with Ferrari."

Hoyle, who had been one of four team leaders in Mercedes AMG F1's engineering department, served notice on a three-year contract in May 2014. In April this year, Hoyle was moved to Mercedes' DTM programme as HPP sought to protect its intellectual property. Over the following five months, it is alleged Hoyle removed hardcopy documents and data via various means. Mercedes suggested: "Mr. Hoyle and potentially Ferrari have gained an unlawful advantage."

The talks between Ferrari and Hoyle are understood to have been nothing more than informal, with not even a draft contract offered for him to sign. Inside Ferrari it is understood there is considerable surprise it has been quoted by Mercedes as potentially gaining an advantage from Hoyle's actions.

Asked whether Hoyle would be joining Ferrari, a spokesman said: "Ferrari has stressed the point Benjamin Hoyle never had a contract with the company, so he will not be joining us in the foreseeable future."

Originally on Autosport.com