F1 spies should be punished

(GMM) Even a few spots of Budapest rain for Friday afternoon practice failed to draw the paddock's attention away from the so-called 'spy' scandal, which looks set to overshadow yet another grand prix.

BMW boss Mario Theissen in Hungary called for a quick end to the scandal that has turned into an gloves-off fist fight between championship rivals McLaren and Ferrari, who accuse one another of cheating and espionage.

"It is not good for the sport when things like this are the centre of attention," the German told the Sport-Informations-Dienst news agency.

Theissen said a date for the Court of Appeal hearing should be set "as soon as possible", while urging a "clear judgment" so that the sport can move on.

Renault's Flavio Briatore, however, thinks it is important that the FIA comes to the right decision about McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan's possession of reams of Ferrari secrets.

"If they had that information then they should be punished," he said.

"I am not a judge, but we have ethical and sporting rules, and these must be adhered to."

Briatore said the saga has sunk beneath thousands legalese words and the tit-for-tat exchange of minute accusations.

"Really it is simple," he said. "The rules need to be respected, and those who do not respect them must be punished."