Article: The Gilles Simon FIAsco | Formula One

[Kyle?]

Warning. This is a serious article.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93605

Due to the recent infighting over the broadcasting rights, another big story has gone relatively unnoticed.
As pointed out on 5live in practice the other day, former Ferrari engine man Gilles Simon is off to PURE (Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie), the new engine group headed by Craig Pillock (ahem), former BAR man and manager of Jaques Villeneuve. Above is the link on how Mr. Pollock feels about the situation.

For those who don't know, Mr. Simon has been working for the FIA as a technical advisor in the engine department, making sure the teams adhere to the rules. This means he has had unlimited access to every engine manufacturers specifications and secrets. Unsuprisingly, the teams aren't too impressed about him going off to join PURE, where he can use the knowledge he has gained in his FIA role, as he also has information on the techniques manufacturers will be using for the 1.6 V6 engines. Already rumours are circulating that the teams want him to have a mandatory "cooling off period" This means he would have to stay away from F1 for a set period of time, so the technology can advance beyond his knowledge, so he can't exploit the secrets he has gained knowledge of. If the new pure engine in 2014 is as powerful as the mercedes unit, yet as driveable as the renault unit, with the fuel consumption of the cosworth engine, it's safe to say the FIA really have messed up.

Do you feel he should be allowed to continue in his new role at PURE, or do you think a cooling off period should be enforced?

 

[SgtBhaji]

It's certainly quite a conflict. They may not be able to enforce a 'cooling off' period if it wasn't written in to his contract, which could be a balls up on the part of the FIA.

 

[Vilsmeier-Haack Reaction]

Thats alot of proprietal knowledge to be taking with him. That Pillock, excuse the pun, has scored big time on this one if leave is unable to be achieved.

Edit: The OP beat me to the pun

 

[Delete Me]

What a tosser.

A cool down period would be the right thing to do.

 

[cosicave]

Excellent article Cowboy: your best and possibly most important yet!
+Rep.

The situation is indeed serious and has the potential to make something of a nonsense of the investment of time and money which other competitors (manufacturers) have put into their research. Of course, there is always the potential for a leading employee to jump ship and pass on previously guarded information, but Gilles Simon has been in a uniquely privileged position, which makes this case quite exceptional.

I completely agree with the teams that there needs to be a 'cooling-off period' and that it should be at least 6 months. (Ideally I would prefer it to be a year).

 

[Prime Minister Cameron]

IMO, the cool down period should be at least a year. He has very sensitive information about engines here which other manufactures have spent years and years perfecting.

 

[Big Ern]

hmm, surely the intelectual property rights would be fairly easy to prove, PURE may have to be careful or they could find themselves with engines stuck in storage and a hefty legal bill.

 

[Max Whiplash]

I was under the impression that Gardening Leave was standard procedure for any employee in a similar position in any area of business. And anyway, as Miggins says, it could well be storing up messy and expensive trouble for later on.

 

[Kyle?]

IMO, the cool down period should be at least a year. He has very sensitive information about engines here which other manufactures have spent years and years perfecting.

Like i said, if the PURE engine has the power of the merc, the driveability of the renault and the fuel consumption of the cosworth, the teams and enine makers will be jolly irritated. I smell a potential strike on the way.

 

[BrightLampShade]

Pure where already moaning about changing from flat 4's to V6's. Good to see they're blending into F1 well. moaning and dodgy deals

Pure having a moan


(Granted their moan had some reasoning)

 

[DHCanary]

Its a big coup for PURE if they can get away with this, which makes me wonder if it has happened before? Has a precedent been set of an FIA employee with access to sensitive information gone on to be employed by a team or manufacturer immediately after in the past?

 

[Big Ern]

Its a big coup for PURE if they can get away with this, which makes me wonder if it has happened before? Has a precedent been set of an FIA employee with access to sensitive information gone on to be employed by a team or manufacturer immediately after in the past?

Unless they have developed a memory erasing procedure then anyone who moves teams will take a fair amount of knowledge with them

 

[Kyle?]

Its a big coup for PURE if they can get away with this, which makes me wonder if it has happened before? Has a precedent been set of an FIA employee with access to sensitive information gone on to be employed by a team or manufacturer immediately after in the past?

There was talk a few years ago about charlie whiting leaving to join one of the teams. Obviously he didn't go, but it was a serious issue at the time.

 

[cosicave]

Its a big coup for PURE if they can get away with this, which makes me wonder if it has happened before? Has a precedent been set of an FIA employee with access to sensitive information gone on to be employed by a team or manufacturer immediately after in the past?

No. It's never happened.
This is very unlike an ordinary employee changing teams.

This is not the best analogy. I'm tired and about to turn in for the night so forgive me. The situation with Gilles Simon is not a long way short of being comparable to a football referee who decides to play for one of the teams he's refereeing…