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SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS - Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen testified to last week's Formula One spy hearing that McLaren eavesdropped on Ferrari's team radio throughout his time there, Jean Todt said today.
The Ferrari team boss told reporters at the Belgian grand prix, won by Raikkonen, that the Finn's evidence to the Paris hearing was produced to counter a claim from McLaren that Ferrari had snooped on them.
"Kimi Raikkonen made a witness statement about radio communications from his former team," Todt said.
"And maybe one word about that. I have read so much about the 'skeleton in the closet' for Ferrari, the big surprise about what might have happened over the last 10 years.
"The skeleton which was submitted was radio communication."
Leading teams encrypt their communications to and from drivers to protect information from rivals but Todt said it was common practice to hack into them.
"I have to admit that we listen to certain car radios," he said.
"Kimi testified that it was a common practice in his former team from 2002 to 2006.
"When our lawyer asked one of their (McLaren's) witnesses if it was true that they listened to the (other team's) radio, the reply was in the affirmative."
McLaren were stripped of their 2007 constructors' championship points and fined US$100 million ($142.30 million) at the spy hearing in Paris.
The controversy arose after a 780-page dossier of Ferrari information was found at the home of suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, allegedly sent to him by now-dismissed Ferrari employee Nigel Stepney.
McLaren said none of the information had found its way into the team but emails between their own drivers, double champion Fernando Alonso and fellow-Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, weakened their argument.
Raikkonen joined Ferrari at the end of last season as a replacement for seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, whose retirement marked the end of a golden era for the team.
- REUTERS