Employee transfers from one team to another often lead to leaks of sensitive information. To address this kind of issue, they usually implement a garden leave period during which their future ex-employee is no longer tied to the direct activities of the team, so they are no longer informed of trade secrets.<\/p>\n
This was the procedure that the Mercedes team had implemented when one of its main engineers in the engine division, Benjamin Hoyle, announced his departure from the team at the end of the 2015 season. Especially since the team later learned that he was going to take up a new position with Ferrari. Sensitive data was therefore removed from his laptop and his professional email address was changed.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, it seems that the engineer in question managed to extract information while deleting files to hide these facts. He allegedly accessed the operating data of the two engines used during the last Hungarian Grand Prix, as well as the damage reports on these engines and the files containing the codes that allow the decryption of raw data files.<\/p>\n
If these statements have come to light, it’s because Mercedes decided to file a lawsuit against its former employee to claim damages but also to prevent him from joining Ferrari or any other competitor from the 2016 season onwards. The complaint filed with the High Court of London states: \u00ab Mr. Hoyle’s actions were calculated and intended to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of trust. Mr. Hoyle and potentially Ferrari have obtained an illegal advantage. \u00bb<\/p>\n
We will see if this case will gain the same magnitude in the coming weeks and months as the one that ultimately saw McLaren fined 100 million euros for stealing Ferrari’s data. Or if everything is settled amicably but with a clear impact on the career of the main person involved…<\/p>\n