Craig Pollock says F1 teams are making too much of PURE's decision to hire Gilles Simon.
New engine supplier plays down intellectual property concerns
PURE boss Craig Pollock says F1 teams are making too much of the new engine company's decision to hire Gilles Simon as its technical director.
Last week, Pollock announced that Simon was leaving the FIA, where he fulfilled the role of director of power train and electronics, to join PURE, who are set to supply engines in time for the 2014 season when F1 adopts new 1.6-litre V6 turbos.
However, the announcement has caused concern among teams planning to run rival engines - the worry being that Simon might have been privy to their own plans and therefore able to hand PURE a competitive advantage.
"For me it is an issue," said Renault team boss Eric Boullier. "He had access to a lot of IP and a lot of information, as he was talking to a lot of engine people.
"The FIA should release people at least with a gardening leave period long enough to make sure there is no transfer of technology."
However, Pollock said that Simon's exposure to rivals' intellectual property has been overstated.
"They have not given business plans and they have not given all technical plans. I think that is a slight exaggeration," he told
Autosport.
"They have all been part of meetings that have been open discussions, and in the open discussions every manufacturer knows what the other manufacturer is doing. But I can understand them.
"If I was a chassis manufacturer, and I signed up Adrian Newey from Red Bull Racing, then I am sure there would be others who would not be very happy. I think the situation is a little bit like that.
"I am very happy that Gilles is with us. But I would like to make it clear: we are not here to fight against other manufacturers; we are here to work with them to make sure the sport is going to be stronger in the future."
System
Pollock added that if the teams have a problem with Simon's appointment, which Renault engine director Rob White discussed during a press conference at the Hungarian Grand Prix, they should take it up with the FIA.
"I had a long chat with Rob White, and I purposefully pulled him out because he had made a statement in the FIA press conference," he said.
"I can understand what he is saying, and I suggested Rob also discusses that directly with Gilles Simon. Rob has made it clear, however, that the problem does not lie with myself and PURE, the problem actually lies within the system and the FIA.
"If somebody wants to leave a position, then there are certain ways they can do that - and it depends on the contract. Gilles was free to leave the FIA without any blockages, without any gardening leave and it was done all above board."
